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
How to charge your electric car without a driveway
How to charge your electric car without a driveway
We take a look at the charging networks and new solutions for keeping an EV topped up if you live in a flat or house without a driveway
13 Jul 2022
How long does it take to charge an electric car?
How long does it take to charge an electric car?
It can take anywhere from a few minutes to several days to charge an electric car, depending on how you do it. Here's why...
6 Jul 2022
What is vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charging?
What is vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charging?
It won’t be long before your electric car will be able to sell electricity back to the grid from its batteries, helping you save even more money
21 Jun 2022
Electric car smart charging explained
Electric car smart charging explained
What is smart charging – and what are the benefits for you?
10 Jun 2022
Pop-up solar-powered charging hub launches in UK
Pop-up solar-powered charging hub launches in UK
The Papilio3 is a modular solar charging unit that can be deployed anywhere in just 24 hours – providing charging for up to 12 electric cars
27 May 2022
Rapid charging prices rise by 21%, but EVs are still cheaper to run
Rapid charging prices rise by 21%, but EVs are still cheaper to run
The cost of UK rapid charging has shot up in recent months, but petrol and diesel prices are rising even faster
26 May 2022
Tesla Supercharger network opens to other EVs in the UK
Tesla Supercharger network opens to other EVs in the UK
15 stations and 158 chargers across the Supercharger network are now open for other electric-car users in the the UK
18 May 2022
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
17 May 2022
Complete guide to the OZEV EVHS electric car home charging point grant
Complete guide to the OZEV EVHS electric car home charging point grant
The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) electric car wallbox charger grant (aka EV Homecharge Scheme, or EVHS) is no longer offered to homeowners…
10 May 2022
Volkswagen and BP team up to boost EV charger rollout
Volkswagen and BP team up to boost EV charger rollout
Volkswagen’s battery-based Flexpole chargers can reach speeds of 150kW, but don’t require high-powered grid connections, making them faster to install
28 Apr 2022
Gridserve opens Electric Forecourt charging hub in Norwich
Gridserve opens Electric Forecourt charging hub in Norwich
The Norwich Electric Forecourt features 36 ultra-rapid chargers, more than doubling the number of high-powered charging points in the region
20 Apr 2022
Government pledges £1.6bn for EV drivers; focus on those without off-street parking
Government pledges £1.6bn for EV drivers; focus on those without off-street parking
New statement from DfT outlines funds to cater for electric-car drivers without a driveway or designated parking, plus simpler charging across the UK
25 Mar 2022
Jaguar creates portable EV charger from recycled I-Pace batteries
Jaguar creates portable EV charger from recycled I-Pace batteries
Repurposed batteries from the I-Pace electric SUV have been used to create a portable EV charger, which holds enough energy to power a house for a wee…
15 Mar 2022
Uber funding installation of over 700 on-street EV chargers across London
Uber funding installation of over 700 on-street EV chargers across London
The 700 new Uber-branded chargers will installed across the London boroughs of Newham, Brent, and Redbridge, and will be available for all to use
14 Mar 2022
Complete guide to the ESB EV Solutions electric-car charging network
Complete guide to the ESB EV Solutions electric-car charging network
Need to charge your electric car on the ESB EV Solutions charging network? This is how it works
14 Mar 2022
Gridserve to scale back Electric Highway exclusivity rights to encourage competition
Gridserve to scale back Electric Highway exclusivity rights to encourage competition
The operator of the Electric Highway charging network will scale back its exclusivity rights at service areas, following industry watchdog investigati…
8 Mar 2022
Complete guide to EO Charging home charging stations
Complete guide to EO Charging home charging stations
Everything you need to know about EO Charging's line-up of electric-car home wallbox chargers
3 Mar 2022
Gridserve opens Welsh rapid-charging hub as part of Electric Highway network
Gridserve opens Welsh rapid-charging hub as part of Electric Highway network
The new Swansea location features six 350kW ultra-rapid chargers; they’re just a few of the 4,000 units the government has committed to installing acr…
17 Feb 2022
How Osprey is driving EV charging growth in the UK
How Osprey is driving EV charging growth in the UK
Osprey’s expansion will create more than 150 new charging hubs in the UK – here’s a look at the company and the technology it deploys
4 Feb 2022
Best electric-car charging-point providers in the UK: Driver Power 2021
Best electric-car charging-point providers in the UK: Driver Power 2021
The Tesla Supercharger network has again topped Driver Power’s list of the best UK charging-point providers
10 Jan 2022
Electric van charging guide
Electric van charging guide
Wondering how to charge an electric van? It's a key consideration for new and potential owners, but it's a lot easier than you might think
5 Jan 2022
Osprey opens London electric-car charging hub
Osprey opens London electric-car charging hub
The new Croydon location features six charging points capable of speeds up to 175kW and is one of 150 new sites Osprey plans to open
17 Dec 2021
Best EV tariffs: electricity deals for electric-car owners
Best EV tariffs: electricity deals for electric-car owners
Why should you choose a tailored electric-car tariff for your home electricity? And how much can you save? Find out here
16 Dec 2021
All new homes and offices required to have EV charging points
All new homes and offices required to have EV charging points
The government is set to confirm plans to introduce laws to ensure all new homes and office are fitted with electric-car charging points from 2022
22 Nov 2021