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.
Recommended
Complete guide to BP Pulse (formerly BP Chargemaster) home chargers
Complete guide to BP Pulse (formerly BP Chargemaster) home chargers
10 May 2023
Complete guide to the Source London charging network
Complete guide to the Source London charging network
28 Apr 2023
Complete guide to the Ubitricity charging network
Complete guide to the Ubitricity charging network
28 Apr 2023
Tesla Supercharger network: complete guide to Tesla charging stations
Tesla Supercharger network: complete guide to Tesla charging stations
4 Apr 2023
More on Charging
Complete guide to BP Pulse (formerly BP Chargemaster) home chargers
Complete guide to BP Pulse (formerly BP Chargemaster) home chargers
BP Pulse (formerly known as BP Chargemaster) no longer sells home chargers to the public – we've got everything you need to know
10 May 2023
Complete guide to the Source London charging network
Complete guide to the Source London charging network
Not familiar with the Source London electric-car charging network? Here’s how to sign up, pay and charge your car at one of its on-street points
28 Apr 2023
Complete guide to the Ubitricity charging network
Complete guide to the Ubitricity charging network
Here's how to use the Shell-owned Ubitricity network, which offers convenient on-street charging through lamp-posts and bollards
28 Apr 2023
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 reliable rapid charging throughout the UK to Tesla and non-Tesla owners alike
4 Apr 2023
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
17 Mar 2023
New PoGo rapid charging network launches in the UK
New PoGo rapid charging network launches in the UK
PoGo intends to install over 100 ultra-rapid chargers in 2023, and build more than 2,000 charging stations over the next four years
28 Feb 2023
What is a Type 2 charging cable?
What is a Type 2 charging cable?
Every electric car sold in the UK uses the Type 2 connector to charge. Here’s everything you need to know about charging an EV…
28 Feb 2023
What is a CCS charger?
What is a CCS charger?
We explain what a CCS electric-car rapid charger is, where to find one, and how to use them
21 Feb 2023
What is a wallbox charger? Electric car home chargers explained
What is a wallbox charger? Electric car home chargers explained
What is a wallbox charger? What does it do? Do you really need one if you have an electric car? Here, we answer the most common questions about chargi…
21 Feb 2023
What is CHAdeMO charging?
What is CHAdeMO charging?
CHAdeMO was the original rapid-charging DC standard and allows for quick top-ups in the Nissan Leaf, plus a handful of other models
20 Feb 2023
Complete guide to the Swarco E.Connect charging network
Complete guide to the Swarco E.Connect charging network
Here’s what you need to know before charging your electric car on the Swarco E.Connect network...
10 Feb 2023
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 three phrases often associated with electric-car charging, but what's the differen…
7 Feb 2023
Complete guide to the BP Pulse (formerly Polar Plus) charging network
Complete guide to the BP Pulse (formerly Polar Plus) charging network
Here's how to charge your electric or plug-in hybrid car on the BP Pulse public charging network (which was formerly known as Polar Plus)
2 Feb 2023
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 petrol or diesel one, but exactly how much does it cost to charge one up?
30 Jan 2023
Complete guide to the Gridserve (formerly Ecotricity) Electric Highway charging network
Complete guide to the Gridserve (formerly Ecotricity) Electric Highway charging network
Need to charge your electric vehicle on the Gridserve Electric Highway network? Here's how it works, how much it costs and how to pay
26 Jan 2023
Complete guide to the Fastned electric-car charging network in the UK
Complete guide to the Fastned electric-car charging network in the UK
Dutch company Fastned has a handful of charging hubs in England, and an extensive network on the continent
25 Jan 2023
Complete guide to the Shell Recharge charging network
Complete guide to the Shell Recharge charging network
Need to charge your electric car on the Shell Recharge charging network? Here’s how it works
18 Jan 2023
Complete guide to the MFG (Motor Fuel Group) EV Power electric-car charging network
Complete guide to the MFG (Motor Fuel Group) EV Power electric-car charging network
Motor Fuel Group plans to install more than 3,000 ultra-rapid 150kW and 350kW chargers across the UK by 2030
18 Jan 2023
Best home electric car chargers 2023: how to choose the right EV wallbox
Best home electric car chargers 2023: 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 adjacent to your property, then you'll want a home EV…
6 Jan 2023
Electric car battery swap: NIO network explained
Electric car battery swap: NIO network explained
NIO already has an established battery-swap network in China, but it's coming to the UK in 2023...
30 Dec 2022
What is pre-conditioning?
What is pre-conditioning?
Heating or cooling your car, and pre-conditioning its battery before you leave, is an electric-car luxury everyone should enjoy
20 Dec 2022
What are kWh, kW and Ah?
What are kWh, kW and Ah?
These units often crop up when electric cars are discussed – but what do they actually mean?
12 Dec 2022
Complete guide to Hypervolt home electric car chargers
Complete guide to Hypervolt home electric car chargers
Here’s everything you need to know about the Hypervolt Home 2.0 wallbox charger for electric cars
1 Dec 2022
Complete guide to Pod Point home chargers
Complete guide to Pod Point home chargers
Find out all you need to know about the Pod Point Solo 3 home wallbox charger for electric cars
29 Nov 2022