The Ultimate Guide to Electric Vehicle Charging in the UK

Imagine you’re sitting in your electric car, breathing in the fresh, new car smell (and none of the petrol fumes). The steering wheel is smooth and weightless under your grip, and there’s no grumbling engine interrupting your silent journey. You’re at peace with your new purchase and are enjoying all the benefits that come along with going electric.

But a notification dings on your car screen—your EV charge is at 10%. It’s time to charge your EV battery…but how do you charge an electric vehicle (EV)?

Here, we’ve done the hard work for you. Our ultimate guide gives you everything you need to know about electric vehicle charging in the UK. From electric vehicle charging points to home EV charging to the public charging network, we have your electric car charging covered, all in one place – and in full.

How do you charge an electric car?

While petrol and diesel vehicles can only be refuelled at a petrol station, for EVs, there’s more than one way to charge your car, although all require you to plug the charging cable into your EV to top up your battery.

With this in mind, charging an electric car may sound complicated. Truthfully, though, it’s as easy as filling up a car with petrol. It may seem different on the surface, but as we moved from walking to horse and carriage to the petrol car, I’m sure it seemed vastly different, too, at the time.

In essence, you can charge your electric vehicle at home, work or using the public EV charging infrastructure.

Let’s take a closer look.

1.  Home electric car charging:

1.  3-pin plug EV charging

Charge straight from your household 3-pin plug with a granny charger. It’s just like charging your phone but with a much longer, messier cable. Except, for full transparency, charging an electric vehicle from a normal plug is like filling a swimming pool with a garden hose—possible, but painfully, excruciatingly slow. And not the best use of time.

Experts recommend using granny chargers only in emergency situations when your EV battery is low, and you don’t have access to an electric vehicle charger nearby.

Discover more about three-pin plug charging.

2.  Dedicated smart home EV charger

The best way to charge an electric car at home, and arguably overall, the best way to charge an EV – is with a dedicated smart home charger. Installed on your property, it’s like having a miniature petrol station on your doorstep, but smaller, eco-friendly and without the toxic fumes. Or, think of it like a giant iPhone charger. One that you will never lose, too.

Coming in different sizes, designs, and colours and with different smart features, EV home chargers are a beautiful extension of your home. Forget messy, trip-hazard-like wires from three-pin plug charging.

Not only are home chargers more convenient than waiting hours (or over a day) for a three-pin plug or locating a nearby public EV charger, but charging an EV at home can also supercharge your savings. According to the AA, you can charge for as little as 5p per mile.

From the intelligent Ohme Home Pro to the beautiful Easee One, smart EV chargers have a number of other perks. Smarter charging. Safer charging. Superior charging. Explore the full benefits of installing an EV home charger.

Struggling with the lingo? Our electric vehicle dictionary can help.

2.  Workplace EV charging

Anti-EVers often say that charging an electric car takes too long. Ignoring the fact that sometimes, with the right equipment, it can take as little as 20 minutes for 80% of charge, EV charging can, to some people’s dismay, be extremely convenient – more so than locating, travelling to, refuelling and paying at a petrol station.

Case in point – if your workplace has EV chargers available, you can plug in when you arrive at the office, and it will start charging while you work. Multitasking at its finest.

Picture this: you’re tired, you’ve just finished your shift, keys in hand, and you can’t think of anything worse than stopping off after your 9-5.

Well, you don’t have to. Your electric car is parked, ready and waiting for you, fully charged. No need to stop off on the return commute. Drive straight home, uninterrupted.

Plus, now, a number of EV charger grants exist, like the workplace charging scheme, to help businesses invest in electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

3. Public EV charging network

Out and about and in need of a top-up? Use the UK’s public charging network. Spanning far and wide, over 75,675 public charging stations are at your disposal – all in different charging speeds. These include the quickest way to charge – with fast, rapid and ultra-rapid EV charging stations.

Specifically, if you’re hunting for public electric vehicle charging stations, check out destination locations, such as restaurants, hotels, and shopping centres. Basically, in any location where EV drivers will take a break from driving and occupy themselves with something else, EV chargers will be ready for you.

What’s more, major supermarkets in the UK are working hard to power the electric revolution. Tesco, Aldi, Sainsbury’s, to name a few, have already invested in EV charging infrastructure.

All in all, using public charging infrastructure is the most expensive way to charge your electric car. On the odd occasion, some public charging stations can be free, but not many in this day and age.

If you’re searching for free EV charging, please explore our guide to free EV chargers.

What types of EV charging points are available?

As with everything electric, there isn’t just one answer. And that’s the same with EV charging points. In reality, there are different EV charging points in different places with different speeds.

For speeds, electric car chargers can come as:

• Slow chargers
• Fast chargers
• Rapid chargers
• Ultra rapid charging

Explore EV charging speeds in detail.

Can I charge my electric car if I don’t have on-street parking?

Rumours have spread that it’s not possible to have a home EV charger without off-street parking. This, in part, is true in the sense that you can’t have a standard smart charger installed on its own. However, it is possible to have an EV charger installed on-street, so long as you have additional infrastructure installed.

Newly developed cross-pavement solutions have now made it possible for home chargers to be installed, including:

• Kerbo Charge
• ChargeArm
• Gul-e
• Charge Gully

These are just a few of the coveted EV charging solutions that make EV charging on street possible. Sadly, they are more expensive than solely installing a home EV charger. But you can easily get your investment back by using the perks of home chargers and charging during off-peak hours. More on this to come.

How do I pay for electric vehicle charging?

Multiple ways to pay for electric vehicle charging are available, but it depends on how you charge your car as to how you pay.

• For home charging, you pay for your electric car charging through your electricity bill.
• For public EV charging, you may use contactless bank card payments, RFID cards, charging cards, app payments and more.
• Paying for workplace charging can be similar to public charging. Usually, RFID cards are given to employee to make charging quick and easy. Sometimes, employers will offer EV charging for free as an additional employee benefit. Otherwise you’re looking at contactless payments and charging cards.

Explore how to pay for public EV charging in detail.

How much does it cost to charge an electric vehicle?

The cost to charge an electric vehicle depends on a number of factors: where you charge and what speed, for how long and the current state of the EV battery.

However, for example’s sake, we’ve taken the Mokka EV to give you an idea for the average cost of charging. Below, with the help of Zap-Map’s average cost of EV charging tool, we’ve calculated how much it costs to charge an electric car:

How do I find EV chargers near me?

To find EV charging points near you, use popular app maps like Zap-Map and Electroverse. Alternatively, use public charging network-specific apps.

How long does it take to charge an electric vehicle?

Again, it depends on a number of different factors as to how long an EV will charge. Temperature, charging speed and state of the battery all impact how long it takes to charge an electric vehicle. It’s not an exact science, unfortunately.

Here is a rough guide to how long it takes to charge an electric vehicle with different charging speeds:

Should I worry about EV range?

Be mindful of your range, but don’t let it haunt you. As technology develops and expands, range is too, with newer models with larger batteries and, in turn, longer ranges.

If you are one to worry, use our tips and tricks to protect your EV battery life and maintain its range. Avoid fully charging on the daily and using public charge points as your main port of charging, are some examples.

What is the cheapest way to charge an electric car?

Without question, charging at home with a dedicated smart EV charger is by far the cheapest way to charge an electric vehicle. A gateway to never-ending cheap charging, if you will.

When should I charge my electric vehicle?

There is no set rule. When you need to charge your EV, charge. That said, you can supercharge your savings during a certain time of day. Specifically, if you have a home EV charger with smart tariff compatibility, charge your electric vehicle during off-peak hours for as little as 7p per kWh.

Discover the best time to charge your electric car.

Want to charge your electric car for cheaper?

Get your EV charger and installation completed by the experts. No stress, no fuss. Being nationwide EV charger installers means you don’t have to move – we can EV chargers wherever you are. We’re your one stop shop – our comprehensive EV charging solutions include supply of the EV charger, installation, DNO notification, grant paperwork and more.

Contact us, browse our EV chargers or get your free charger and installation quote below. Stuck? Feel free to ring one of our EV charging experts at 03333 44 96 99. All advice is entirely unbiased and tailored to you.