‘Fill up’ for free - the places where electric car drivers can get a charge without being charged

‘Fill up’ for free - the places where electric car drivers can get a charge without being charged 

• Clever hack could see drivers refuel for free by making the most of free public chargers at supermarkets, shopping centres and tourist sites 
• Residents in Scotland, London and the South East benefit from nearly half of the 5,430 free chargers across the UK, while the North East was found to be Britain’s stingiest region when it comes to free charging
• Electric car drivers without off-street parking are paying up to £1,320 a year to charge - that’s £1,155* more than those with a driveway

With inflation at its highest in 40 years and public charging costs rising fast, an electric car could cost an average driver without access to off-street parking up to £1,320 per year to ‘fuel’. This is still cheaper than filling up a petrol car, but there is a way owners can top up the batteries for free, according to new research from the experts at Electrifying.com.

Supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsburys, Lidl and Aldi all offer free charging at many stores across the country, which could help to offset the rising cost of food bills. Popular tourist destinations, including many National Trust sites, also offer free charging for visitors.

According to Zap Map, as of June this year, nearly 5,500 of the 35,000 public charge points across the UK were free to use. Scotland, the South East and London were the three areas with the highest number of free electric car chargers, with over 2,600 combined. Lagging behind with just 154 free chargers, it found the North East to be Britain’s stingiest region when it comes to no cost electric top ups.

Founder and CEO of Electrifying.com Ginny Buckley said:

“Electric car ownership should not be a privilege for the more affluent, and if we want to bring everyone along on the electric journey, we need to ensure that the right infrastructure is in place - and at the right price - so that everyone can make the switch with confidence.

“Whether you’re staying overnight at a hotel, visiting a tourist attraction or your local supermarket, there are plenty of free charging points out there, but as the stats show, you’re more likely to find one if you live in London, the South East or Scotland.

“Those without off-street parking - which is around one third of drivers nationally - are already paying up to £1,320 each year to charge - this is why we need local authorities right across the country to step up their game when it comes to charging infrastructure. While free charging is a brilliant incentive for some businesses, it won’t be a solution for everyone. That’s why I'm calling for VAT on public charge points to be reduced from 20% to 5% to bring it in line with the cost of charging at home. I would also like to see energy providers introduce cheaper night tariffs at public charge points to help balance the supply grid and benefit those without access to off-street parking.”

Apart from at the supermarket, where can I charge for free?

• The National Trust has charging points at 36 of its English and Welsh properties. 
• Many hotels across the UK also offer their customers free charging.
• Many car dealers will have charge points which customers will be able to access.
• Many employers will allow staff to plug in at work, either at dedicated points or simply using a 3-pin socket. 

Ends

Notes to editors

Free charging by region taken from the Zap Map website here. 

For a full list of National Trust sites which offer free charging, please visit their dedicated webpage here. 

*This research is based on driving a Volkswagen ID.3 58kW for 10k miles/year. This would cost:

£56/month on home charging, peak rate

£13.75/month on home charging, cheap night rate

£82/month on public AC charging at 45p/kWh

£110/month on public DC charging at 60p

A petrol (Golf) would cost £144 at £1.88/litre to run on the same mileage. 

About Electrifying.com  

As we head towards the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars, 

Electrifying.com is shaping the conversation around electric cars, moving it away from tech-savvy, early adopters to the mainstream.

Our female led brand of electric experts helps consumers understand, choose, buy and run an electric vehicle, so they can make the switch with confidence.

Founded and fronted by Ginny Buckley in 2020 (accomplished motoring journalist, World Car of the Year juror and broadcaster for ITV1, BBC & Channel 4). Ginny is joined by Nicki Shields (BBC & ITV presenter, face of Formula E) and Tom Ford (BBC Top Gear America, Fifth Gear, award-winning journalist). Tech, gadget and car expert Tomi Adebayo (@gadgetsboy) completes the line-up.