Public charging networks

The UK’s public charging infrastructure is growing rapidly, with over 50,000 charging points now available across the country. While home charging is the most convenient option, public networks are essential for long-distance travel and for drivers without off-street parking.

1. Types of Public Charging

  • Destination Charging (3kW - 22kW): Found at hotels, car parks, and supermarkets. These are intended for when you are parked for several hours.
  • Rapid and Ultra-Rapid (50kW - 350kW): Found at motorway service stations and dedicated charging hubs (like GRIDSERVE or Ionity). These are for quick top-ups during a journey.
  • On-Street Charging: Lamppost chargers or pavement bollards for residents without driveways.

2. Finding and Planning

You no longer need to worry about “range anxiety” if you use the right tools:

  • Zap-Map: The most popular UK app for finding chargers. It includes real-time status updates (showing if a charger is currently in use or broken) and user reviews.
  • A Better Routeplanner (ABRP): Excellent for long trips. You input your car model and destination, and it tells you exactly where to stop and for how long.
  • In-Car Navigation: Most modern EVs (like Tesla or BMW) will automatically plan charging stops into your route and even pre-condition the battery for faster charging.

3. How to Pay

The UK government has mandated that all new rapid chargers must offer contactless payment. However, for older chargers or slower on-street units, you may still need:

  1. Network Apps: Some networks require you to use their specific app to start a session.
  2. RFID Cards: Useful if you frequently use the same network.
  3. Roaming Services: Services like Octopus Electroverse or Shell Recharge provide a single card/app that works across multiple different networks, simplifying your billing.

Charging Etiquette: Once your car has reached 80% charge or you have enough range to reach your destination, it is polite to move your car so others can use the charger. Many networks charge “idle fees” if you stay plugged in after charging has finished.

4. Cost of Public Charging

Public charging is significantly more expensive than home charging due to the high cost of the hardware and the electricity connection.

  • Rapid Charging: Typically costs between 60p and 85p per kWh.
  • Subscriptions: Some networks offer a monthly subscription (e.g., BP Pulse or Tesla) which reduces the per-kWh rate.