Where can I charge my electric car in the UK?

The popularity of EV cars has increased a great deal over the past few years. In 2021, new EV car registrations were up 76% over the previous year. As demand grows, so does the need for accessible places to charge your EV while out and about.

Where can I charge my electric car?

Before 2007, there were no public EV charging stations, and up until recent years, they were very few and far between.
Nowadays, thanks to the increased interest in environmentally-conscious travel and a desire to reduce the carbon footprint, EV charging stations are popping up in a number of locations across the UK.

What kinds of chargers are available at public stations?

Most public charging stations will feature three types of EV chargers; Slow, Fast and Rapid.

Can I charge my EV at work?

Thanks to the Workplace Charging Scheme, more and more businesses are taking the initiative to implement electric vehicle charging points.

The WCS grant covers up to 75% of the total costs of the purchase and installation of EV charge stations, capped at a maximum of:
£350 per socket
40 sockets across all sites per applicant (this means that if you would like to install them at 40 sites, then you can have 1 socket available per site, or if you wanted to install them at two sites, you could split them to have 20 sockets per site)

The grant means that you can have chargers installed within areas of parking for staff, your visitors, or for fleet use.

The systems can be customised as well, with options including solar panels, battery storage, Vehicle to Grid, and Demand Side Response (DSR) available. As per the Electric Vehicle Smart Charge Point Regulations 2021, newly installed workplace charge points also need to be smart.

Businesses can utilise electric vehicles for their own company fleet, in which case having their own charging stations makes sense. They can also make them available for any staff members who own electric cars.

You can find out more about the scheme and if your business is eligible here.

Do I have to pay to use a public charging point for my EV?

Not all public charge points support all payment types, but you can check the access options in advance on websites like Zap-Map. The good news is that accessing public charging stations is set to become even easier, with new rules about offering contactless payment on a mandatory basis coming soon.

What payment types are accepted at EV charging points?

Contactless payment card – you use it just like you do in a shop
Web page – like using a checkout on any online shop
Via a mobile app – using credit or debit card details
RFID card – similar to an Oyster card, you either add funds beforehand and then swipe when needed, or may be billed on a monthly basis like a mobile phone tariff
Plug and Play – these are typically free to use points – some occasionally ask for donations to local charities in lieu of payment

Slow charging

3 kW – 6 kW slow charging
Typically tethered (meaning it has the cable attached) or untethered (where you need to use your own charging cable)
Most EVs will get to a full charge on a 3 kW unit after about 20-30 hours

Slow chargers are useful for long, overnight stops at locations such as hotels or holiday parks.

Fast charging

Typically 7kW or 22kW
Uses tethered and untethered
EVs with a 60 kWh battery using the 7 kW charger will charge in about 9 hours, and if they can accept a higher AC charging speed, on a 22 kW charger in roughly 3 hours

A Fast charging station is perfectly suited to those needing a smaller top up while out and about or travelling, shopping or at work. The dwell time would typically be hours rather than minutes.

Rapid or ultra-rapid charging

Typically 50kW-150kW, but can be up to 350kW or higher
Utilise direct (DC) current to charge quickly
Always uses tethered cables that plug straight into your electric vehicle
Can only be used on vehicles with rapid-charging capability – with the maximum charging speed limited by the capability of the car itself

On average, a Rapid charging station can get you up to 80% juice in as little as 20-30 minutes (depending on your model of EV)

Want to charge your EV at home?

Getting an EV charger installed at home is much simpler than you might think. You can get a full installation quote from myenergi, which includes the award-winning zappi plus complete installation.