Fastned creates a ‘nationwide driveway’ for EV drivers
Electric car owners who do not have a driveway could be left paying hundreds of pounds more per year to charge at public charging points compared to those who use home chargers, due to VAT changes that come into force today (1st October 2026).
So, Fastned became the “UK’s driveway for the day" by offering motorists a free average charge (£25 charging credit).
Changes to VAT on electric vehicle charging coming into force today will deepen the UK’s already stark “driveway divide”, as VAT on home energy falls from 5% to 0% across England, Scotland and Wales, while public charging remains at 20%.
It is estimated that the 20% VAT difference alone for public charging can amount to more than £270 per driver over the course of a year, with over two thirds (68%) of the population stating that this disparity is unfair, in new research commissioned by Fastned, one of the UK’s leading networks of ultra-rapid charging hubs.
Fastned, has teamed up with Ginny Buckley, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Electrifying.com, the country’s largest EV portal, to call on the Government to level the playing field on VAT for EV charging and ensure drivers without access to home charging are not left paying more.
So, with 9 million UK households lacking a driveway or dedicated parking space , today, on 1st October, Fastned hubs across the UK will become a "nationwide driveway for the day". All drivers can gain a free £25 charging credit, approximately equivalent to the average cost of a public charging session at Fastned, at all of 41 Fastned charging hubs across the UK.
To claim the free £25 charging credit, drivers need to use the code VAT2026 in the Fastned app. (The discount code can be added to your account from 00:01, 1st Oct, until 23:59 on 2nd October 2026 and drivers will then have 3 days to use the charging credit once applied to their account).
Ginny Buckley, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Electrifying.com, comments:
“By cutting VAT on electricity for EV owners who can charge at home, while continuing to charge 20% VAT on public charging, the Government is driving the transition to electric with one foot on the accelerator and the other on the brake - and any driver will tell you that you don’t get very far doing that.
"Public charging isn’t a luxury - it’s essential infrastructure, and millions of drivers are being punished at the plug with higher prices simply because they don’t have a driveway. That’s why I’ve teamed up with Fastned to call on the Government to end this unfair driveway divide and make charging fair for everyone.”
Fastned, the nature-inspired EV charging network powered by 100% green energy, has partnered with Ginny Buckley, of Electrifying.com, to challenge this cost disparity.
To support this campaign Fastned have released new research which shows that seven in ten (70%) drivers say paying extra each year because they cannot charge at home would make them less likely to buy an EV, but say that reducing the disparity could encourage more people to make the switch to an electric vehicle.
The six-month cut comes into effect on 1 October, meaning drivers who can charge at home will benefit from lower VAT while those reliant on public charging will continue to pay the higher rate. Among drivers who do not currently own a fully electric vehicle, 57% say cutting VAT on public charging to 0%, would make them more likely to consider buying an EV.
Tom Hurst, UK Country Director at Fastned, said:
“There is already a driveway divide between electric vehicle users who can charge at home and those who can’t, which risks making the switch to electric harder for millions of people. Today’s VAT change makes this divide even more striking.
“An electric car should be an option for everyone, regardless of whether you have a driveway, which is why, through our ‘Fastned is MY driveway’ campaign, we’re turning our network into a nationwide driveway for EV drivers and calling on the Government to level the playing field by bringing VAT on public charging down to zero.”
Three in five (61%) UK drivers say they weren’t aware of the difference in tax treatment between home and public charging and two thirds (68%) said they felt it was unfair and penalised those without driveways. As a result, six in ten (60%) drivers say they would support government action to bring public charging VAT down to 0%.
The latest SMMT figures for car sales shows that pure electric vehicles now make up 30% of all new car sales, but the research also reveals that this VAT disparity could become a significant barrier to EV adoption.
Fastned operates a growing network of nature-inspired, ultra-rapid EV charging hubs with distinctive yellow solar-powered canopies, offering fast, reliable charging designed to be easy, safe and accessible for everyone. Fastned’s ultra-rapid charging bays, capable of delivering up to 400 kW, could add up to 200 miles (333 km) of range in just 10 minutes.
Designed for everyone, extra-wide bays make parking and manoeuvring user-friendly, including for drivers using wheelchairs or mobility aids, while suspended cable systems take the heavy lifting out of ultra-rapid charging. Fastned’s iconic yellow Solar Tree canopies make its hubs instantly recognisable, while smaller hubs feature distinctive wings. Some locations also incorporate a drive-through layout, allowing cars, vans and vehicles with trailers to charge with ease while providing shelter from adverse weather, including rain and shade from the sun.
Many Fastned hubs also offer on-site amenities to make charging stops more convenient and comfortable, with facilities such as toilets, refreshments and nearby food options available at selected locations.
From 1st Oct, at 00:01 Drivers can use the code VAT2026 in the Fastned app to claim £25 charging credit, approximately equivalent to the average cost of a public charging session at Fastned. The discount code is valid until 23:59 on 2nd October 2026 and drivers will have 3 days to use the charging credit once applied to their account. For full charging credit terms and conditions, visit Terms and Conditions Vouchers | Fastned.
