Real life, real answers

How much does public rapid charging cost?

Public rapid charging is the most expensive way to fuel an EV — often close to petrol on a per-mile basis once you account for it.

Public rapid and ultra-rapid chargers trade convenience for cost. Per kWh they're typically the dearest energy an EV owner buys — many times the price of an overnight home rate.

That matters most if rapids are your main source of charge rather than an occasional top-up on a long trip. Someone charging almost entirely on rapids may find an EV only marginally cheaper to run than petrol, and our cost model will say so.

Set your charging situation to no home charging on any car page to price your miles on rapid rates, and use the journey twin to see the cost of a specific trip's charging stops. Rates are provisional and refreshed periodically — see methodology.