Where to charge an electric car

All you need to know about where to charge your EV

The public network, home and work are the three most popular places where you can charge your electric car. While home charging is the most convenient, allowing you to top up overnight, the UK EV charging network is continually expanding, with the likes of the GRIDSERVE Electric Highway leading the way.

In fact, as of January 2025, there are over 70,000 electric vehicle chargers across the UK at motorway service stations, retail parks, supermarkets and leisure centre car parks.

The number of public chargers has almost doubled in the past two years with almost one charger for every EV on the road.

GRIDSERVE opened 400 new charging bays in 2024, completed nearly 2.5 million charging sessions on the with over 60GWh of energy delivered – enough to power over 250 million electric vehicles miles.

So how do you find your nearest EV charging stations, how do you install a home EV charger and how much does it cost to charge your electric car at work? Our complete guide will walk you through all the essentials of where to charge your electric car.

Electric car charging near me

To find your nearest public charger, you can search using a digital mapping service from the likes of Google or a specialist charging app such as Zap Map or our very own GRIDSERVE app or online map.

Maps will display all the chargers near you or at a chosen location, with details of the types of chargers available, the operator, whether it’s currently in use and if there are any issues.

EV chargers on the GRIDSERVE Electric Highway can be mostly found at more than 80 per cent of the UK’s motorway service stations, with a mix of rapid charging and ultra-rapid charging, as well as popular retail parks and, of course, our flagship Electric Forecourts®. And we’re turning on more sites each month to increase the coverage.

New electric vehicle charging sites open on the GRIDSERVE Electric Highway

Our customers have made GRIDSERVE the most used network in the UK, with over 250,000 charging sessions taking place each month.

Each of our sites offers contactless payment to make it as easy as possible to charge, all powered by 100% net zero carbon energy.

And more and more EV charging locations are opening every month, whether that’s our Electric Super Hubs along the UK’s busiest roads or our Electric Retail Hubs at popular shopping destinations.

You can keep up to date with the latest electric car charging stations opening near you here or checkout our best rated EV charging locations as voted by customers.

How to use a public charging point for the first time

The basics of EV charging, whether you’re at home or at a public EV charging station, are straightforward: you plug in, pay and away you go.

Each type of charger will have its nuances, whether you plug in before or after starting a charge and how you pay for it. We’ve equipped all GRIDSERVE chargers with contactless payment capability and zero membership sign up for complete, seamless charging (although we do recommend downloading our app for the best EV charging experience).

Check the screen to make sure your charge has started – you’ll likely hear a few clunks as the vehicle connects to the charger. Progress of your charge can often be viewed and controlled via a vehicle’s app (or the GRIDSERVE app) as well as the charging screen on a public unit, so you can keep an eye on the percentage.

On GRIDSERVE chargers, simply tap your contactless card again to stop the charge.

Nearly all rapid and ultra-rapid EV chargers across the UK will have cables attached to the charging unit which you plug into your car. This is what is known as a tethered cable. For lower power slow chargers (often AC), you’ll sometimes need to bring your own cable to connect to the charger. This is known as an untethered cable.

For more on how to charge and how electric vehicle chargers work, check out our complete guide here.

How to pay for public EV charging

The majority of chargers in the UK now feature contactless payment and many no longer require you to sign up for membership before paying.

That’s thanks to the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023, which mandated that from November 2024, all new public charge points must offer contactless payment. That’s something that has always been the case across the GRIDSERVE Electric Highway.

It means paying for public EV charging is simple and stress-free. Simply plug in and tap your contactless card or device and the charge will start.

For more details on how much it costs to charge your EV on the public network, check out our complete guide here.

Charging at motorway services

The most popular location for on-the-go electric vehicle charging is at motorway services where you’ll find rapid and ultra-rapid charge points.

At GRIDSERVE, we have chargers at more than 80% of motorway services with our Electric Super Hubs providing banks of six or more High Power chargers, with power up to 360kW, on key transport routes.

We’re constantly expanding our motorway service station public charging network, too, with popular existing sites upgraded to offer more chargers where customers need them most.

The fastest chargers on UK motorways

Motorway service stations are where you’ll find the fastest electric vehicle chargers, with charge point operators installing High Power chargers so drivers can get on the move quicker.

Our fastest electric vehicle charger is capable of delivering up to 360kW of power (you’ll find these at motorway services, our Electric Forecourts® and at some of our popular retail locations). When you plug in an electric car that’s capable of charging at this rate, the EV charger will add 100 miles in just five minutes.

In reality, the majority of cars charge at around 150-200kW, which means when you’re plugged into an ultra-rapid charger, it’ll take about 30 minutes to go from 10% to 80%.

Charging power (and therefore speed) is also site specific and is based on the amount of power the electric vehicle charging station is able to get from its grid connection. So even a 360kW may operate at a lower power at peak times or when the charging station is busy.

Best apps for finding motorway charging points

Smartphone apps are a great way to find electric vehicle charging stations across the UK, whether that’s at motorways or retail parks.

The best and easiest way to find, charge and monitor your charge on the GRIDSERVE Electric Highway is with the GRIDSERVE app. You can plan your route, check live availability and find latest pricing.

The most popular app for a complete picture of the EV charging network across the UK is Zapmap. This will show slower on-street chargers as well as rapid and ultra-rapid chargers at retail parks, supermarkets and motorway services, plus help you hotels with chargers.

Charging at supermarkets and retail parks

While motorway service stations provide High Power, ultra-rapid on-the-go charging to get you moving as quickly as possibly, charging at a supermarket or retail park can also be incredibly convenient.

If you’re already parking somewhere for around an hour, then why not plug in and charge? At GRIDSERVE we support this type of destination charging with our Electric Retail Hubs. These are often located in retail parks near major towns or A-roads allowing us to provide charging to the local area but also passing traffic.

Often EV chargers at supermarkets and retail parks will be lower powered, although increasingly we’re seeing rapid and ultra-rapid charging installed in favour of slow chargers.

It’s also worth noting that in some retail parks or supermarkets where you have to pay for parking, if you are plugged in to an electric vehicle charger, your parking is complimentary. Always check the local parking rules though – including the amount of time you’re permitted to stay.

How to find free EV charging stations

You might be surprised to learn that there are still some free electric vehicle charging stations in the UK. According to Zapmap, as of February 2025, there are just under 2,000 EV charge points where you can plug in for free.

About two-thirds of these free chargers are slow chargers and are often found at electric car dealerships, popular tourist attractions (such as National Trust sites, garden centres or zoos) or in hotel car parks. Often, you’ll have to be a customer to access the free charging.

The easiest way to find these free EV charging stations is to visit Zapmap and filter its map.

How to plan a road trip with an electric car

The reality is that with so many EV public charging stations across the UK, a road trip in an electric car is much the same as one with a petrol or diesel car. The range of the majority of electric cars (the average is now well above 200 miles) means you’ll probably need to stop for a comfort break or refreshments before your battery does.

That said, it still makes sense to plan ahead so you know when and where you can charge your electric car on your journey. This will take the stress out of your journey, especially if you encounter traffic or other unforeseen delays.

Here are some tips for planning your next EV road trip:

• Find charging stations with amenities: At GRIDSERVE we focus on putting chargers where drivers need them, often conveniently located near toilets, food outlets and shops. Planning a stop that has facilities nearby is a great way to plug in while you’re recharging too.
• Plot a route with multiple charging options: If you’re travelling at peak times or during school holidays, some of the most popular EV charging stations can become very busy. We recommend having a few options on your route so you can navigate elsewhere if you don’t want to queue.
• Book accommodation with charging: Some hotels or holiday homes will offer EV charging as part of your stay. This is a great way to keep charged up while you’re in the spa or walking in the countryside.
• Visit locations with charging: Popular tourist attractions will often offer EV charging in their car parks – sometimes free. Do your research in advance and you’ll be able to take advantage of charging while seeing the sights.

Electric car charging at home

Home charging is the easiest and cheapest way to charge if you own an EV. Gone are the days of special trips to the petrol station, instead your car will happily recharge while you’re sat with your feet up indoors.

You also don’t need to worry about fluctuating fuel prices, with your electricity showing up on your domestic energy bill and charged at the same rate as turning on the lights. There’s also the option to make the most of flexible energy tariffs to charge your electric car when electricity is cheaper.

To make the most of domestic charging, you’ll install a home EV charger – often known as a wallbox. Home charging wallboxes typically cost around £1,000 although grants exist that can net you a discount for those eligible.

What is an electric car home charging wallbox?

An EV wallbox is a specialised home electric car charging point that’s connected to your mains electricity and typically placed in your garage or outside your house, close to the mains power supply.

A wallbox charger is far superior to just plugging in via a three-pin socket as it lets you charge your electric car at a much faster rate and is much safer. Plus, with smart technology controlled via smartphone available on most modern units, you can take advantage of scheduled off peak charging when electricity is cheaper.

There are plenty of options for wallboxes from a variety of different providers, with tethered or untethered cable options.

A tethered charger has a cable attached to the wallbox, so all you have to do is plug it into your car. It saves the hassle of going into your boot for cables every time you need to charge.

An untethered charger doesn’t have its own lead, so you do have to use your cables – but the advantage is that you can use either a Type 1 or Type 2 connector, depending on which one your car uses.

The more powerful the wallbox, the quicker its ability to charge. The most common choice is a 7kW wallbox, as it charges a car overnight, but you can get lower (and slower) 3.6kW units that deliver the standard three-pin domestic socket power, or faster 22kW chargers. For these you’ll probably need to upgrade your domestic supply and, even then, some electric cars can’t receive a 22kW AC charge.

Electric car home charging installation

An approved engineer can install and commission your EV wallbox in half a day, including pairing the device with your smartphone.

Prior to their visit, however, you’ll have supplied the chosen installer with a completed site survey, which shares details of your electricity supply and provides pictures of your fuse box and the intended location of the wallbox.

All of these details help the engineering team consider specifications and cable routing before attending on site.

It’s also worth considering where you charging port is located on your electric car. If you prefer to park a certain way or have restrictions on your drive, make sure you have the home charging wallbox installed on the correct side.

How much does it cost to install a home charger?

Fitting a wallbox isn’t necessarily cheap, so expect a bill of around £1,000, but you’ll soon see the savings. Within just 20 trips to the petrol station, you’ll have covered the costs of installing a home EV charger.

The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) was a government-funded scheme that grants for up to 75% towards the cost of installing home chargepoints.

It applied to any domestic residence if you lived there and had a qualifying vehicle registered there. However, the scheme was ended in April 2022 due to the increased uptake of EVs, and replaced by a new scheme called the EV Chargepoint Grant.

So what is the new EV Chargepoint Grant? On the face of it, the new EV Chargepoint Grant is very similar to the old EVHS grant system, in that it also gives you up to 75% (up to £350) off the cost of a home charger installation.

However, the new scheme no longer applies to people who own a house. The EV Chargepoint Grant is only available to people who own flats, or those who rent their accommodation.

Alongside either renting your home or owning a flat, you must prove you have an eligible vehicle to qualify for the grant. The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) publishes a list of eligible vehicles here.

The list, which contains everything from Audis to Volvos, also contains a number of plug-in hybrid vehicles which meet the OZEV threshold for the amount of electric miles they must be capable of on a charge.

You can’t claim the EV Chargepoint Grant if you’ve claimed before (even the old EVHS grant). You also can’t claim if you’re moving house or want to replace an existing chargepoint with a new one. You also must have an off-street, private parking space that is owned or legally assigned to you, and the installer will have to assess if the space is suitable for charging.

Rather than apply for the grant yourself you need to contact an approved installer, who will apply for the grant on your behalf. Installers are required to process the claims to cut down the risk of incorrectly completed forms.

The installer will make sure that the property fits the scheme’s requirements, and deal with your electricity company if any upgrades are necessary for the supply. After the wallbox has been installed, the installer will apply for a grant rebate. The customer will be invoiced for the cost of the installation, minus the amount of grant the installer will claim.

What is the best charger for home charging?

There are now more than 700,000 electric vehicle home chargers installed in the UK with the number rapidly rising as EV registrations continue to soar.

As with any growing market, there are an increasing number of brands to choose from when it comes to picking your home wallbox. Here are a few key considerations when picking your electric car home charging unit:

• Smart technology: Take advantage of smart energy tariffs with a connected home charger that will can be scheduled to charge your car when electricity is cheapest. It’ll save you even more money.
• Software over-the-air updates: Electric vehicle charging technology is ever-evolving so it’s a good idea to buy a wallbox that can be updated remotely – just like your smartphone or laptop. It’ll stop your home charger from becoming outdated.
• Reliability: Check reviews from existing customers to see how reliable they find their units and also opt for one that has a good length warranty in case anything does go wrong.
• Design: Some wallboxes are better looking than others and if you’ve got a particular style of house you might want your charger to match the aesthetic. Some also have clever cable tidying solutions to add a sleeker look to the wallbox.
• Cost to install: Do your research to check how much the company will charge to install at your property. Some houses require more work so make sure the full schedule to work is agreed upfront.

How much does it cost to charge at home?

Even with fluctuating energy prices, charging at home is still the cheapest way to keep your electric car battery topped up.

You’ll be billed with your domestic electricity supply. Fortunately, many forward-thinking energy companies now offer electric car tariffs, which when coupled with a smart wallbox charger, will secure you great cost savings for charging at off peak times (i.e. overnight when electricity is much cheaper per kWh).

According to a recent report the average saving over five years for someone charging at home was £5,317.

Is it possible to own an electric car without a home charger?

Yes, it absolutely is possible to own an electric car without a home charger. In fact, it’s never been easier – and contrary to popular myths it’s still often cheaper to drive an EV even if you can’t charge at home.

A recent report highlighted that for drivers without access to home charging and have an annual yearly mileage of 10,000, it was still cheaper for almost half over five years. If you don’t drive as much (an average annual mileage of 5,000 miles), then that increase to over 60%.

Electric car charging without a driveway

Having off-street parking makes charging at home easy but even if you don’t have a driveway, it is still possible to charge at home but there are some rules to follow. That’s good because about a third of UK homes don’t have a driveway – rising to about two-thirds in major towns and cities.

You probably won’t be able to install a home EV charger (without first getting planning permission) but you are allowed to run a cable that is plugged directly into your house. This will be slower than a wallbox and won’t have the smart technology but it will allow you to top up while you’re at home.

Health and safety rules dictate that you can’t just trail cables across the pavement without first covering them with protectors that have visible markings to alert pedestrians. This complies with Section 162 of The Highways Act 1980.

Some companies now offer the option to cut gulleys into the pavement to run cables. These can be pricey and require council permission but are becoming increasingly common as local authorities look favourable on solutions that lower emissions in their areas and improve air quality.

Electric car charging for flats

Living in a flat doesn’t mean you can’t charge your electric car at home. In fact, the EV Chargepoint Grant is only available to people who own flats, or those who rent their accommodation.

In order to be eligible, you must have an off-street, private parking space that is owned or legally assigned to you as part of living in that flat.

Clearly, if you have an underground car park or it’s a new build you might struggle to install cabling required, especially if your flat is a leasehold rather than freehold. The best course of action is to speak to your property manager to find out what is possible.

Electric car charging at work

Increasingly offices, factories and other workplaces are installing EV chargers for employees, especially if they operate pool cars or fleets.

It’s a great cost-effective way to charge an electric car while it’s parked up and you’re working; even more so if your company is covering the energy cost.

Depending on the equipment that’s been installed, the charger could be anything from a commercial wallbox charging unit (most likely between 7kW and 22kW) all the way up to 50kW DC supplied charge points that will deliver much faster charging.

As an example, the Volkswagen ID.3 with 58kWh battery would take eight to 12 hours on a 7kW charger to get from 0-100%. This would reduce to a getting a few hours if you had a faster 50kW DC charger at work.

If you work in an office and only use the car for commuting, the slowly 7kW unit would be perfect to get you almost full during the working day.

Electric car charging workplace grants

Companies can get government help to pay for charger installation through the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS), a voucher-based scheme run by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) and administered by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

Together, that alphabet soup of agencies contributes to the upfront costs of purchase and installation. The Workplace Charging Scheme provides up to 75% for the cost of installing the first 40 electric vehicle chargers owned by the organisation – this can be businesses, charities and public sector organisations.

How much does it cost to charge at work?

If you have an employer that provides access to electric vehicle chargers, you could find yourself with reasons to celebrate.

The first is that electricity isn’t classed as a vehicle fuel by HMRC, so there are no Benefit-in-Kind tax payments to make if an employer provides free charging to you as a member of staff.

We’re increasingly seeing organisations offer free charging as a perk to staff, while some are also using it as a way of incentivising its employees to go electric. It will be interesting to see how long companies will continue to pay for staff to charge for free, but if companies commit to using only sustainable electricity, it’s entirely possible that it will continue to be a perk.

However, companies might decide to offer some free time, but charge for anything beyond that. Some organisations that have already installed chargers for employees have created their own payment schemes, with fixed-price plans for access.

That form of discounting the cost of electricity for staff would still be a cheap way to charge, though, as it’ll likely be cheaper than charging on the public network or adding it to your home electricity bill.