The charging process for an electric vehicle can be more complicated than filling up a car with petrol or diesel. There are various ways to pay for charging your EV, depending on whether you are charging in public, at home, or at work. In this blog, we will explore the different payment methods available for electric car charging and weigh the pros and cons of each option.
The UK has several public charging networks, with InstaVolt, Pod Point, BP Pulse and Tesla Supercharger being some of the largest. Public charging has diverse payment methods, making it more complex than charging at home or work. Below, we’ll outline the various payment options for fast and rapid charging in public.
Paying for public charging is simplest with contactless bank card payments—scan your credit or debit card at the reader to begin charging. Some networks also accept Apple Pay. This method requires no subscriptions or memberships, offering flexibility.
But, it can cost more. This is because there are no discounts from memberships or subscriptions. Also, the cost of installation, which is passed on to the customer, adds to the price.
While newer public chargers typically offer contactless payments, many older ones do not due to large installation costs. However, government regulations now require all new rapid chargers to support contactless card payment functionality. This change will ensure greater future availability.
All public charging networks must offer pay-as-you-go access, typically requiring users to download their smartphone app and create an account for payment. App payments often cost less per kWh than contactless payments. However, frequent travellers may find managing multiple apps and accounts for different charging networks inconvenient.
Additionally, some apps require you to load a minimum amount of credit onto your app to start, which may be frustrating for those unlikely to use the same network again. Yet, apps allow you to track your spending and monitor your charging usage, which can be useful to help plan and budget your charging expenses.
Using an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) card or key fob issued by the charge point operator is another payment method for public chargers. Scan your card or fob at the reader to initiate billing to your account.
But, each charging network usually requires its own RFID card or fob, meaning you cannot use a single fob or card across different networks. This payment method can be cumbersome if you use various networks, as you’ll need to carry many RFID cards. To use this method, you must pre-register your RFID card and create an associated online account.
Some public charging networks allow you to scan a QR code with your smartphone to pay as you go at the charge point. Scanning the QR code takes you to a payment page to pay for and initiate the charge. QR codes are convenient; you don’t need a dedicated RFID card or smartphone app. However, using a QR code for payment requires smartphone access and an internet connection, which may not be available to everyone, especially in rural areas.
Plug & charge was introduced by The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO). It lets EVs automatically authenticate and start charging when they connect to a compatible charging station, so they don’t need manual authentication, cards, or apps.
This technology requires both the car and the charging point to be plug & charge compliant. The car needs a Plug & Charge certificate. Like those operated by IONITY, the charging station must support Plug & Charge.
The process involves an encrypted handshake between the vehicle and the charge point. The handshake ensures secure billing starts within seconds. It offers a seamless plug-in and charge experience, so the driver does not need to interact physically or digitally.
Despite the limited availability of compatible EVs and charge points, Plug & Charge is expected to become a more prevalent payment method for public charging points.
EV roaming services like Octopus Electroverse and Zap-Pay offer access to many charging networks with one authentication or payment method, such as an RFID card or app. This method is convenient and flexible. It lets you charge your EV easily across different public networks so you won’t need multiple cards or apps.
Zap-map is an excellent resource for EV drivers to locate charging points. With the introduction of Zap-Pay, users can now pay for their EV charging sessions directly through the Zap-map app, eliminating the need for multiple RFID cards or smartphone apps.
This integrated solution allows payment across many public charging networks. It provides live status updates during charging, access to charging history, and receipt downloads. And it does all this within one app. But, Zap-Pay does not yet support all public charging networks, though more are continually being added.
Octopus Electroverse simplifies public EV charging. It offers a single card and app to access and pay for charging at over 300,000 public charge points across various UK networks. This setup eliminates the need for many apps or cards.
Like Zap-map, the Electroverse app lets you locate nearby chargers, view charging history, and provide a monthly billing summary to monitor spending. But, not all public networks are available, though new ones are regularly added.
All public charging networks offer pay-as-you-go options. However, frequent users of a network might benefit from a membership as lower rates are provided for a monthly fee. Many UK charging networks and third-party providers have subscription plans tailored for regular EV drivers.
These subscriptions usually involve a monthly or annual payment. In exchange, users get lower charging costs at select network locations. This offers savings and convenience for heavy users of public EV charging stations.
Although pay-as-you-go is more flexible and may suit those who use various networks, it can be costlier than a membership or subscription.
Public charging costs differ based on the charging network, charger type, location, and payment method. Typically, you’re billed per kilowatt hour, by time connected to the charger (usually by the minute), or at a flat rate.
Charging your electric car at home will add the cost of the electricity used to your next electricity bill.
Charging your electric car with a home charger is the most reliable and convenient way to charge. If you are looking to get a home EV charger installed, call us on 03333 44 96 99 or fill in the contact form at the bottom of the page.
Many employers install workplace charging points, often providing free access as a staff incentive. These points are usually accessed via employee-specific RFID cards or apps, ensuring exclusive, free use for employees. However, some employers may charge for workplace charging and offer full or reduced rates. Payments are made through RFID cards or apps linked to management software like Fuuse for easy transactions.
Most public charging points in the UK require payment. However, free options are available, such as certain workplace charging points that companies offer as incentives to their staff. For details on where to find free charging for your electric car in the UK, please refer to our blog.
Understanding EV charging payments in the UK can feel overwhelming due to the various options available for public, home, and workplace charging. Public charging stations accept multiple forms of payment, such as contactless cards, mobile apps, RFID devices, QR codes, or EV roaming services like Zap-Pay. For frequent users, subscriptions and memberships are offered to help save money.
The future of EV charging payments lies in plug & charge technology, where the car automatically gets billed upon connecting to the charge point. This technology eliminates the need for manual authentication, cards, or apps. In workplaces, charging can be either a free incentive or paid through apps or RFID cards.
Choosing the most convenient payment method is essential to have a smooth experience when you charge your car. Home charging stands out as one of the simplest options, as the charging cost is added directly to your home electricity bill without any hassle.
If you are looking to get an EV charger installed at your home, please fill in the form below or call us on 03333 44 96 99.
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This type of electric charger has it's own cable to charge your car.
This type of electric charger requires a seperate cable to charge your car.
Spread over a 60 month period.
Tenants and homeowners are eligible for finance.
You decide the amount of months.
Minimum of £1000.
We will contact you to process the credit application. Approval is subject to application, financial circumstances and borrowing history. 13.9% APR representative. T&Cs apply.
Your order is not confirmed until your application has been approved.
We lay SWA cable laid at 600mm deep, with a protective cable warning tape laid 150mm above the cable. These are laid on a sand or sifted sand soil bed then backfilled.
We position overhead cables at a minimum height of 3.5m and are run along a catenary wire. The cable run should not be accessible to vehicles.
Standard Installation
Our instant price is fixed if it falls within our standard installation package plus any additions that you have selected (extra cabling for example). This package covers the majority of homes in the UK. Before we undertake your installation we will carry out a digital survey to check that nothing has been missed. After reviewing the survey results some additional work may be required in order to complete your installation safely and to the required standards. If this is the case, we will contact you well before the installation date and advise the cost of any required work. You can then continue with your installation, or alternatively we will refund you in full if you do not want to proceed.
Included in our standard installation is :
• Fitting of a single phase charge point to a brick or plaster wall or other suitable permanent structure
• Up to 10 metres of cable, run and neatly clipped to the wall between the electricity supply meter / distribution board and the charge point.
• Routing of the cable through a drilled hole in a wall up to 500mm (20 inches) thick if this is needed.
• The fitting and testing of electrical connections and protections required for the charge point.
• An additional three way consumer unit, if required
• Installation of a Type A RCBO in an RCBO enclosure
• Up to 3 metres of plastic trunking to conceal interior wiring.
• An O-pen earth protection device if the charge point requires it. (This is NOT an earth rod)
• Up to 4 hours of labour from your installer to complete the work.
• Electrical testing of the whole installation.
• Handover and setup of the charge point and any app that may be needed.
Not included in our standard installation (additional work) :
• Where the installation requires additional cabling over and above the amount you have told us about.
• Upgrade/replacement of the main incoming supply fuse where the local DNO (eg Northern Powergrid) would need to attend site.
• If the charge point is to be mounted on a post/pedestal rather than an existing wall and where you have not selected a post as an extra cost option in your order.
• Installation of a charge point to a three phase supply.
• Where gas and water mains bonding (earthing) is not in place at your property. If this is not in place, additional work would be required before installation of the charge point.
• Any groundwork that has not been selected during the order process.
A Surge Protection Device is not included in our standard installation.
What else you need to know :
• On the day of installation, please ensure that the area around your consumer unit (fuse box), incoming electricity supply meter and proposed charge point location (including where the cable is expected to be run) is clear and free of obstructions.
• We will need your WiFi password as part of the installation process in order to connect your charge point to the internet. Please have this available for the installer. Details will not be kept.
• The charge point must be on your own designated off road parking.
• The charger will be fixed in line with current guidelines at a height where it cannot be hit by a vehicle.
• Our installers are not able to enter loft spaces; lift floorboards or flooring; take apart any furniture of work above a height of 2m. If you anticipate that any of this may be required, then please contact us and we can discuss in more detail and provide you with a quotation.
• Should there be extreme weather conditions our installers may not be able to continue with you installation if it is not safe to do so (for example flooding). They will always do their best to complete the work where they can.
If you have any questions then please contact our customer service team who will be happy to help. Please also read our terms and conditions.
