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
Charging… it's probably the number-one issue for people considering buying a fully electric or plug-in hybrid car right now. You may want to know if and how you can charge at home, how much it'll cost, how long it'll take, what 'smart charging' is, whether you can charge for free anywhere and what your options are for rapid charging while out and about on a longer journey.
Well, you've come to the right place. Scroll down below to browse our extensive library of charging content, including detailed guides to using the various electric-car charging providers and networks in the UK, as well as practical information on how charging works at home and in public, plus the latest news on new charging services, apps, networks and infrastructure in the UK.
Recommended
Complete guide to the BP Pulse (formerly Polar Plus) charging network
Complete guide to the BP Pulse (formerly Polar Plus) charging network
13 Sep 2021
Complete guide to the OZEV electric car home charging point grant
Complete guide to the OZEV electric car home charging point grant
13 Sep 2021
Octopus Electric Juice 'roaming' service passes 100,000-charger milestone
Octopus Electric Juice 'roaming' service passes 100,000-charger milestone
10 Sep 2021
More on Charging
Complete guide to the char.gy on-street charging network
Complete guide to the char.gy on-street charging network
UK firm char.gy offers councils two electric-car charging solutions for on-street charging, as well as two subscription packages for repeat users
1 Jul 2021
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
30 Jun 2021
Gridserve to build 50 ultra-rapid charging hubs as part of Electric Highway network
Gridserve to build 50 ultra-rapid charging hubs as part of Electric Highway network
The new Electric Highway network will also include 300 further rapid-charging points and 100 'Electric Forecourts' modelled on Gridserve’s flagship lo…
30 Jun 2021
Electric car wallbox installation: the complete guide
Electric car wallbox installation: the complete guide
Ever wondered what a electric car home charger installation entails? We reveal all
25 Jun 2021
Tesla charging stations: a guide to the Tesla Supercharger network
Tesla charging stations: a guide to the Tesla Supercharger network
The Tesla Supercharger network is expanding fast, providing reliable rapid charging throughout the UK for Tesla owners
24 Jun 2021
Complete guide to the IONITY charging network
Complete guide to the IONITY charging network
The manufacturer-backed IONITY rapid-charging network is expanding across the UK and Europe – here's all you need to know
23 Jun 2021
How to choose the best home EV charger
How to choose the best home EV charger
If you’re buying an electric or plug-in hybrid car, you’ll want a home EV charger to top up the battery
23 Jun 2021
UK’s first Gridserve Electric Forecourt opens for business
UK’s first Gridserve Electric Forecourt opens for business
Gridserve's Braintree charging facility in Essex boasts charging for 30 cars at up to 350kW, along with food and retail outlets
9 Jun 2021
Home wallbox charger sharing explained
Home wallbox charger sharing explained
We look at why you might consider sharing your home wallbox electric-car charger – and how you can use someone else's if you don't have your own
9 Jun 2021
Complete guide to BP Pulse (formerly Chargemaster) home chargers
Complete guide to BP Pulse (formerly Chargemaster) home chargers
Everything you need to know about BP Pulse (formerly known as BP Chargemaster) home wallbox chargers for electric and plug-in hybrid cars
3 Jun 2021
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 Jun 2021
RAC increases number of ‘EV Boost’ patrol vans for rescuing stranded electric cars
RAC increases number of ‘EV Boost’ patrol vans for rescuing stranded electric cars
One in five RAC vans will now carry the 'EV Boost' system, which can charge electric cars remotely on the roadside
27 May 2021
What is fast charging? What is rapid charging? What is ultra-rapid charging?
What is fast charging? What is rapid charging? What is ultra-rapid charging?
Fast charging, rapid charging and ultra-rapid charging are three phrases often associated with electric-car charging, but what's the difference betwee…
26 May 2021
Electric car charging points UK: Ofgem invests £300 million in charging infrastructure
Electric car charging points UK: Ofgem invests £300 million in charging infrastructure
The investment will support 1,800 ultra-rapid chargers at motorway service stations and 1,750 charge points in towns and cities
24 May 2021
New Oxford electric-car charging hub to open in 2021
New Oxford electric-car charging hub to open in 2021
Set to be the UK’s largest charging hub when it opens later this year, the 'Energy Superhub Oxford' will feature 10 300kW ultra-rapid chargers
20 May 2021
Can solar panels charge an electric car?
Can solar panels charge an electric car?
Charging your electric car with solar panels is a great way to save money in the long run. We explain why...
26 Apr 2021
Honda launches 'e:PROGRESS' intelligent home charging service
Honda launches 'e:PROGRESS' intelligent home charging service
UK is first market in Europe for the service, which promises £475 average annual savings on energy bills
14 Apr 2021
Volkswagen and Tesco Pod Point charging network hits 500,000 charges milestone
Volkswagen and Tesco Pod Point charging network hits 500,000 charges milestone
Pod Point electric-car charging is being rolled out to 600 Tesco supermarket car parks around the UK
8 Apr 2021
Electric van charging guide
Electric van charging guide
How to charge an electric van is a key consideration for new and potential electric vehicle owners, but it’s a lot easier than you might think
5 Apr 2021
Complete guide to the ecarNI charging network
Complete guide to the ecarNI charging network
Need to charge your electric car on the ecarNI charging network? Here’s how it works
1 Apr 2021
Electric car smart charging explained
Electric car smart charging explained
What is smart charging – and is it worth the added cost of installation?
19 Mar 2021
Upgrades coming for UK’s Electric Highway motorway charging network
Upgrades coming for UK’s Electric Highway motorway charging network
New chargers and improvements for existing tech, including contactless payment, are on the way for the motorway charging network in the UK
12 Mar 2021
Complete guide to the GMEV (now Be.EV) charging network
Complete guide to the GMEV (now Be.EV) charging network
Greater Manchester's 'GMEV' electric-car charging network was rebranded as 'Be.EV' in 2020, with expansion and improvement on the cards
25 Feb 2021
What is CHAdeMO charging?
What is CHAdeMO charging?
CHAdeMO is a rapid-charging DC standard, allowing fast charging of the Nissan Leaf, Toyota Prius Plug-In and many other models
25 Feb 2021