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EV Charging Info Hub

Learn how electric car charging works, including home and public charging, charging speeds, costs and connectors.

Your guide to charging an electric car

Making the switch to an electric vehicle comes with a few new things to learn — and EV charging is often one of the biggest.

How long does an electric car take to charge? Can you charge at home? What's the difference between rapid and ultra-rapid charging? How much does it cost? And what happens when you need to charge away from home?

The Gravells EV Charging Info Hub is here to make electric car charging easier to understand.

Whether you're considering your first electric car or already drive one, discover the different ways to charge an EV, understand charging speeds and connectors, and find practical advice for charging at home and on the road.

Where can I charge an electric car?

One of the biggest differences between an electric car and a petrol or diesel vehicle is that you aren't limited to visiting a traditional filling station. An EV can be charged in a number of places, with most drivers using a combination of home, destination and public charging.

Charging at home

Charging EV at home | Gravells Dacia

If you have suitable off-street parking, installing a dedicated home EV charger can be one of the most convenient ways to charge an electric car.

Simply plug the vehicle in when you get home and it can charge while it would otherwise be parked — including overnight.

Many home chargers are smart chargers, allowing you to schedule when charging takes place. Depending on your electricity tariff, this could also allow you to make use of cheaper off-peak electricity.

For many EV owners, home charging becomes their main method of keeping the battery topped up.

Charging on the road

Charging EV on your journey | Gravells

EV chargers are increasingly available at workplaces and destinations such as hotels, shopping centres, leisure facilities and public car parks.

These are particularly useful when your vehicle will already be parked for several hours.

Rather than stopping specifically to charge, you can simply add energy to the battery while you work, shop or spend time at your destination.

Public EV charging

Charging EV at home | Gravells Kia EV

When you're away from home or travelling further afield, the UK's public charging network allows you to recharge while you're on the road.

Public chargers can be found at locations including motorway services, dedicated EV charging hubs, supermarkets, retail parks and public car parks.

Charging speeds vary considerably, from chargers designed for longer stays to powerful rapid and ultra-rapid chargers designed to get you back on the road more quickly.

How long does it take to charge an electric car?

There's no single charging time for every EV.

How long your electric car takes to charge depends on several factors, including:

  • the size of its battery

  • how much charge is already remaining

  • the maximum charging speed of the vehicle

  • the power of the charging point

  • battery temperature

  • outside temperature and conditions

At home, you may have several hours available to recharge the car overnight, so outright charging speed isn't necessarily important.

On a longer journey, however, a compatible rapid or ultra-rapid charger can add a significant amount of charge while you stop for a break.

You'll often see manufacturers quote 10–80% charging times for rapid charging rather than 0–100% - this is because an EV doesn't necessarily charge at the same speed throughout the entire session. Charging usually begins to slow as the battery reaches a higher state of charge.

How much does it cost to charge an electric car?

EV charging is generally priced according to the amount of electricity you use, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh).

The amount you pay will depend on where you're charging and the electricity price available to you.

WORKING OUT AN APPROXIMATE CHARGING COST

A simple calculation is:

Electricity added (kWh) × price per kWh = approximate charging cost

For example, adding 40kWh at a rate of 30p per kWh would cost approximately:

40 × £0.30 = £12

Why not explore our used EVs and try out our Electric Vehicle Cost Calculator?

VIEW OUR USED EV

What if I can't charge at home?

Not having a driveway doesn't automatically mean an electric vehicle isn't suitable for you.

Depending on where you live and travel, you may be able to use:

  • on-street EV charging

  • public car park chargers

  • workplace charging

  • supermarket and retail charging

  • dedicated charging hubs

  • rapid and ultra-rapid chargers

Before choosing an EV, think about where the car spends most of its time and where charging could realistically fit into your routine.

If you're unable to charge at home, having convenient and reliable public or workplace charging nearby becomes more important.

EV charging FAQs

Yes. Electric vehicles and dedicated charging equipment are designed to operate safely outdoors in normal weather conditions. Always use approved charging equipment and follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Some electric vehicles can be charged using suitable equipment connected to a domestic socket, but charging this way is considerably slower than using a dedicated home EV charger.

A professionally installed home charging point is generally the preferred solution for regular home charging where installation is possible.

An EV's battery management system controls how quickly the battery charges.

Charging speeds typically reduce as the battery becomes fuller, which helps manage the battery safely. This is why you'll often see manufacturers quote rapid charging performance between 10% and 80%.

Not always. Payment options vary between networks and chargers, with many supporting methods such as contactless bank cards alongside apps, RFID cards or network accounts.

You don't have to wait until an EV battery is nearly empty before charging it, nor do you need to charge it fully every time. Many EV drivers simply top up the battery when it's convenient, particularly if they can charge at home. For everyday use, always follow the charging recommendations provided by your vehicle's manufacturer, as these can vary between models.

Charging networks differ slightly, but using a public charger will usually involve:

  1. Finding a compatible charging point.

  2. Parking in the designated charging bay.

  3. Connecting the charger to your vehicle.

  4. Starting the charging session using the payment or authentication method provided.

  5. Allowing the vehicle to charge.

  6. Ending the charging session and disconnecting your vehicle.

Depending on the charging provider, you may be able to pay using contactless payment, a smartphone app, RFID card or charging subscription. Your vehicle's navigation system or a public charging app can also help you locate suitable chargers while travelling.

The connector you'll need depends on your vehicle and the type of charger you're using. For most modern electric cars in the UK, you'll see both Type 2 and CCS. The Type 2 connector is widely used for AC charging, including dedicated home chargers and many destination charging points. CCS, or Combined Charging System, is widely used for DC rapid and ultra-rapid charging. Rapid public chargers will commonly have the charging cable attached to the charging unit itself.

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