Where can I charge my electric car for free? locations revealed

ELECTRIC cars are growing in popularity as UK legislation aims to phase out petrol and diesel car production.

With that in mind, it can be helpful to look at how you can charge an electric car and how much it costs to run one. Here’s everything you need to know.

1

Where can I charge my electric car for free?

There are three categories of free electric car charging stations in the UK.

These are attractions, hotels and accommodation, and parking lots.

It is also free in some supermarkets.

Stores with free electric vehicle charging points include: Sainsbury’s, Lidl and Aldi.

Pod Point is the network provider and free charging is mainly done through their 7/22kW fast chargers.

Morrisons, Waitrose, Tesco and Asda also have electric vehicle charging stations, but they are not free to use on a pay-as-you-go basis.

How much does it cost to charge an electric car?

According to the RACit costs an average of 70.32p per kilowatt hour for fast charging on a usage basis in February 2023, up from 44.55p (58%) in May 2022 and 63.29p (11%) in September 2022.

It’s a lot cheaper to charge your car at home, although it takes longer.

Home charging currently costs just £17.87, despite record high energy prices in the UK.

Faster top-ups may be more convenient in terms of time, but those who do will end up racking up massive fees over time.

How much does it cost to install an electric car charger at home?

A home charging station typically costs between £800 and £1,500. That price, according to DriveElectric, depends on which home charger installer you choose and which charging model you choose.

It is important to note that once you have paid the rate, you only have to pay for the electricity you use to charge it.

In April 2022, the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS), which provided grants for installing home chargers, closed.

However, the Zero Emission Vehicles Agency has announced that a similar program is available for people who live in apartments or currently rent their home.

As with the previous scheme, the Government will contribute up to £350 towards the cost of a charging station and its installation to encourage greener driving.