UK grid standing charges jump 500% since 2020, threatening public EV charging prices
By Eve
Osprey Charging, which operates more than 1,500 UK rapid chargers, reported that annual fixed grid costs at one Wolverhampton site rose from £87 to £33,651 over five years. ChargeUK said standing charges have climbed nearly 500% since the start of the 2020s and now account for around 30p per kWh of the average 76p rapid charging price, while public charging costs overall have risen 38% this decade. Osprey's commercial director warned the industry cannot absorb these costs indefinitely and will pass some on to drivers.
Why it matters
Surging distribution network standing charges threaten the business case for new rapid charging sites and may force CPOs to raise tariffs, potentially slowing EV adoption. Procurement teams evaluating charging tenders must now factor in volatile grid connection costs that can multiply thirtyfold in five years, reshaping site selection and contract pricing.
Source
- Source
- autocar.co.uk
- Original title
- “New hidden cost could spark major rise in price of public EV charging”
- Published
- 24 April 2026 (date approximate)
- Updated
- 18 July 2026
In this story
- Topic
- EV Charging
- Place
- United Kingdom
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