How to charge an electric car in public?
More drivers and businesses than ever are switching to electric vehicles (EVs) thanks to their lower running and maintenance costs, reliably great performance, and lower environmental impact.
Key highlights
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Whilst most EV charging is done at home, well over 100,000 public EV charge points are now available throughout the UK.
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Public charge points offer a variety of charging speeds, from slow charging to ultra-rapid public chargers now delivering up to 350kW, with the newest 800V-platform vehicles able to take advantage of these speeds in full.
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Public EV charging is available at destinations like supermarkets and shops, en-route at locations like service stations and Tesla Superchargers (now open to non-Tesla vehicles at many sites), and via community initiatives like kerbside and lamp-post charging on residential streets.
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You can easily find the location of charging stations online or via apps like Google Maps, Apple Maps, or Zap-Map.
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To use a public charging station, first make sure it's compatible, authenticate yourself (usually with a contactless card), monitor the charging session, unplug and pay, and you're good to go.
Whilst around 80% of EV charging is done at home, the UK's charging network continues to expand rapidly as electric cars become more popular. Whether you're embarking on a long road trip or just driving for everyday tasks, you have more options than ever for topping up your battery at electric charging stations.
Here, we tell you everything you need to know about how to charge an electric car in public. We'll cover how to find public charging stations, how to use EV charging stations, and how to pay for EV charging.
What is public EV charging?
To make it perfectly clear what we're talking about here, public charging means using a charging station that's available to members of the public. Whereas private charging means using a charger at home or at your workplace, public charging includes using a charger in a car park, at a motorway service station, or at a supermarket while you pop inside to shop.
What types of public EV charging are available in the UK?
Not all public charging stations are equal. They offer different levels of power and prices, often depending on the type of location and how long you'd be expected to leave your car there. There are broadly four kinds of public charging station available, now classified by Zap-Map and the Department for Transport as Standard, Standard Plus, Rapid and Ultra-rapid:
Standard public chargers (up to 8kW)
Typically found at locations where you'd leave your car for longer periods, like at your place of work, residential streets, or longer-term car parks.
Standard Plus public chargers (8kW to 49kW)
Usually found in car parks for public destinations, like supermarkets, shops, or leisure centres.
Rapid public chargers (50kW to 149kW)
Found at locations where you won’t usually park for too long, like motorway service stations or road-side charge points.
Ultra-rapid public chargers (150kW to 350kW+)
Increasingly found at service stations and other key locations throughout the UK. The fastest-charging vehicles can add 100+ miles of range in 10–15 minutes at these chargers.
Where can I find public charging stations?
There are broad categories of public charging station locations:
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Destination public charging locations are found at locations you'd be driving to anyway, offering convenient charging while you're there. These include car parks at supermarkets, shops, gyms, cinemas and hotels.
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En-route public charging locations are charging stations you stop at during a journey. These include charge points at petrol stations, motorway services, and dedicated charging locations like those offered by Gridserve, InstaVolt, Ionity, Fastned, BP Pulse and others.
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Community public charging locations are charge points made available through community sharing initiatives. These include private home chargers made available for public use, kerbside and lamp-post charging on public roads, and chargers made available by private businesses for charging purposes only.
How do I find public EV charging stations?
If you're driving a Tesla your car will find your next charge location for you! Not in a tesla, no worries, you can easily find public charge points throughout the UK with a little online research.
Google Maps and Apple Maps both show EV charging locations, and can be used to find charge points near you or along a planned route, including live availability in many cases.
Alternatively, dedicated EV charge point finder apps are available from the App Store or Google Play, with Zap-Map and PlugShare, the most widely used. Zap-Map in particular shows live availability, connector types, charging speeds and user reviews across the whole UK network.
You'll also become familiar with the destination charging points around you as you go about daily life. Keep an eye out and you'll likely notice chargers at the supermarkets, shops and other places you regularly visit.
How to use a public EV charging station?
Once you’ve located a public charging station, you should:
- Check the charger type - make sure the charge point has a connector that matches the speed you want to charge at, a simple rule of thumb is to see if the charger has an integrated cable or if you need to use your own. No cable? It's a standard speed charger 7-22kW, plug in if you're staying for a few hours at a shopping centre or visitor attraction and need some extra miles to get home. The charger has a cable? It's a rapid or ultra-rapid charger, you'll plug in for a quick top up and be on your way.
- Authenticate and start charging - most modern chargers accept contactless debit or credit card payment directly, which has made this step much simpler than it used to be. Some networks still offer better rates through their own app or an RFID card, so it's worth signing up to networks you use regularly.
- Monitor the session - the charge point should allow you to monitor the charging status, battery level of your electric car (or van), and the estimated time to fully charge, often via an app.
- End the charging session - once your EV is sufficiently charged, stop the session using the controls on the charge point, by swiping your debit card or the app you’re using. Unplug the charging cable, securely replace it, and you’re ready to go.
How to pay for EV charging?
Paying for public charging has become significantly more straightforward. The vast majority of rapid and ultra-rapid chargers now accept contactless debit or credit card payment directly at the charger, with no app or account required.
Dedicated apps like Zap-Pay can still be useful, particularly for accessing member rates on certain networks, which can be noticeably cheaper than the pay-as-you-go price.
Some locations, such as certain shops, hotels and destination venues, may offer free charging as a customer perk, though free charging has become less common as electricity costs have risen.
Our top tips for effective public charging
To make the most out of public EV charging, you should:
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Plan ahead - make sure you know where EV charge points are, whether they’re at a destination or along your route, so you don’t need to take unnecessary detours or risk running out of battery. Apps that show you locations of charging stations are ideal for planning ahead.
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Charge to 80%, not 100%, on rapid chargers - charging speed drops significantly above 80% to protect the battery, so for most journeys it's quicker overall to stop again later than to wait for a full charge.
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Try to charge during off-peak times - if possible, charge your car in off-peak periods to avoid queues and to potentially take advantage of lower rates.
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Stay informed - New charging stations are added every month, and networks regularly update pricing and access methods. Following Zap-Map's updates is a good way to stay current.
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Be considerate - be a responsible charging station user. Don't occupy a charge point for longer than necessary, especially at busy locations. Once your vehicle is charged, move it to free up the spot for other drivers.
Find out more about EV charging with DriveElectric
With charging networks continuing to expand and new charge points becoming available every week, charging your EV in public is more accessible and convenient than ever. Take the time to learn how different charge points work, where to find them, and the costs involved, and you'll soon be charging your electric car with confidence.
Learn more about electric charging stations with DriveElectric, including how electric car charging stations work and examples of home charging costs. Contact us to chat to our business consultants to find out more about our electric vehicle leasing.
Public EV charging FAQs
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Updated: June 2026
Published: Sept 2024