Electric Vehicle Charging Points, or EVCPs for short, are points across the UK where you can charge your electric vehicle.

Electric vehicles are becoming more and more popular, as people become more environmentally conscious and looking for ways to save money.

Above all, knowing where you can find charging points for your electric vehicle, is important, should you need to top up while on the go.

Electric vehicle charging points are popping up all over the country as the popularity of electric cars grows.

Charging points can be found at various locations across the UK, like motorway service stations and in many public places, such as shopping centres and car parks, as well as at home.

There are a number of charging points located on the M1, M6 and M25 motorways.

If you’re travelling in an electric vehicle and find yourself running low on charge, there are plenty of places to plug in and recharge!

There are a few different types of charging points. In other words, it’s important to know what type of electric car you have before you start looking for a charger.

The Three Main Types of Chargers

Electric Vehicle charging points come in a few different varieties, the most common is the rapid charger.

The three main types are slow, fast, and rapid chargers.

Slow chargers typically provide around 3kW of power and take around six to eight hours to fully charge an electric vehicle.

There are three types of slow chargers:

1) Single-phase (3kW or 6kW)

2) Three-phase (up to 22kW, depending on the make and model)

3) CHAdeMO (500V DC, up to 50kW)
Fast chargers offer up to 22kW of power and can charge an electric vehicle from 0-80% in as little as 30 minutes.

Rapid chargers are even faster, taking just 10-15 minutes to provide a full charge.

There are around 1,600 rapid chargers in the UK, and you can find them on the Zap-Map website.

How much does it cost to charge my EV?

The cost of charging an electric vehicle in the UK can vary depending on the type of charger you use and where you are charging your vehicle.

The cost of charging an electric vehicle (EV) can vary depending on a number of factors;

• the location
• the type of EV you own
• the network you use
• the type of charger you use

Some motorway services have started to introduce charging points for EVs, which can be used for a fee.

The cost of using these motorway chargers varies, on average it costs around £6 per hour to charge an EV.

The cost of charging your electric car at a public charger depends on the network you use.

Some networks charge a fee. However, Ecotricity, offer free charging for members.

Charging at home will usually be cheaper than using public charging points, with most domestic charging costing between 3p and 10p per kWh.

Some employers are also starting to offer EV charging as a perk for employees.

So, it’s worth checking with your place of work to see if they offer this service.

Slow chargers are less expensive to use and take a bit longer to charge your car – usually four to six hours. There are around 9,000 slow chargers in the UK.

How to use the Charging Points

Charging an electric vehicle couldn’t be easier, especially thanks to the many charging points located across the UK.

All you need is a compatible charging cable.

Simply plug one end of the cable into your car and the other into the charging point.

The indicator light on the charging point will tell you when your car is fully charged.
 

The payment process is also very straightforward.

All you need to do is wave your contactless card or phone over the reader on the charging point to pay for your charge.

Where are Electric Charging Points Located?

Charging points for electric vehicles are becoming increasingly common across the UK, with more and more locations offering either fast or slow charging facilities.

There are now over 6,000 electric vehicle charging points across the UK, so finding a place to charge your Electric Vehicle shouldn’t be a problem.

If you’re looking for a charger near you, the best place to start is Zap-Map. This website has a comprehensive map of all the charging points in the UK, as well as information on each one.

Just enter your postcode or town name and the locator will show you all of the nearby charging points, along with their availability and whether they are free or paid.

Slow chargers are typically found in places like car parks and residential areas, while fast and rapid chargers are more likely to be located near motorways and other high-traffic areas.

There are a number of different fast charging networks in the UK, including Chargepoint, Ecotricity and Pod Point.

There are also a number of private companies who have their own fast charging networks.

Want more knowledge about EV’s or Hybrid’s?

Here at MTC, we offer a variety of courses that can give you the information you need about electric and hybrid vehicles.

Hybrid Training Course, Level 1 – Raise Awareness
Hybrid/ EV Training Course, Level 2 – Light Vehicles 
Hybrid Training Course, Level 2 – Buses 
Hybrid Training Course, Level 2 – HGV’s
Hybrid Training Course Level 3 – Cars

The Level 1 Hybrid and Electric Training Course, is to raise awareness of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles.

This course is aimed at anyone that may come into contact with Hybrid and Electric Vehicles.

Level 2 Hybrid and Electric Light Vehicle Training Course, Level 2 HGV Training Course and Level 2 Buses Training Course. The Level 2 course is aimed at mechanics and car valeters.

The Level 3 Hybrid and Electric Training Course, is aimed at technicians and mechanics.

Our experienced trainers in the field and can provide you with all the knowledge you need.

For more information on our EV and Hybrid training courses, get in touch with us today by calling 01274 965008.

We would be happy to help!