Where can I charge my electric vehicle?

For many people, concerns over being able to keep an electric vehicle fully charged are among the major reasons for avoiding making the switch. However, the UK-wide network of public charging points continues to grow at a rapid rate, with nearly 19,000 locations providing more than 50,000 connectors. In addition to these public settings, there’s also home charging solutions that will help replenish the battery in an affordable and efficient manner, with government grants also available to make the cost of installation even better value. You can learn more about charging and the benefits of choosing an electric vehicle with Birchwood today. 

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With the popularity of electric vehicles growing at a rapid pace, and the ongoing fluctuations in price of petrol and diesel, more and more motorists are embracing the innovative technology available. To support such growth, UK energy suppliers are creating a UK-wide infrastructure of compatible charging points, enabling everyone to enjoy access to suitable solutions no matter where their adventures take them.

Found in locations such as supermarket car parks, petrol and service stations, public charging points offer fast - and, in some cases, ultra fast - charging, meaning you can reach a high level of charge in just a few minutes. What’s more, the cost of using these is a fraction of the cost of petrol or diesel, meaning you will be able to secure exceptional value for money.


The variety of charging networks ranges from the likes of Ionity to Tesla, Osprey to E.ON. What’s more, you can access details of the closest charging point for you via suitable smartphone apps or using the in-car functionality (where available).

See Public Chargers

Most electric vehicles come equipped with a standard charging cable and adaptor that will let you connect to a traditional electrical outlet. However, this is often not the most practical solution, so having a high-quality dedicated charging point installed at home is ideal. Since most vehicles are parked at home overnight, these points are most efficient when running through the night when electricity charges are lower, enabling you to top up the battery in the most affordable way possible.

All charging points should be installed by an OLEV authorised professional, such as CDS Electrical, who are local experts in the fit of wall boxes and charge points. In order to keep the cost related to installation as minimal as possible, the government-funded Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) provides grants up to the value of 75% of the charge point and installation cost, with a maximum limit of £350. With many chargers costing between £250 and £800, such a grant will prove a welcome source of funding.

Most home charging points come in one of two power rating options - 3kW or 7kW. The larger of the two units is the quickest to achieve a full charge, providing a model such as the Nissan LEAF with full capacity in approximately six hours.

Spending eight hours per day at work means that your vehicle sits idle for a long time. As such, being able to use this time to charge your vehicle is ideal, which is why the government introduced the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS). Similar to the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS), this initiative provides funding for the installation of charging points at the workplace, with grants of up to £350 per socket at 75% of the total cost of installation available.

A maximum of 20 charging points can be installed at a workplace, enabling employees and clients to take advantage of suitable solutions. All charging points need to be installed by authorised OLEV installers, and should have a need declared for them on application, such as an incentive to increase the uptake of electric vehicles among employees.

Various charging solutions are available for workplaces, with the need to offer a versatile option to suit as many needs as possible vital. Among the most popular, therefore, is a wall-mounted Type 2 7kW charger which is compatible with most electric models and can charge a vehicle fully in less than seven hours. 

How Long to Charge? Depending on the type of charging point chosen, as well as the vehicle in question that is being charged, the length of time it takes to charge an electric car will vary. That said, you can learn more about estimated charging times based on the various types of outlet used. You will need one type of charging point.
Socketed - 4 hours Socketed connectors are found on both domestic and public charging points, offering fast charge capability to have your vehicle ready to go with a full charge in as little as four hours.
Tethered - 1 hour Rapid and ultra-rapid charging stations use tethered connectors that allow for quick charging to up to 80% in as little as 20 minutes, and are commonly found at motorway service stations.
The average electric car range. With an average electric car range of 181 miles, there’s more than enough capability to be found in the latest selection of models available. Such capacity means you will be able to manage your daily commutes with a minimum of fuss and with running costs that are affordable. Learn more with Birchwood today.
Short Trips Managing short trips is a breeze with electric vehicles and even hybrids, with the ability to complete travel on electric power alone.
Long Trips Plan your longer road journeys using a number of apps that will help you locate suitable charging points throughout your drive.

Benefits of electric

It’s hoped that over the course of the next few years, all motorists will make the switch from traditional fuel power to electric, thereby helping reduce the dependency on fossil fuels and limiting the harmful CO2 emissions being released into the atmosphere. As such, there’s more and more choice among the vehicles that are available, driving purchase prices down and giving you more control over the models you select. There’s also plenty of other benefits available including the following.

Cost of maintenance Electric vehicles do not have a traditional combustion engine with multiple moving components, meaning there are fewer issues that can arise. As such, maintenance fees are often more affordable compared to regular models.
Government’s electric schemes In order to help incentivise the move to electric motoring, the UK government is proudly offering grants worth up to £350 in order to help fund the installation of suitable charging points for electric vehicles.
Cost of daily use As the range of electric vehicles continues to improve, so the running costs for daily use decrease. The cost-per-mile of an electric vehicle is a fraction of a petrol/diesel model already, plus there’s exemption from road tax and congestion fees.
Electric Range by Franchise
Contact Us You can get in touch with a member of the team at Birchwood today in order to learn more about the benefits of going electric and to schedule a test drive for a time that is convenient.