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In Feb 2026, we gathered fleet leaders for our third community event to tackle a big topic: reducing costs for electric vehicle (EV) fleets. The transition to EVs is undeniable, with 65% of cars in UK fleets now electric. But our community chats made it clear that monitoring and controlling charging behaviour is a key lever to reduce the fleet’s total cost of ownership (TCO).
Public vs home charging costs
Fleets in the room mentioned the huge cost gap between home and public charging, which often affects the return on investment (ROI). Our latest data from Rightcharge’s Annual Report: State of fleet charging 2026 shows a clear difference; while public charging averages at 81p per kWh, home charging sits at just 25p/kWh. Meaning businesses that rely on the public network are paying over three times as much for the same energy.
This led to a discussion on the “ROI of driveway charging”. While a home charger has an upfront cost, the financial return is often seen within just 6-12 months. However, there are difficulties for some fleets as they’re unsure whether to cover the cost upfront or have the drivers pay themselves to stop any worries about turnover and lost investments. In our webinar, The Right Charging Mix for 2026, Sam Biggs from The AA mentioned the use of a simple “payback clause” where a driver covers a certain percentage of the charger cost if they leave the business within a set period.
Supporting the ‘forgotten middle’ drivers
A key challenge raised by fleets was supporting the ‘forgotten middle’ drivers in flats or without off-street parking. Without a home charger, these drivers are often forced to rely on the public charging network. However, fleets are now tackling this with innovative tech such as KerboCharge.
Some fleets also mentioned the shift towards ‘pool vehicles’ to keep vehicles under company control and ensure they are charged at lower depot rates rather than on the road.
The impact of charging on fleet driver productivity
It’s not just the home and public charging unit cost difference that the fleets mentioned are hurting margins. A big theme was the productivity impact of public charging. If a driver spends an hour at a public charging station during the day, that is a full hour of work removed from the business.
The Rightcharge Annual Report: State of fleet charging 2026 found that 77% of home charging happens during off-peak hours compared to just 43% of public charging. This proves that home charging is about more than just lower electricity costs, but also about ensuring vehicles are ready to go once drivers are working.
The AER discussion
HMRC’s Advisory Electric Rate (AER) remains a point of discussion. As of Feb 2026, it is split between 8p for home charging and 14p for public charging. The room's consensus was that it’s confusing and often fails to cover the cost of varying energy tariffs or ultra-rapid charging.
Takeaway
The takeaway from our Feb community event is clear: while the shift to EVs is undeniable, the focus on charging behaviour is key to reducing costs. By prioritising home charging, fleets can unlock the biggest savings in their transition and increase TCO.
Ready to learn more about running an EV fleet in 2026? Click here to read Rightcharge’s Annual Report: State of fleet charging 2026.