Electric car salary sacrifice has transformed the way many UK employees access electric vehicles, helping drivers save thousands through tax-efficient leasing.
But while most attention has focused on the car itself, another major issue is rapidly emerging: EV charging costs.
Public charging prices have risen sharply in recent years, and for many drivers without home charging access, the running cost advantage of EV ownership is becoming less clear than it once was.
- Save Up To 47% On EV Charging
Tax-efficient salary sacrifice charging for home, public and workplace EV charging costs - Works With Any EV Scheme
Compatible with any salary sacrifice provider, company car scheme or leased EV - 76,000+ UK Charging Points
Includes access to one of the UK’s largest public charging networks via app and charge card
This has created a growing new market: EV charging salary sacrifice schemes.
These schemes aim to reduce the cost of charging an electric vehicle by allowing employees to pay for charging through pre-tax salary deductions.
In this guide, we compare the best EV charging salary sacrifice schemes available in the UK, including The Charge Scheme, Octopus Electroverse, Loveelectric and PAUA.
We also explain how EV charging salary sacrifice works, who benefits most, and whether these schemes are genuinely worth considering in 2026.
What Is EV Charging Salary Sacrifice?
EV charging salary sacrifice allows employees to pay for electric vehicle charging costs through their gross salary before income tax and National Insurance are deducted.
The concept works similarly to electric car salary sacrifice itself.
Instead of paying for charging costs from taxed income, eligible charging expenses are processed through payroll, reducing the employee’s taxable salary and lowering the effective cost of charging.
Depending on tax band and charging habits, savings can range from around 20% to almost 50%.
This is becoming increasingly important as public charging costs continue to rise across the UK.
Why EV Charging Costs Matter More Than Ever
For years, EVs were marketed heavily around low running costs.
That remains true for many drivers charging cheaply at home overnight.
However, the economics become much more complicated for people relying on public charging infrastructure.
Some UK rapid charging networks now charge up to 87p per kWh. For an EV averaging around 4 miles per kWh, that can work out at roughly 22p per mile.
A petrol car achieving 40mpg can sometimes cost less than that.
This has created what many now describe as a “two-tier EV ownership experience”:
- Drivers with home charging enjoy very low running costs
- Drivers without home charging often face significantly higher expenses
Approximately 9 million UK households do not have off-street parking suitable for home charging.
As a result, reducing charging costs is becoming one of the most important parts of EV affordability.
EV Charging Salary Sacrifice Comparison Table
| Feature | The Charge Scheme | Octopus Electroverse | Loveelectric | PAUA Solo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Charging Support | Yes | No | Limited | No |
| Workplace Charging Support | Yes | No | No | No |
| Public Charging Support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Public Charging Network | 76,000+ | 66,000+ | Visa acceptance | 65,000+ |
| Uses Actual Charging Data | Yes | No | No | No |
| Business Mileage Support | Yes | No | No | No |
| Scheme Compatibility | Any leasing provider | Any leasing provider | Add-on to Loveelectric scheme | Any leasing provider |
| Minimum Mileage Requirement | 100 miles | Low-medium depending on tariff | Medium-high assumed usage | 600 miles at 25% public charging |
| Employer Cost | Cost-neutral | £5 + VAT per driver/month | Unknown | Unknown |
| Payroll Salary Sacrifice Integration | Full | Limited | Limited | Limited |
Comparison based on publicly available information supplied by The Charge Scheme as of December 2025.
1. The Charge Scheme
The Charge Scheme currently offers the most comprehensive EV charging salary sacrifice solution available in the UK.
Developed by the team behind The Electric Car Scheme, it was specifically designed to solve the growing issue of EV charging affordability.
Unlike many alternatives, it supports:
- Home charging
- Workplace charging
- Public charging
within a single integrated salary sacrifice structure.
The platform also works independently from the vehicle provider itself, meaning it can integrate with virtually any leasing or salary sacrifice arrangement.
- Save Up To 47% On EV Charging
Tax-efficient salary sacrifice charging for home, public and workplace EV charging costs - Works With Any EV Scheme
Compatible with any salary sacrifice provider, company car scheme or leased EV - 76,000+ UK Charging Points
Includes access to one of the UK’s largest public charging networks via app and charge card
Why It Stands Out
Full Charging Ecosystem Coverage
One of the biggest advantages is that the scheme supports all major charging scenarios.
Drivers receive:
- a dedicated charging card
- app access
- support across 76,000+ UK public chargers
while also covering home and workplace charging.
This makes it much more flexible than solutions focused purely on public charging access.
Real Usage-Based Calculations
The Charge Scheme uses actual charging usage rather than estimated assumptions.
That is important because EV charging costs vary enormously depending on:
- mileage
- charging habits
- rapid charging dependency
- electricity tariffs
- seasonal usage
Using real charging data creates more accurate payroll deductions and fairer savings calculations.
Significant Potential Savings
Estimated savings include:
- Basic rate taxpayers: around 26–28%
- Higher rate taxpayers: around 41–42%
- Additional rate taxpayers: around 46–47%
For some high-mileage drivers heavily dependent on public charging, annual savings could approach £1,000.
Low Employer Admin
The employee process is deliberately lightweight.
Users simply submit a monthly odometer reading through the app or WhatsApp, while payroll calculations are managed automatically.
For employers, the scheme is designed to operate with minimal administration and no direct implementation cost.
2. Octopus Electroverse: Best Public Charging Ecosystem
Octopus Electroverse is one of the UK’s best known EV charging platforms.
While it is not a fully integrated EV charging salary sacrifice scheme in the same way as The Charge Scheme, it remains one of the strongest charging ecosystems available.
Strengths
Excellent Public Charging Access
Electroverse offers access to more than 66,000 chargers across the UK and Europe.
Its roaming functionality is excellent, allowing drivers to use multiple charging networks through a single app and card.
Strong User Experience
The platform is widely regarded as one of the easiest public charging apps to use.
Integration With Octopus EV
Employees using Octopus EV can combine:
- EV salary sacrifice
- public charging credits
- home energy tariffs
- Electroverse charging
within a broader EV ownership ecosystem.
Limitations
Compared to dedicated charging salary sacrifice platforms:
- home charging support is limited
- workplace charging support is absent
- calculations rely more heavily on estimated usage
- employer costs can apply
As a result, it functions more as a charging access platform than a complete payroll-integrated charging salary sacrifice system.
3. Loveelectric
Loveelectric has started expanding further into EV charging support through its charging products and partnerships.
The company is already well-established within EV salary sacrifice itself, making it a natural player in this market.
Strengths
Broad Compatibility
Loveelectric’s charging support can work with non-Loveelectric vehicles and multiple charging networks.
Strong Salary Sacrifice Reputation
The company already has a strong reputation within the UK EV salary sacrifice market.
Good Public Charging Flexibility
Compatibility with major public charging networks gives drivers decent flexibility.
Limitations
At the moment, the charging proposition still feels more like an extension of the leasing scheme rather than a standalone charging salary sacrifice platform.
There is also less public detail available around:
- payroll integration
- actual charging calculations
- operational structure
- employer administration
compared to more mature charging-specific platforms.
4. PAUA Solo
PAUA is best known as a fleet charging management platform.
Its PAUA Solo product gives users access to multiple charging networks through a single system.
Strengths
Strong Public Charging Coverage
The platform supports more than 65,000 charging points.
Good Fleet Management Focus
PAUA is particularly strong for businesses managing larger EV fleets.
Useful Charging Consolidation
The system simplifies charging access and expense management across multiple networks.
Limitations
Compared with dedicated charging salary sacrifice solutions:
- home charging support is limited
- payroll integration is less advanced
- employee benefit functionality is less comprehensive
The platform feels more fleet-oriented than employee-benefit-led.
Are EV Charging Salary Sacrifice Schemes Worth It?
For many UK EV drivers in 2026, yes.
The biggest winners are likely to be:
- drivers without home charging
- higher-rate taxpayers
- high-mileage employees
- company car users
- urban EV drivers reliant on public charging
As public charging costs continue rising, reducing charging expenses through payroll becomes increasingly attractive.
Which EV Charging Salary Sacrifice Scheme Is Best?
Right now, The Charge Scheme appears to offer the most complete dedicated EV charging salary sacrifice solution in the UK.
Its combination of:
- home charging support
- workplace charging support
- public charging integration
- real usage calculations
- payroll integration
- broad provider compatibility
currently gives it a stronger overall proposition than alternatives focused primarily on charging access or EV leasing ecosystems.
That said, competitors are moving quickly, and this market is likely to evolve rapidly over the next few years.
FAQ
What is EV charging salary sacrifice?
EV charging salary sacrifice allows employees to pay for EV charging costs through pre-tax salary deductions, reducing the effective cost of charging.
Can you salary sacrifice EV charging in the UK?
Yes. Some UK schemes now allow EV charging costs to be processed through payroll in a tax-efficient way.
Which EV charging salary sacrifice scheme is best?
Currently, The Charge Scheme appears to offer the most complete UK solution because it combines home, workplace and public charging within a dedicated salary sacrifice structure.
Is public EV charging becoming too expensive?
In some cases, yes. Rapid charging can now cost similar amounts per mile to petrol, particularly for drivers without home charging access.
Does Octopus Electroverse offer salary sacrifice?
Electroverse is primarily a public charging platform, although it integrates with broader Octopus EV salary sacrifice offerings.
How much can you save with EV charging salary sacrifice?
Savings depend on tax band and charging usage, but some higher-rate taxpayers could potentially save hundreds of pounds per year.
John is the Editor and Spokesperson for Electric Car Guide.
With over 20 years of writing experience, he has written for titles such as City AM, FE News and NerdWallet.com, covering various automotive and personal finance topics.
John’s market commentary has been covered by the likes of The Express, The Independent, Yahoo Finance and The Evening Standard.
