Charging
The DrivingElectric charging hub is your one-stop shop for news and information about charging electric and plug-in hybrid cars in the UK
If you’re thinking about buying your first fully electric or plug-in hybrid car, you’ve probably got a lot of questions about charging. For instance, how much does it cost to charge an electric car? How long does it take? What is ‘smart charging’? Can you charge an EV if you don’t have a driveway? Are there still places that offer free electric car charging and where can you find rapid electric car chargers when making a longer journey?
To help make things easier, we’ve put together an extensive library of content all about charging electric cars and plug-in hybrids, with detailed guides for the UK’s largest EV charging networks. Plus, practical information on how charging works at home and in public, and the latest news on new charging services, apps, networks and infrastructure in the UK.
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The UK’s fastest electric car charger is live, but it’s too fast for most EVs
The UK’s fastest electric car charger is live, but it’s too fast for most EVs
12 Sep 2024
UK EV charging network grows by 47 per cent this year
UK EV charging network grows by 47 per cent this year
30 Jul 2024
Gridserve’s new lab aims to boost electric car charging point reliability
Gridserve’s new lab aims to boost electric car charging point reliability
24 Jul 2024
More on Charging
The UK’s fastest electric car charger is live, but it’s too fast for most EVs
The UK’s fastest electric car charger is live, but it’s too fast for most EVs
Three special new chargers have appeared in Lancashire, but their full potential is going to waste
12 Sep 2024
Tethered or untethered home charger?
Tethered or untethered home charger?
Find out if you should buy a tethered or untethered EV charger and what the differences are between them
20 Aug 2024
UK EV charging network grows by 47 per cent this year
UK EV charging network grows by 47 per cent this year
Figures from the UK government show an increase in charger numbers but highlight unbalanced spread over different regions
30 Jul 2024
Gridserve’s new lab aims to boost electric car charging point reliability
Gridserve’s new lab aims to boost electric car charging point reliability
Gridserve’s new laboratory will be used to help identify and fix network faults more quickly and improve reliability when connecting EVs with chargers
24 Jul 2024
Electric car drivers confess their public charging sins
Electric car drivers confess their public charging sins
Ghost charging, plug hogging and poor parking are just some of the UK’s biggest EV-related annoyances
18 Jul 2024
EV breakdowns from flat batteries are almost as rare as petrol cars running out of fuel
EV breakdowns from flat batteries are almost as rare as petrol cars running out of fuel
Only 1.4% of EV breakdowns are due to cars running out of juice, according to the AA
18 Jul 2024
What is fast charging? What is rapid charging? What is ultra-rapid charging? EV charging speeds explained
What is fast charging? What is rapid charging? What is ultra-rapid charging? EV charging speeds explained
AC fast charging, DC rapid charging and DC ultra-rapid charging are important to understand for electric car owners, so let us explain…
16 Jul 2024
Complete guide to Pod Point home chargers
Complete guide to Pod Point home chargers
All you need to know about the Pod Point Solo 3 home wallbox charger for electric and plug-in hybrid cars
16 Jul 2024
Lidl electric car charging to be paid for via reward app
Lidl electric car charging to be paid for via reward app
Budget brand Lidl is set to be the first UK supermarket chain to allow electric car charging payments to be made through its reward scheme
10 Jul 2024
Lotus Emeya is now the fastest charging car in the world
Lotus Emeya is now the fastest charging car in the world
Lotus' first electric ‘hyper-GT’ car sets a new record by charging from 10 to 80 per cent in just 14 minutes.
12 Jun 2024
Ionity cuts electric car charging prices and expands UK network
Ionity cuts electric car charging prices and expands UK network
Ionity plans to install up to 700 new charging points by the end of 2024
5 Jun 2024
Can solar panels charge an electric car?
Can solar panels charge an electric car?
Charging an electric car with solar panels is a great way to save money and reduce your environmental impact from driving – here’s how it works
4 Jun 2024
Selling electricity back to the grid
Selling electricity back to the grid
Electric cars will sell electricity back to the grid in the future, making them even more cost-effective for owners
29 May 2024
EV charging app introduces ‘Plunge Pricing’ events to save drivers money.
EV charging app introduces ‘Plunge Pricing’ events to save drivers money.
Octopus promises to save EV drivers an average of £6.50 per charge during ‘Plunge Pricing’ events for the rest of 2024
20 May 2024
How much does it cost to charge an electric car?
How much does it cost to charge an electric car?
It should cost less to run an electric car than a combustion one, but exactly how much does it cost to charge one up?
15 May 2024
What is CHAdeMO charging?
What is CHAdeMO charging?
CHAdeMO was the original rapid-charging DC standard and allows for quick top-ups in a few Japanese electric cars
13 May 2024
Best home electric car chargers 2023-2024: how to choose the right EV wallbox
Best home electric car chargers 2023-2024: how to choose the right EV wallbox
If you're buying an electric or plug-in hybrid car and you have a driveway or off-street parking, then you'll want a home EV charger to top up its bat…
3 May 2024
Complete guide to the InstaVolt charging network
Complete guide to the InstaVolt charging network
Need to charge up your electric car on the InstaVolt charging network? Here’s how it works
2 May 2024
Complete guide to the IONITY rapid-charging network
Complete guide to the IONITY rapid-charging network
Manufacturer-backed IONITY rapid-charging network is expanding across the UK and Europe – here's all you need to know
2 May 2024
Tesla Supercharger network: complete guide to Tesla charging stations
Tesla Supercharger network: complete guide to Tesla charging stations
The Tesla Supercharger network is expanding fast, providing rapid charging throughout the UK to Tesla and non-Tesla owners
22 Apr 2024
Tesla Supercharger Membership fee cut with 42 charging sites open to all EVs
Tesla Supercharger Membership fee cut with 42 charging sites open to all EVs
Tesla has lowered its Supercharger Membership costs for non-Tesla owners by £2 per month
19 Apr 2024
Electric car charging points near me: UK map and network guide
Electric car charging points near me: UK map and network guide
Use our simple guide to find your nearest electric-car charging points for topping up electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles while out and about
12 Apr 2024
Complete guide to the ChargePlace Scotland charging network
Complete guide to the ChargePlace Scotland charging network
Searching for EV charging points in Scotland? Everything you need to know about the ChargePlace Scotland network
10 Apr 2024
Free electric-car charging near me: Does it exist? How do you get it?
Free electric-car charging near me: Does it exist? How do you get it?
Our guide to charging your electric car without shelling out
4 Apr 2024