Buying advice

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

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.

Richard is editor of DrivingElectric, as well as sister site Carbuyer.co.uk, and a regular contributor to Auto Express. An electric and hybrid car advocate, he spent more than five years working on the news and reviews desk at Auto Express and has driven almost every new car currently on sale.

Recommended

Has the UK given up on EVs? New government ‘Plan for Drivers’ says no
Plan for Drivers
News

Has the UK given up on EVs? New government ‘Plan for Drivers’ says no

3 Oct 2023
Comment: finance, funding and fuel prices means now’s the best time to buy an EV
Header
Comment

Comment: finance, funding and fuel prices means now’s the best time to buy an EV

15 Sep 2023
BP Pulse opens UK’s biggest EV charging station
BP Pulse Gigahub
News

BP Pulse opens UK’s biggest EV charging station

7 Sep 2023
Best home electric car chargers 2023: how to choose the right EV wallbox
BP pulse charger
Your questions answered

Best home electric car chargers 2023: how to choose the right EV wallbox

7 Sep 2023

More on Charging

Has the UK given up on EVs? New government ‘Plan for Drivers’ says no
Plan for Drivers
News

Has the UK given up on EVs? New government ‘Plan for Drivers’ says no

UK government has announced a new 30-point manifesto which, in part, focuses on electrifying Britain’s roads
3 Oct 2023
Comment: finance, funding and fuel prices means now’s the best time to buy an EV
Header
Comment

Comment: finance, funding and fuel prices means now’s the best time to buy an EV

Right now, we’re in a perfect storm that makes buying an electric car more appealing than ever – here’s why
15 Sep 2023
BP Pulse opens UK’s biggest EV charging station
BP Pulse Gigahub
News

BP Pulse opens UK’s biggest EV charging station

The BP Pulse Gigahub at Birmingham’s NEC can charge 180 EVs simultaneously, making it the UK’s largest charging site
7 Sep 2023
Best home electric car chargers 2023: how to choose the right EV wallbox
BP pulse charger
Your questions answered

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, then you'll want a home EV charger to top up its bat…
7 Sep 2023
Tesla Supercharger network: complete guide to Tesla charging stations
Tesla Superchargers
Your questions answered

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 Sep 2023
What is fast charging? What is rapid charging? What is ultra-rapid charging? EV charging speeds explained
Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo 4S
Your questions answered

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…
29 Aug 2023
New V4 Tesla Supercharger unveiled for all EVs with contactless payment option
V4 Supercharger
News

New V4 Tesla Supercharger unveiled for all EVs with contactless payment option

Tesla has unveiled the latest generation of its Supercharger public rapid charger, which is available to all electric car owners
25 Aug 2023
Complete guide to the ChargePlace Scotland charging network
ChargePlace Scotland
Your questions answered

Complete guide to the ChargePlace Scotland charging network

Looking for EV charging points in Scotland? This guide includes everything you need to know about the ChargePlace Scotland network
18 Aug 2023
Complete guide to Pod Point home chargers
Pod Point Solo 3 charger
Your questions answered

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
18 Aug 2023
Comment: ‘Make EV charging like dining at The Ivy’
Pre-Book Charging header
Comment

Comment: ‘Make EV charging like dining at The Ivy’

Content Editor Tom Jervis feels public EV charging requires a revolution, and a reservation system could be part of the solution
16 Aug 2023
Complete guide to the BP Pulse (formerly Polar Plus) charging network
BP Pulse
Your questions answered

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)
10 Aug 2023
BT announces plans to enter EV charging market
BT charge point illustration
News

BT announces plans to enter EV charging market

Phone and communications titan announces plan to transform its streetside broadband boxes into EV chargers
27 Jul 2023
What is CHAdeMO charging?
CHAdeMO port
Your questions answered

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
21 Jul 2023
What is a wallbox charger? Electric car home chargers explained
Pod Point solo 3 home charger
Your questions answered

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…
18 Jul 2023
New EV charging laws to revolutionise UK charging infrastructure
Gridserve Swansea
News

New EV charging laws to revolutionise UK charging infrastructure

New regulations set to cover electric-car charger reliability, payment and pricing transparency
13 Jul 2023
How to charge an electric car: a complete guide
Charging at work
Your questions answered

How to charge an electric car: a complete guide

Charging an EV can seem daunting; we explain cable types, where to find a charger and the etiquette surrounding it all
4 Jul 2023
Can solar panels charge an electric car?
Solar Panels
Your questions answered

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
27 Jun 2023
Tethered or untethered home charger?
BMW i3 wallbox
Your questions answered

Tethered or untethered home charger?

Find out if you should buy a tethered or untethered EV charger and what the differences are between them
27 Jun 2023
Complete guide to the IONITY rapid-charging network
Ionity charger
Your questions answered

Complete guide to the IONITY rapid-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 2023
New electric-car charging tech could add 100 miles in five minutes
StoreDot - charging
News

New electric-car charging tech could add 100 miles in five minutes

XFC technology, due to arrive in 2024, could mean a 10-80% top-up in as little as 10 minutes
21 Jun 2023
Complete guide to BP Pulse (formerly BP Chargemaster) home chargers
BP pulse
Your questions answered

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
Source London
Your questions answered

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
Ubitricity
Your questions answered

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
Complete guide to the InstaVolt charging network
InstaVolt
Your questions answered

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