Electric car charging 101: Your ultimate EV charging guide

Your guide to charging an electric car

TL;DR: What do you need to know about charging your electric car?

You can charge an EV at home, at work or at public chargepoints, with home charging the cheapest and most convenient option for most drivers.

Charging is simple — plug in and let the car and charger handle the rest — though cost and charging time vary depending on where you charge and how powerful the charger is.

A full home charge typically costs a few pounds, while public rapid charging costs more but adds significant range in minutes rather than hours.

Everything you need to know about charging your electric car

Electric vehicles (EVs) may seem daunting at first, from the instant torque to the charging itself.

How far can you go on a charge? It takes longer to charge than refuelling petrol, so this time needs to be factored in too. And what will it cost?

It's a lot to think about before making the switch to electric, but we're here to make it simple.

This guide covers how to charge your EV, what it’ll cost, charging times and common questions people actually ask before they go electric.

Let’s jump in.

Where can you charge?

There are three main ways to charge your EV, each suited to different routines and charging setups.

Charging at home

Charging at home is the most convenient and cost-effective way to keep your EV topped up, especially if you have off-street parking.

A standard three-pin socket will get the job done in a pinch, but it's slow going.

A dedicated 7kW home charger is a much better option; it'll get most EVs from empty to full in around seven to nine hours, so it's ideal for charging overnight.

If you're renting, you'll need your landlord's permission before installing a charger, but there's help available.

The Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant covers up to 75% of installation costs (capped at £500) for renters and flat owners with dedicated off-street parking, provided you already own or have ordered an EV.

If you don't have off-street parking, apps like Co Charger let you rent a neighbour's home charger instead.

Charging in public

Public chargers are widely available at service stations, car parks, supermarkets, retail parks and on residential streets.

Major networks include Tesla, MFG EV Power, Ionity, Osprey, BeEV and Smart Charge.

Rapid chargers at service stations can take your car from low charge to 80% in under half an hour, making them ideal for longer journeys — though you'll typically pay more for the convenience.

Each network works slightly differently, so it's worth checking which providers you'll pass on your route before setting off.

Charging at work

More employers are installing EV charge points as they look to improve their green credentials, so it's worth checking whether your workplace offers charging.

If your office doesn't have chargers yet, your employer could look into the government's Workplace Charging Scheme, which covers 75% of installation costs (capped at £500 per socket, up to 40 sockets). The scheme's been extended and now runs until March 2027.

It's also a handy employee perk. Offering EV charging can support both staff retention and recruitment.

How do you charge your EV?

Charging an EV is simple: Plug in, let the car and charger handle the rest, and drive away once it's done.

Open your charging port (usually via a button on the dash, the key fob, or the flap itself), then plug the cable in firmly until it clicks into place.

The car and charger communicate automatically to confirm the connection is safe before power starts flowing.

At home, you can schedule charging through your car's app or the charger's own interface to take advantage of cheaper off-peak rates.

In public, most rapid chargers now accept contactless card payment directly, so there's no need to sign up to anything in advance.

Though apps and membership schemes can work out cheaper if you charge on the go regularly.

It's completely safe to charge in the rain or any other weather. Chargers and charging ports are sealed and water-resistant by design.

How much does it cost to charge an electric car?

The cost of charging your EV depends on where you charge and which tariff you're on, but home charging is almost always the cheapest option.

On a standard variable tariff, you'll pay around 26p per kWh, so a full charge for a typical 60kWh battery costs roughly £15–16.

But switch to a dedicated EV tariff with off-peak rates, and that cost can drop dramatically. Some providers offer overnight rates as low as 7p per kWh, cutting a full charge to under £5.

Public charging costs considerably more.

Rapid and ultra-rapid chargers typically range from around 70p to 90p+ per kWh depending on the network, so a full charge on the public network can cost £40–£90 for larger batteries.

It's still generally cheaper per mile than petrol or diesel, but the gap is far narrower than with home charging.

As a rough comparison, charging at home typically works out at a few pence per mile, while public rapid charging sits closer to 15–25p per mile. This is still usually cheaper than filling up with petrol, but not by nearly as much.

From April 2028, EV drivers will pay a new mileage-based charge called eVED — the electric equivalent of fuel duty — set at 3p per mile.

It's separate from your charging costs, but it will factor into the overall cost of running an EV.

How long does it take to charge an electric car?

Charging time depends mainly on your battery size and the charger's power output, but as a rough guide, a typical 60kWh battery takes:

• Around 16 hours on a slow 3.6kW home charger
• Just under 8 hours on a standard 7.4kW home charger
• Around 3 hours on a 22kW charger
• Under an hour on a 43-50kW rapid charger
• As little as 30 minutes on a 150kW+ rapid charger

Most drivers don't wait for a full empty-to-full charge, though.

Instead, "top-up charging" — plugging in whenever you park, whether that's at home, work, or the supermarket — keeps your battery topped up without the wait.

Since your car's parked around 95% of the time anyway, this tends to be far more practical than planning around full recharges.

If you're topping up rather than charging from empty, it's more useful to think in terms of range added per hour:

• 7.4kW home charger: Up to 30 miles per hour
• 22kW charger: Up to 90 miles per hour
• 43-50kW rapid charger: Up to 90 miles in 30 minutes
• 150kW rapid charger: Up to 200 miles in 30 minutes

A few other factors affect charging speed too:

• Your car's maximum charge rate (it won't charge faster than it's built for, even on a more powerful charger)
• How depleted the battery is
• The weather, since colder temperatures slow charging down.

How to find electric car charging points

The easiest way to find a charging point is with an app like Zapmap, which shows the location of chargers from every provider across the UK, along with live availability, connector types and user reviews.

You can filter by network, connector type and charger speed, so you'll always find a charger that suits your car and your plans — whether that's a quick top-up or a longer rapid charge.

Many new EVs also show nearby public chargers directly on the built-in sat nav, and can route you to one that's in range if you're running low.

If you're planning a day out, it's also worth checking whether your destination has charging on-site. Plenty of attractions, supermarkets and retail parks now offer it, some for free.

Ready to plug in?

Once you've got the basics down, charging your EV becomes second nature — plug in at home overnight, top up at work or on the go, and use public rapid chargers when you need a quick boost on longer journeys.

Costs and charging times vary depending on where and how you charge, but home charging remains the cheapest and most convenient option for most drivers, with public networks there to fill the gaps.

The charging landscape keeps improving too, with more chargers, better reliability and networks working hard to compete on price. 

It's only going to get easier from here.

FAQs on charging your EV

Can I charge my electric car if I don’t have private parking?

Yes — you're not limited to home charging.

Workplace charging, on-street chargers and public charging points all mean an EV can work well even without off-street parking.

It just takes a little more planning than charging overnight on your own drive.

Do I have to pay to park when I’m charging my electric car?

It depends on where you charge.

Supermarket and service station chargers usually don't charge extra for parking, but multi-storey and public car parks often do.

Always check the signage at both the car park and the charger itself to avoid unexpected fines.

Can I charge my electric car in bad weather?

Yes, it's completely safe.

Charging cables, connectors and ports are all sealed and water-resistant, so rain, snow or wind won't affect your ability to charge.

Are electric car charging cables/plugs universal?

Not entirely. Type 2 is the standard connector for AC charging at home and most public points, while CCS is the standard for rapid DC charging in the UK.

Older EVs, like early Nissan LEAF models, may use CHAdeMO instead.

Most public rapid chargers have a tethered cable, but for AC charging you may need to bring your own.

Can I charge my electric car for free?

Sometimes. Some supermarkets, attractions and retail parks offer free charging points, usually at lower (7kW) speeds.

Apps like Zapmap can help you find free chargers near you or on your route.

Should I charge my EV to 100% every night?

Not necessarily. Charging to around 80% is usually enough for daily use, and it's kinder to your battery's long-term health.

Save the full 100% charge for longer journeys when you need the extra range.

Can I leave my electric car charging overnight?

Yes, this is completely normal and one of the most convenient ways to charge.

Most home chargers and EVs are designed with safety features that stop charging once the battery is full, so there's no risk in leaving it plugged in overnight.

Can I sit in my electric car while it's charging?

Yes, it's perfectly safe to sit in your car while it charges, whether you're waiting at a public charger or charging at home.