EVs - Why is Public Charging So Expensive?

Published at : 23 Dec 2025

DC rapid charging is VERY expensive in the UK - much more so than in other countries, and is 10 times the price of cheap rate home charging. Are be being ripped off by the chargepoint operators? Join me as I look beyond the headlines and try to determine where our money goes.

This is the latest in a series of videos sharing my knowledge and experience with electric cars. EVs have improved immensely over the last few years, and we are at a point where I think the majority of people can make the switch to electric.

00:00 - Introduction
00:30 - Historic price rises
01:29 - Should prices fall back again?
02:02 - Hints at the root cause
03:54 - The Targeted Charging Review
05:40 - The problem for CPOs
06:23 - Finding the figures
08:40 - The figures for the hub
10:10 - Amortising connection charges
11:45 - Average UK utilisation
12:21 - The impact on what we pay
12:59 - A change of tack
13:26 - Breaking down the fee
15:20 - DC rapid charger costs
17:25 - Administrative costs
18:45 - A better explanation
19:18 - Summary

Everything Electric Podcast
https://youtu.be/Fq8VNNZSagk?si=msZPSjOQfA9LlMmK&t=2457

National Grid Distribution Charging
https://www.nationalgrid.co.uk/downloads-view-reciteme/623467
https://www.nationalgrid.co.uk/downloads/643/west4754-distribution-charging-overview-c-hr.pdf
https://www.nationalgrid.co.uk/our-network/use-of-system-charges/charging-statements-and-methodology

DNO Areas - East Midlands
https://www.energybrokers.co.uk/electricity/pes-areas/pes-area-11

Use of System Charges
2021 - https://www.nationalgrid.co.uk/downloads-view-reciteme/179968
2024 - https://www.nationalgrid.co.uk/downloads-view-reciteme/656566
2025 - https://www.nationalgrid.co.uk/downloads-view-reciteme/661412

Charging Bands
https://www.dcusa.co.uk/network-charges/residual-charging/

Distribution Connection and Use of System Agreement (DCUSA)
https://www.dcusa.co.uk/dcusa-document/

DUoS Charging Models
https://www.dcusa.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2025-26-DUoS-Models.zip

TCR Explainers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou917qIz1_4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ye293X78sY

UK Electricity Spot Prices
https://tradingeconomics.com/united-kingdom/electricity-price

What are Triads
https://www.sseenergysolutions.co.uk/customer-help-centre/help-and-advice/triad-warnings

Osprey Charging annual accounts to 31st December 2024
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/08460233/filing-history/MzQ3NjY0NjI1NWFkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0

GRIDSERVE annual accounts to 31st December 2024
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/10985636/filing-history/MzQ3NDA0OTAzNWFkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0

Zapmap chargepoint utilisation statistics
https://www.zap-map.com/ev-stats/charging-utilisation-stats

The aim of my channel is to provide knowledge and plain speaking about the transition we all face. I hope you will join me for other videos on the move towards a renewable energy future. I will be covering plenty more about EVs, but will also be sharing my experiences as I look into energy generation and electric heating.