Charging Roulette: Why UK EV Drivers Are Kept in the Dark About Pricing

woman standing next to a car at a gas station, possibly considering ev charging pricing uk

As a journalist, I’m used to digging for answers. But I didn’t expect my toughest investigation of 2025 to involve something as basic as finding out how much it costs to charge my car.

Three charging stops, three networks, and one burning question: why is EV pricing such a mystery?

Stop One: The Supermarket Charger

⚡ I plugged in at a well-known supermarket rapid charger. The screen displayed “Session Started”—but nowhere did it say how much I’d pay per kWh.

💬 I checked their app. It didn’t help. Only after the session ended did I discover I’d been charged 79p/kWh—30% higher than the advertised rate online.

Stop Two: The Motorway Ultra-Rapid Hub

🚗 With a near-empty battery, I had no choice but to use a motorway charger. The pricing screen was out of order. A paper note stuck to the charger read “See Website for Prices.”

📱 But mobile data was patchy. I charged anyway. Later I found out it was 85p/kWh—no wonder my total felt steep.

Stop Three: The City Centre Car Park

🅿️ This one had a price displayed: “From 49p/kWh.” But “from” turned out to be key. By the time I paid, I’d been charged 68p/kWh due to peak hour pricing.

The Problem

EV drivers deserve transparency. Instead, I found:

  • ❌ No live pricing at the charger
  • ❌ Apps showing outdated or “from” prices
  • ❌ Peak hour surcharges hidden in the small print

This isn’t just annoying—it’s impossible for drivers on a budget to plan costs.

The ONEEV Fix

Then I tried ONEEV. Game changer:

  • ✅ Live pricing from multiple networks, updated in real time
  • ✅ Filter chargers by price per kWh, speed, and availability
  • ✅ No surprises—know exactly what you’ll pay before you plug in

At my next charge, I checked ONEEV. It showed three nearby chargers with prices ranging from 45p to 69p/kWh. I picked the cheapest, and my wallet thanked me.

The Final Word

Charging shouldn’t feel like spinning a roulette wheel. ONEEV brings pricing clarity so you can charge smarter—and never get stung again.

Ready to take control? Download ONEEV today.