The government will provide £100 million over two years from spring 2027 to cut charging costs for motorists using lower-powered public charge points near their homes, HM Treasury announced at Budget 2026 on 28 October 20261. The measure follows an independent review into the cost of charging EVs on the public network, which the government announced at Budget 20251. This is Money reported that Healey "pledged £100million towards reducing the cost burden for EV owners who are unable to plug in at home", with the measure due to be introduced from next spring and expected to save the average EV driver without a home charger around £150 per year2.
The funding will cover chargers typically found on residential streets, where drivers can leave their vehicles to charge for several hours or overnight; these make up around a third of the current charging network1. The review found that since 2021, average charging prices for lower-powered chargers and for higher-powered chargers such as those at motorway service areas or electric forecourts have risen by 69% and 94% respectively in real terms1. The government says around a third of UK households lack access to off-street parking or a driveway1. There are over 124,000 public charge points in the UK, an increase of 7.4% year on year1.
"From spring 2027, the government will provide £100 million over two years to cut charging costs for motorists using lower-powered public charge points near their homes"
The government will also take forward the review's recommendation to launch a "tariff porting" taskforce led by industry experts, to explore allowing drivers to use their cheaper domestic energy tariff at certain public chargers; the Department for Transport will set out more details in due course1. Separately, as of 21 October drivers no longer need planning permission to install cross-pavement chargers running under pavements from homes to cars, which the government says will save drivers up to £300 on installation1. In February, grants for home and workplace charging installations were extended and increased for flats, rented properties, on-street parking and businesses1.
| Measure | Detail | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Public charging support | £100 million over two years for lower-powered public charge points near homes | From spring 20271 |
| Expected saving | Around £150 a year for drivers who rely on these chargers | Stated by government1 |
| Tariff porting taskforce | Industry-led group to explore using domestic tariffs at certain public chargers | Details to follow1 |
| Cross-pavement chargers | No planning permission required; up to £300 saved on installation | Since 21 October1 |
Why it matters for households
For a household without a driveway, the cost of charging usually depends on the public network rather than a domestic tariff, and the review's figures show those prices have risen faster than those for home charging1. The £100 million is aimed at the lower-powered chargers such as those on residential streets that such drivers can use for several hours or overnight, rather than rapid hubs1. The £150 annual saving is an average cited by government and reported by This is Money; how it will be delivered at the charge point has not been set out1. The tariff porting taskforce, if it leads to changes, would bear on whether a home energy tariff can follow a driver to certain public chargers, which is central to EV charging and household energy independence. The planning change for cross-pavement chargers affects households that can park outside but cannot get a cable to the car without crossing the pavement, a situation covered in charging an EV without a driveway. The gap between home and public charging costs is the difference the measures are intended to narrow.
What happens next
The £100 million support is due to begin in spring 2027 and run for two years1. The Department for Transport will set out further details of the tariff porting taskforce in due course1. The government has not reported how the charging support will be administered or which charge points will be included beyond the description of lower-powered chargers on residential streets1.