How much does it cost to charge an EV at a public charger?

How much does it cost to charge an EV at a public charger?

Author
Discussion

GuinnessMK

Original Poster:

1,608 posts

227 months

Saturday 24th February 2018
quotequote all
We're just considering changing from IC to EV and are struggling to understand exactly how public charging when away from home works.

I get that there is an app to find the points, and a cable that you plug in, but how do you know how much it is going to cost you? Does each operator charge a different amount per kWh?

Do you have to have accounts at each company so you have a choice of charging points? Do the companies just bill you for the electricity used each month, or do you have to put money on a pre-payment card?



littleredrooster

5,653 posts

201 months

Saturday 24th February 2018
quotequote all
GuinnessMK said:
We're just considering changing from IC to EV and are struggling to understand exactly how public charging when away from home works.

I get that there is an app to find the points, and a cable that you plug in, but how do you know how much it is going to cost you? Does each operator charge a different amount per kWh?

Do you have to have accounts at each company so you have a choice of charging points? Do the companies just bill you for the electricity used each month, or do you have to put money on a pre-payment card?
Rates for each company are available to see on the web or app. Each operator can be different. To use the points, you need to register with the company and use their app which in turn is linked to your bank account, so payment is taken as soon as the charge has finished.

To get maximum coverage, you probably need to register with at least 3 suppliers.

craig1912

3,585 posts

117 months

Saturday 24th February 2018
quotequote all
I’ve only used Podpoint so far. Use the phone app and upload some credit.
Costs me around 90p for a full charge (BMW330e).

jjwilde

1,904 posts

101 months

Saturday 24th February 2018
quotequote all
If you live in the north east or Scotland they are free biggrin

(also a few other areas too I think)

GuinnessMK

Original Poster:

1,608 posts

227 months

Saturday 24th February 2018
quotequote all
jjwilde said:
If you live in the north east or Scotland they are free biggrin

(also a few other areas too I think)
Very interested in that, which ones in the North East?

Heres Johnny

7,384 posts

129 months

Saturday 24th February 2018
quotequote all
Not all Scotland ones are free for instance the CYC Rapid at Tomintoul is £3.80

Go on zap map or plugshare and look at the individual chargers for pricing but for general advice take a look here:

https://www.zap-map.com/charge-points/public-charg...



Edited by Heres Johnny on Saturday 24th February 23:12

jjwilde

1,904 posts

101 months

Sunday 25th February 2018
quotequote all
GuinnessMK said:
Very interested in that, which ones in the North East?
All of them aside from the Ecotricty ones at Washington services AFAIK. You can park for free in a lot of places too.

jonobigblind

786 posts

87 months

Monday 26th February 2018
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To get a good all round picture of the scene and differences between 'destination' 'fast' and 'rapid' chargers along with the varied costs, subscription, PAYG models and general etiquette you could head across to SpeakEV as they are a good source of info for this stuff.

TXG399

134 posts

138 months

Monday 26th February 2018
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Have a look at Zapmap. It's an essential app if you are intending to use public charging points, it'll tell you the charging and even if they are currently occupied.

Plenty of them are free, some of them are free if you have the right monthly subscription. In some locations having an EV is very advantageous. For example, in central Birmingham there are a few EV charging spaces about as close to the centre as you can drive that are covered under the cost of a Polar subscriptions. so it's essentially free city centre parking.