Plug-in to a £350 grant for your electric car charger.
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To really enjoy the savings and convenience of driving an electric car, home charging is the way to go. But what happens if you are one of the estimated 40% of UK households who have either no access to a driveway or are in rental accommodation?
We’ve got some good news for you. Depending on your eligibility, you could take advantage of the latest electric vehicle charging technology and a £350 Government charge point grant. Introduced in April 2022, the grant provides up to a maximum of 75% off the cost of purchasing and installing your own cross-pavement charging solution. But don’t hang around because the grant is reported to end on 31st March 2025.
Eligibility criteria for EV Charger Grant:
You are a UK resident
You own and live in a flat
You rent a residential property, (Shared Ownership Scheme properties included)
You drive an eligible battery-powered or electric vehicle (even if it is leased or a company car)
Your home has its own private off-street parking space which may be co-located with the property such as an apartment courtyard or separated away, but this must be designated solely for your use at all times
You won’t be eligible if:
You have already applied for the grant or one of its predecessors
Are moving house or planning to move
Want a new electric car charge point (even if your current one is not compatible)
Want to move an existing electric car charge point to a new property
Live in a house that you own (only flats owners are eligible)
What is a cross-pavement charging solution?
A cross-pavement charging solution is a purpose-built channel installed in the pavement outside your home, this solution ensures that residents who don’t have access to a driveway are still able to own and charge an electric vehicle at home. It contains an electric vehicle charging cable that you can use to charge your electric car from the roadside.
The channel is designed to sit flush with the pavement to minimise the risk of injury to pedestrians, it should always be sourced from and installed by a professional to ensure its safety.
Why is the UK Government offering this electric car charger grant?
In 2023 electric vehicles accounted for 16% of the UK new car market, while there are now over 750,000 fully electric cars on the nation’s streets. This is why the UK Government is committed to speeding up the installation of electric vehicle charge points through a £381 million Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) council fund.
In February 2024, payments to 44 councils had been approved, delivering thousands of additional charge points across England.
How do I apply for the electric car charger grant?
To apply for your own £350 Charge Point Grant, you should:
First contact an OZEV (Office for Zero Emissions Vehicles) approved installer.
Find a list of your nearest installers on the Government’s own website and simply enter your postcode for details.
Ask them to start a claim on your behalf.
If you’re happy with their quote, begin your order. They’ll send you an email with a link to an online form.
Complete and return the email to confirm your eligibility.
You’ll need to fill in the online form with your details. Once your eligibility has been approved, your installer will claim the grant on your behalf.
Check your final invoice.
Make sure your installation invoice clearly shows the total cost, minus the grant amount.
Are there any other solutions for charging my electric car without a driveway?
There are plenty of other places you can charge your electric car. In February 2024, there were over 53,000 public electric vehicle charge points in the UK, from Lands End to John O’Groats. While you will have to pay to use the great majority of these, there are still places where you can charge your electric car for free. Many workplaces now offer free electric vehicle charging for employees, while some public car parks, supermarkets and retail parks also provide this service.
Simon Stacey brings a wealth of over 20 year’s experience from across the energy and technology sectors to his writing on electric vehicles (EVs). Currently, he is Head of Product at ElectriX where he leverages his expertise in digital and net-zero transformation to ensure the business stays at the forefront of innovation.
UK staycations – where to stay for free EV charging
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Are you one of the thousands of EV drivers planning your next UK staycation? With the summer season just around the corner, now is the perfect time to plan your holiday and the destinations, attractions and beauty spots you’d like to visit. But if you’re travelling longer distances, making sure you’ve got the best charging points exactly where you need them, means one less thing to worry about.
And what’s better than enjoying a cup of coffee outside in the sunshine while your car is charging – for free! So, if you’re wondering where to charge your electric car for free while chasing your summer adventures, we’ve got the answers for you.
Where’s best to charge your electric car while you’re on holiday in the UK?
When considering getting an electric car, some people might be a little worried about powering up when they’re out and about or on holiday in the UK. But with electric cars gaining more and more popularity and the charging infrastructure growing daily, this is a myth we’re about to bust.
Public charging points are being installed in the UK’s cities and more remote areas at unprecedented levels, and over the last decade, their number has evened out against the number of petrol stations.
Osprey has a great interactive map of all their public chargepoints (below), but if you need something while you’re on the move, an app like Zapmap will allow you to locate over 59,000 chargers nationwide.
Major cities like London, Manchester, and Birmingham now have thousands of charging stations, including many fast chargers that can top up an EV battery in under an hour.
Plus, with government initiatives and private sector investments, the charging infrastructure continues to grow daily, making it easier than ever for electric car drivers to find a charging point, whether in bustling city centres or the beautiful rural countryside.
And finally, let’s not forget about the charging points installed in car parks across supermarkets, shopping centres, hotels and workplaces – but more on those further down!
How to find the best free electric car chargers when driving to your staycation?
Looking at what matters when travelling longer distances if you are trying to cut costs, free electric car charging is a good place to start!
You may be surprised that there are lots of free electric car charging points all around the UK. According to recent research2, from nearly 60,000 charging devices recorded by Zapmap, more than 2,300 of them are free to use. That means around 4% of charging stations in the UK won’t cost you a penny when you’re out and about.
But where do you go to find a free electric car charger? Let’s take a look:
UK Regions
The South East prides itself on the highest number of free electric car chargepoints, followed by Scotland, Greater London, South West and North West.
Areas like the Channel Islands, Northern Ireland and East Midlands don’t have as many free options, but they still have plenty of paid-for chargers.
Here’s the breakdown of all available chargepoints in the UK, including both free and paid:
The best place to head for free electric car charging, according to Zapmap’s study are public car parks as they offer the highest number of free electric vehicle chargepoints, with 433 chargers found all around the UK. You can also find free chargers in car dealership forecourts, retail car parks and workplace car parks.
Although behind other leading trends for chargepoint locations, supermarkets are investing in their EV infrastructure (although not all of them are free!). If you are visiting a town for the day, you could leave your car charging at a supermarket, but bear in mind that the free charging may be slow and you may have restrictions on the length of time allowed to stay in the car park.
And finally, with the summer season in our sights, tourist attractions and popular holiday destinations are preparing for the busiest time of the year. But with an increasing number of electric car drivers in the UK, they must provide charging provisions for visitors, especially if they have travelled a long way otherwise it may put visitors off coming!
Many popular destinations, such as theme parks, museums, zoos and National Trust properties now offer free electric car charging to encourage customers to visit them.
Similarly, many hotels, B&Bs and leisure areas have the option to charge your electric car for free, with ZeroNet charity playing a key role in improving the free charging network.
Hotels with EV charging UK
When you’ve finally arrived at your holiday destination, or maybe you need somewhere to rest for the night before continuing your journey again later, if you have an electric car, you’ll undoubtedly have your next charge at the back of your mind. This is why it’s important to plan ahead and choose a hotel with EV charging ready and waiting for you.
There are countless chains and unique accommodations across the UK, but we’ve pulled together some great options for you to consider.
According to Premier Inn’s website, they have 91 connections across the UK, where Travelodge has over 140 EV points either on site or nearby.
Zapmap reveals that Holiday Inn has 76 and Best Western has 59 connections. At the other end of Zapmap’s list is Marriott with just 4 and Radisson Blu with 9 connections.
From Devon to the Isle of Wight, to London or Edinburgh – Airbnb could also have the perfect house or apartment rental with EV charger for you. Their site allows you to filter on properties that only include EV chargers. You’ll need to check individual listings to see if EV charging is complimentary or charged for.
Travelodge EV charging locations
Travelodge has a dedicated page on their website listing all of the 140+ hotel locations, from Birmingham and Exeter, to London or Swansea – all with electric car charging either onsite or nearby (some free, some paid).
Premier Inn EV charging locations*
Here are all 91 of Premier Inn’s hotel locations with an EV connector (likely not free) – take a look at Premier Inn’s website for the most up-to-date version.
Aberdeen City Centre
Gloucester Business Park
Northampton West (Harpole)
Alnwick
Gloucester (Little Witcombe)
Nottingham Castle Marina
Aviemore
Grantham
Oldham (Broadway)
Balsall Common near NEC
Greenock
Oxford South (Didcot)
Barrow-in-Furness
Hastings
Paignton South (Brixham Road)
Bishop Auckland
Hayle
Peterborough North
Bodmin
Helston
Ross-On-Wye
Bristol Cribbs Causeway
Inverness Centre (Millburn Rd)
St Albans / Bricketwood
Burton on Trent Central
Ipswich South
Ramsgate (Manston Airport)
Burton on Trent East
Ipswich North
Rugeley
Cambridge North (Girton)
Kettering
Seaton
Cannock South
Kilmarnock
Stafford North (Spitfire)
Cardiff West
Kings Lynn
Stirling City Centre
Carlisle (M6 Jct 42)
Leeds South (Birstall)
Solihull (Hockley Heath, M42)
Cheltenham North West
Lincoln (Canwick)
Solihull South (M42)
Chesterfield North
Llanelli Central East
Stourbridge Town Centre
Clacton-On-Sea (Seafront)
Liskeard
Sunderland A19/A1231
Derby South
Littlehampton
Tamworth Central
Derby East
Livingston (M8, Jct 3)
Tamworth South
Dunbarton / Loch Lomond
London Enfield
Taunton Central (North)
Dundee West
London Rainham
Taunton Ruishton (M5, J25)
Dunfermline
Manchester (Sale)
Tewkesbury
Dunstable/ Luton
Manchester Trafford Centre North
Thetford
Durham North
Manchester (Denton)
Ulverston
Edinburgh (South Queensferry)
Matlock
Uttoxeter
Falkirk Central
Merthyr Tydfil
Ware
Felixstowe Town Centre
Milton Keynes (Willen Lake)
Wigan (M6 Jct 25)
Gillingham Business Park
Monmouth
Wolverhampton North
Glasgow (Braehead)
Newark
Glasgow East
Newcastle-under-Lyme
Glasgow (Cumbernauld)
Glasgow Pacific Quay (SECC)
Glasgow (Paisley)
*Information correct as of June 2024.
Spending time off in holiday cottages across the UK is becoming increasingly popular, as they usually offer their visitors a peaceful setting in the countryside while providing an extra space to walk a dog or enjoy outdoor games.
So, if you’re an EV driver looking for a more independent, quiet location for your next staycation, below we’ve listed some of the popular UK holiday cottage websites offering free EV charging to their visitors:
The best way to spot free charging stations is by using apps like Zapmap or PlugShare that provide real-time data on charger locations, availability, and compatibility with individual electric car models.
If you’re relying on your accommodation or hotel for charging your car, double check on its exact location and any charges or fees that may be incurred for charging your electric car.
Whilst the majority of chargepoints support the most common connector types you should always check your electric car is compatible with the point you’ve chosen.
Don’t forget that some chargepoints have time limits to ensure they’re used fairly and offer availability to as many drivers.
Once your car is charged, move to free up the space for others. Some locations have policies against leaving cars parked at charging points longer than necessary, especially at busy sites.
Simon Stacey brings a wealth of over 20 year’s experience from across the energy and technology sectors to his writing on electric vehicles (EVs). Currently, he is Head of Product at ElectriX where he leverages his expertise in digital and net-zero transformation to ensure the business stays at the forefront of innovation.
