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Driving Electric in Wales Guide

Driving an electric car in Wales? Discover public EV charging, journey planning, Zapmap and practical tips for travelling around Wales with Gravells.

Your guide to exploring Wales in an electric car

From daily commutes along the M4 to weekends exploring the Welsh coast and countryside, driving electric in Wales is becoming increasingly straightforward.

With a growing public charging network, better journey-planning tools and an expanding choice of electric cars, making the switch doesn't have to change the way you travel.

As a Welsh family business founded in Kidwelly in 1932, Gravells has been helping motorists across Wales for generations. Here's our guide to getting around Wales in an EV.

Public EV charging in Wales

You'll find public EV chargers across Wales at locations including:

  • Motorway and roadside services

  • Public car parks

  • Supermarkets and retail parks

  • Hotels and leisure destinations

  • Town and city centres

  • Dedicated EV charging hubs

Charging provision continues to expand across Wales, including efforts to improve infrastructure along strategic roads and in rural communities.

For longer journeys, it's worth checking where you'll charge before setting off – particularly when travelling through more rural parts of Wales.

Find EV chargers with Zapmap

One of the easiest ways to find public chargers is Zapmap.

Zapmap's map lets you search for charging points across the UK and filter them by factors such as location, charging speed and network.

Its Route Planner can also help you plan a longer EV journey and identify suitable charging stops along the way.

Find EV chargers with Zapmap

Planning a longer journey in Wales

Taking an EV on a longer Welsh road trip shouldn't require complicated planning.

Before setting off:

Check your range
Know roughly how far your car can comfortably travel with its current charge.

Plan your charging stop
Use your car's navigation system, Zapmap or a charging network app to find suitable chargers along your route.

Leave yourself some flexibility
Range can vary depending on speed, weather, temperature and driving conditions, so avoid planning to arrive with almost no charge remaining.

Make charging part of the journey
A charging stop can easily coincide with grabbing a coffee, having lunch or taking a break.

What about rural Wales?

Driving through rural Wales can mean longer distances between towns and fewer facilities than you'll find around major urban areas.

That doesn't mean an EV isn't suitable, but a little forward planning can help.

If you're heading into areas such as West Wales, Mid Wales or the Welsh countryside, check your charging options before leaving and consider having an alternative charging location in mind.

Gravells – here for EV drivers across South Wales

We're not just here when you're choosing your electric car.

With Gravells dealerships across Kidwelly, Narberth, Swansea, Bridgend and Abergavenny, our teams support motorists across South and West Wales. We also have dealerships in Hereford, making Gravells well placed for customers travelling between Wales and the West Midlands.

Our Kia, Renault and Dacia teams can help with everything from choosing and test driving an electric vehicle to understanding its range, charging and everyday features.

Driving Electric in Wales FAQs

Yes. Public charging is available across Wales at locations including service areas, car parks, supermarkets, destinations and dedicated charging hubs. Availability and charging speeds vary by location, so checking before travelling is recommended.

You can use services such as Zapmap to search for nearby public charging points and view information about individual chargers.

Yes. However, charging locations may be more spread out in some rural areas, so planning your charging stops before a longer journey is sensible.

Absolutely. Modern EVs can be used for longer journeys, with public rapid and ultra-rapid chargers providing opportunities to recharge along the way. Your individual range and charging time will depend on your vehicle.

It can. Lower temperatures can reduce the distance an EV travels from a charge, so it's sensible to allow some additional range when planning longer winter journeys.

Not always. Payment methods vary between charging networks and locations. Some chargers offer contactless payment, while others can also be accessed through an app or charging account.

Thinking about going electric?

If you're considering making the switch, the best way to find out whether an EV fits your lifestyle is to experience one for yourself.

Visit your local Gravells dealership to explore our electric range from Kia, Renault and Dacia, speak to our team and arrange a test drive.