Frequently Asked Questions:
How much does it cost to Rapid/Ultra-Rapid Charge?
The Average UK PAYG (Pay As You Go) Price is 78p/kWh
(excluding TESLA Superchargers) Paid via Contactless Bank Card
Correct @ 02/03/2025.
Calculated across 27 networks that offer contactless payment. NOTE: Some networks charge MORE than the average Price.
What is Rapid Charging?
A DC Charging Power of 50kW & Above.
What is Ultra-Rapid Charging?
A DC Charging Power of 150kW & Above.
How Many Rapid & Ultra-Rapid Charge Points are there in the UK?
There are 14,471 as of December 2024
What is the Average Power received by High Powered Chargers in 2024
Around 100-110kW
Why is Public Rapid Charging Much More Expensive than Home Charging?
UK Electricity is Expensive and linked to the Price of Gas.
Charge Point Operators need to buy Electricity, Pay Business VAT rates, Purchase Hardware and Install it, Pay extremely High Standing Charges and Maintain the Equipment, as well as developing their Brand and Software apps. A Single Ultra-Rapid DC Charger can cost £89,000 Pounds. Nowadays they install 6 / 12/ 24 of these at just one site. Public Charging is a Service so it's not just the Price of the Electricity alone. Plus they need to make a Profit and Strategic investments for the Future.
The Costs
How much is the average cost to Charge each time?
See an Example* Comparing 7 Different Charging Networks.
(Smaller or Larger Batteries will affect the Total Price)
How Far Can I Go?
How far can I drive on 1 kWh of Electricity?
An efficient electric car should travel around
4 Miles per kWh.
Temperature affects Range (Battery Capacity).
Expect around 3.0-3.5 Miles per kWh in Winter.
TIP:
In Winter, If you have a Home Chargepoint, keep your EV Plugged in all the time and use Pre-heating if available in your Vehicle to warm the Vehicle prior to a Journey. Using Pre-heating with the Power supplied from the Grid is an excellent way to Maximise your initial range, plus it's more comfortable for you and your Passengers.
Related TIP:
Don't neglect your 12V battery - keep it regularly Charged to avoid problems and replace it if older than 5 years /in accordance with your Manufacturer's recommendations. Drive your EV regularly or invest in a 12V battery maintainer in Winter.
How do I find a Rapid or Ultra-Rapid Charge Point?
There are lots of Mapping services available. The most popular is Zap-Map. Go to www.zap-map.com or download the Zap-Map App from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store on your mobile device.
You can now also Find EV Chargers via Google Maps - filter for EV Charging. Click / Tap the Google Maps icon Below to Learn More:
Payment - Paying for Your Charging:
Can I pay by Contactless Credit card?
Yes. Most Rapid Chargers have a Contactless enabled payment terminal and It will soon be the Law for all Rapid Chargers & Ultra-Rapid Chargepoints to have one.
Credit Card is the safest method of Payment. We only Compare networks that offer Contactless payment.
You can also pay via an App on your phone.
Many networks offer their own App which will often give you the best Rates / Prices per kWh so it's well worth checking. There are also roaming Apps such as Zap-Map which has Zap-Pay allowing you to pay for lots of different charging networks all from one single App, simplyfying the payment process.
You will need to register and set up an account with you payment card details.
NOTE: Prices p/kWh may vary if you use this service.
What is Pre-Authorisation?
When you pay via Contactless - an Amount that is reserved on your Payment card - to ensure you have enough funds & Authority to Pay for your Charging Prior to the Energy that is delivered to your Vehicle.
Can I pay by for my Charging in Public by Cash?
No. Only by Credit / debit card only if you do not have a credit card / by downloading an App / acquiring an RFID Card / approved fuel card for the operator's network. You can also pay via Google Pay and Apple Pay at selected networks.
Your Time:
How Long will I be waiting whilst I Charge ?
Around 30-40 Minutes on average.
Some Vehicles can now Charge from 10-80% in under 30 Minutes on a High Power 350kW Charger. A Tesla Model S Plaid can Charge from 10%-50% at 250kW in a time of 11 Minutes giving you 150 miles of Additional Driving Range. Use the Time Wisely, check some emails, have a snack or 'Phone a friend' .
The average waiting time in 2024 was 33 minutes.
See how different Power Levels affect how long it takes to Charge an Electric Vehicle.
Do I have to wait with my car while it Charges?
You can wait with your car or lock it and leave it and return when Charging is complete. You should move your vehicle as soon as the Charging session is complete or you may incur Costs. It is also good etiquette so that another Driver is able to use the Chargepoint straightaway.
Do I use my home charging cable at Rapid Chargepoints?
No. You don't need your own cable at Rapid Chargepoints (50kW and Above) as they have their own special high power cables.
What Range in Miles will I get with an electric car between charges?
All different.
An efficient electric car will travel 4 miles/kWh
Choose a vehicle with a Range appropriate to your needs. 64kWh or more is a good guide for a Range of around 250 miles between Charges
DC Connector Types:
In the UK we use CCS2 AND CHAdeMO connectors when Rapid Charging / Ultra-Rapid Charging.
CCS2
CHAdeMO
What is CCS and what does it stand for?
Combined Charging System incorporating AC and DC ability.
Is CHAdeMO being phased out?
Yes in the UK new electric vehicles mostly now use CCS.
Image Copyright Tritium 2023
_svg.png)
Image Copyright Wikipedia 2023
Never Charged at a Public Rapid Charger before? Don't Worry!
View a HIGH POWER Public Charging Station & Read some Handy Tips to Help you get Started (& Stopped!). Just Click / Tap on the Image below:
Can I use Tesla Superchargers if I dont drive a TESLA?
YES* if your car is equipped wih CCS2
NO if your car is equipped with CHAdeMO.
V4 Supercharger equipped with Contactless Card Reader shown above for PAYG Charging using a Bank card. V4 Stall body design is closed.
*Note not all Supercharger sites are open to Non-Tesla EV. Download the TESLA App to see which sites are available by using the Filter.
Battery Care When Rapid & Ultra-Rapid Charging:
Try to Keep your Battery State of Charge between 20-80%.
In Colder weather look to ReCharge at minimum SOC of 20%. This gives you a buffer should the unexpected happen, giving you an adequate reserve to find a Chargepoint.
TIP:
Most Public Rapid / Ultra-Rapid Chargers will end the Charging Session once your State of Charge (SOC) Reaches 80%.
For longer journeys it is fine to Charge to 90 or 100% occasionally,
However beyond 80% the Charging rate slows significantly.
It is best to Charge to 80% when required and then get back on the road. This will actually save you time and allow others to Charge.
You may need to start a new Charging Session to take your battery from 80% -100%. This means presenting your payment method again.
Remember: you do not need to charge to 80% at all times. Many EV Drivers just charge as much as they need to reach HOME or another destination. They call this a 'Splash & Dash' method which can keep the costs of Public Charging to a minimum, particularly those with an available Home Charger.
