Comparing electric car charging options? Explore our 2026 EV charger comparison for Ohme, Andersen, Simpson & Partners, zappi, Hypervolt and Sigenergy features, pros, cons and installation extras.
Filling up with fuel is easy, charging an electric car, however, seems a bit more complicated.
The different connectors, compatibility, and variable rates of charge can make it seem like a complex job.
This guide explains charging locations, costs and compatibility, with links to independent Energy Saving Trust guidance and official sources.
How to charge your electric car
There are three basic ways to charge an electric car: at home, at work, or at a public charging point.
Home charging
Electric car charging
Want to start each day with a ‘full tank’? Charging each night at home will provide all the daily driving range the average driver will need.
You can charge using a regular domestic 3 pin socket, but a dedicated home EV charger is the better option by far.
Dedicated EV home chargers typically deliver around 7kW of power. In contrast, most vehicle manufacturers limit the current drawn from a standard domestic 3 pin socket to 10A or less, which equates to a maximum of 2.3kW.
A 7kW home charger therefore delivers approximately three times as much power and is approximately three times as fast as using a domestic socket.
We’ve got a full guide dedicated to charging an electric car at home, so head there for more information.
Electric car charging – How much does it cost to install an electric car charger at home?
The installed cost depends on the charger, cable route, existing electrics and any supply upgrades. Compare a complete installation quotation rather than a charger-only price.
Grant support is subject to eligibility. Check the current government guidance for renters and flat owners before assuming a contribution is available.
Owning an EV and having off-street parking does not by itself establish grant eligibility. Confirm the property, vehicle and installation requirements before ordering.
Going electric? Installing a home charging point makes owning an electric car so much easier and cheaper.
Workplace charging
Charging points at work help make electric cars viable for commuters who live further away from their homes.
If your work doesn’t have an electric vehicle charge point installed, it could take advantage of the Government’s Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS).
Workplace support has its own eligibility rules and limits. Organisations should check current funding terms and any approval requirements before committing to installation.
Employers can apply for vouchers using the Workplace Charging Scheme application.
Public charging
Electric car charging
Public EV chargers can be found at service stations, car parks, supermarkets, cinemas, even just at the side of the road.
Public chargers at service stations fulfil the role of our current forecourts and are best suited for longer journeys, with a rapid charging unit providing up to 80% of charge in as little as 20-30 minutes.
The Department for Transport’s figures for 1 July 2026 report 121,171 public EV chargers across the UK, including 28,887 rated at 50kW or above. The series now counts chargers (EVSE); this is a different measure from the older “charging device” totals.
EV charging networks
Before travelling, check the operator, connector, live availability and displayed price for the charger you intend to use. Access may involve contactless payment, an operator app, a charging card or vehicle-based authentication, depending on the site.
For Scotland, ChargePlace Scotland provides network information. You can also use Zapmap to plan charging stops. Confirm details with the operator, particularly parking restrictions, connection fees and any idle fees.
Selected Tesla Supercharger locations accept compatible vehicles from other manufacturers. Use Tesla’s current guidance to check which sites and vehicles are supported.
How can I charge my car if I don’t have private parking?
If you don’t have private parking, an EV may still be a practical option for you particularly if you have charge points available at your place of work or if you have a public charger near to your home.
How much does it cost to charge an electric car?
The energy charge is metered electricity in kWh × price per kWh. Add any session, parking, subscription or idle fees that apply.
Illustrative example: a session drawing 40kWh from the supply costs £10 at an assumed 25p/kWh, or £30 at an assumed 75p/kWh, before any additional fees. These are calculation examples, not current tariff quotes. Because charging has losses, 40kWh drawn from the supply delivers less than 40kWh into the battery.
For home charging, compare the full tariff, including daytime prices and standing charges. For public charging, check the price displayed by the operator before starting. Whether an EV costs less per mile than a petrol or diesel car depends on the vehicles’ efficiency and the prices you actually pay.
Electric car charging – How long does it take to charge an electric car?
Electric car charging
How long it takes to charge an EV depends on the size of the battery and the type of charger – which is defined by the power in kW.
Electric car chargers, connectors and adaptors
Check both the connector and the charging capability of your exact vehicle. A physically suitable connector does not guarantee that the car can accept the charger’s maximum power.
Type 2 is commonly used for AC charging on UK cars, while older vehicles may use Type 1. For DC rapid charging, CCS is common and some vehicles use CHAdeMO. Confirm the vehicle’s inlet and supported charging power in its handbook.
For an untethered AC chargepoint, bring the correct charging cable. Tethered chargers have an attached cable, which must match the vehicle. Use only equipment and any adapters approved for the vehicle and charging system.
Electric car charging – Are all EVs compatible with all chargers?
No. Compatibility depends on the vehicle’s charging inlet, AC or DC support and any network access restrictions. Check the handbook and operator information before relying on a charging stop.
For Tesla Superchargers, availability for other EVs is site- and vehicle-dependent. Check Tesla’s supported-site guidance; do not assume every Supercharger is available to every car.
How do I know which chargers my EV can use?
If you have an EV you will know – from your dealer, lease company, handbook etc – what type of charging ports it has.
The easiest way to find suitable public chargepoints is to use an app like Zap-Map which shows the chargepoints on a map.
Zap-map can be filtered by connector type, EV type or charging speed and it tells you if there are any reported problems with a charger.
Electric car charging – Electric car range
Range varies widely by model, battery size, temperature, road speed and driving conditions. Use the manufacturer’s range information as a starting point and allow for your actual journey, with a reserve and suitable charging stops.
For daily charging arrangements, read our home charging guide.
Electric car charging – Electric car battery life
All batteries lose some performance over time and with use, but with EVs the losses tend to be fairly small and incremental.
Battery condition and degradation depend on the model, age and use. For a used EV, review battery-health information and the remaining warranty rather than assuming all batteries age alike.
One of the main reasons for this is that EVs have sophisticated battery management systems which protect the batteries from over-charging and from charging too rapidly, both of which can cause damage.
Rapid-charging power usually changes during a session and may reduce substantially at a high state of charge. The charging curve depends on the vehicle, battery temperature and starting charge level.
Read the battery warranty for the exact vehicle, including its age and mileage limits, minimum retained capacity and exclusions. Terms vary by manufacturer and model.
Electric car charging – How to find electric car charging points
Zap-Map has a useful app that shows you the location of charging points across the UK.
Many electric cars also have sat nav that recognises these locations and can direct you to those within range.
Electric car charging – Can electric cars charge themselves?
Not completely, although recently some manufacturers have begun calling non-plug-in hybrid vehicles ‘self-charging’ hybrids because they recharge their batteries via regenerative braking, or a generator powered by their internal combustion engine.
This term has the potential to confuse since all hybrids, whether plug-in or not, and all EVs have the ability to ‘self-charge’ their batteries to some degree when they brake.
Regenerative braking recovers some energy during slowing down; it does not eliminate a battery-electric vehicle’s need to recharge.
The idea of a fully self-charging electric car is an attractive one for obvious reasons, but no such cars currently exist on the market unfortunately!
Electric car charging- Can I charge in the rain?
Outdoor charging equipment is designed for use in the conditions specified by its manufacturer, which can include rain. Follow the vehicle and charger instructions, and do not use damaged equipment or equipment affected by flooding.
