INTRODUCTION
Electric vehicles (EVs) are rapidly growing in popularity, with an estimated 975,000 fully electric vehicles on UK roads, so it’s no wonder that electric car charging points are beginning to pop up all over the country. But what about free EV charging? Although most public charge points will ask you to pay a fee to top up your battery, some places offer free charging to the public.
In this guide, we’ll take a look at all the electric car charging point options available to drivers and where to find free EV charging when planning a trip in your EV.
HOW MANY FREE EV CHARGING POINTS ARE THERE?
One of the biggest barriers preventing people from making the switch to EVs is the perceived lack of publicly available charging infrastructure. However, as the UK government pushes towards its net zero target and encourages drivers to switch to electric, more and more EV charging stations have been popping up.
According to ZapMap, of the 66,779 public EV chargers in the UK, 2,354 were free to use. Of these free chargers, 286 were located in Scotland, 438 in the Southeast of England and 286 in London.
The majority of these chargers are fast chargers (charging at around 22kWh) and deliver a full charge in approximately 3 hours, though this will depend on your battery size.
Common places to find free EV charging in the UK include supermarkets, hotels, large public car parks and attractions such as museums and cinemas.
TYPES OF EV CHARGING STATIONS IN THE UK
When choosing a location to charge your EV, there are several things you may need to consider. For example, electric car charging points come in different charging speeds that will affect how long you will need to set aside to complete your charge.
Fast chargers – popular for home charging and public charging alike, these chargers charge at speeds of 7kW to 22kW and will charge your car in 3 to 8 hours depending on the charger speed and size of your car battery.
Rapid chargers – often found in public spaces such as petrol stations, rapid chargers charge at speeds of 43kW, charging a car to 80 percent in 20-40 minutes depending on the car’s battery size. However, rapid charging is not recommended as your sole source of charging as it can deplete your vehicle’s battery health over time.
Ultra-rapid chargers – can charge at speeds of up to 100kW or more, capable of fully charging some cars in as little as 20 minutes, though this technology is currently limited to newer and more expensive EVs
The best way to calculate how long it will take to charge your car is by using the following equation:
Battery size (kWh) ÷ Charger power (kWh) = Charging time (hours)
Many EV charging stations will be tethered, meaning they come with a charging cable already attached. However, this is not guaranteed, so it is a good idea to keep your own cable with you just in case you find yourself needing to use an untethered charge point.
FINDING FREE EV CHARGING
If you’re looking for free EV charging near you, the best way to do so is using an app such as ZapMap, which shows you an EV charging map with the exact location and status of public EV chargers in your area.
The most common places you can expect to find free EV charging include large public car parks- such as supermarket or shopping centre car parks-, hotels and accommodation, and attractions such as National Trust properties and leisure centres.
When planning to use a free EV charge point, you should avoid waiting until your battery is almost flat, as free chargers are likely to be higher in demand and often charge at slower speeds than paid-for public chargers.
PLANNING YOUR EV JOURNEY
If you’re planning a long journey in your EV, then you may need to stop for a charge top up. Make sure to charge your car before you set off and when picking your route, use an EV charging map to plan a route that takes you past EV chargers located in a convenient place to stop. Depending on the website or app you use, you may be able to view the status of each charger, so you know whether you will need to bring your own charging cable with you.
ALTERNATIVES TO PUBLIC EV CHARGING
Though public charging has its merits, many drivers do not like to rely solely on free EV chargers to charge their cars. A popular alternative to public charging is for drivers to have their own personal chargers installed in their homes. This means they will never have to go far to find a charger and can even save money by charging their vehicles overnight using lower, off-peak energy rates.
Many employers are also starting to offer EV charging to their employees. This is a convenient way for workers to recharge their cars whilst at work, often for a cheaper price than if they had used a public charge point.
Not only does this encourage employees to be greener, but having EV charging stations available can help create new streams of income for businesses, and boost their brand perception with green initiatives.
If you want to find out more about installing an EV charger in your home or business, get a free, no-obligation installation quote from Yü Charge today.