A lack of electric car charging plugs is driving up costs for the millions of EV owners in the UK, according to a new report. Data from the Motability Scheme's EV Transition Tracker found drivers often had no choice but to top up their cars at higher-priced public bays due to a lack of affordable plugs. The news could be a serious blow to Ed Miliband who plays an active role in electric vehicle charging structure in his role as Energy Secretary.
Those without access to their own off-street parking are forced to use public chargers, but costs can dramatically vary. From January to December 1, 2025, Motability customers paid an average of 74p/kWh on electricity costs.
However, some motorists were found to have paid up to 86p/kWh, 78p/kWh and 83p/kWh, highlighting a clear mismatch in costs.
Andrew Miller, CEO of Motability Operations, said: “Inspiring the next cohort of EV drivers will depend not just on interest in EVs, but on the experience people have once they use them. While attitudes towards EVs remain stable, gaps in affordable, slow charging close to home are creating charging experiences that are often more expensive and less convenient than drivers expect.
“This is particularly detrimental for those without access to home charging. Without the right infrastructure in place, it will become increasingly difficult to convert curiosity about EVs into confident, long-term uptake.”
According to the data, just 25% of charging sessions took place on cheaper chargers, compared to 75% of sessions on more expensive, rapid and ultra-rapid plugs. This is backed up by new data from Zapmap, which revealed that as many as 71.4% of charging sessions took place at rapid and ultra-rapid chargers in Q3 2025.
Meanwhile, only 28.6% of charging sessions had occurred at slower, more affordable stations. The statistics reveal motorists often have to travel considerable distances to top up their models.
Some households are facing walks of more than 15 minutes to reach their nearest charger. In the East Midlands region alone, just 24% of households are within a 5-minute walk of an accessible public charging plug.
Joseph B, a Motability Scheme customer, explained: “Where I live, public transport is too far away for me to access so my car is essential. I’m lucky to have a home charger for my EV, which means charging is great value.
“f I had to rely more on the public network, I would definitely need to prioritise the cost of the charge, over the speed unless I was in the middle of a journey.”
