In the UK, there are a growing number of public EV charging stations, with some offering national coverage and others only found in specific regions.
The major UK wide networks include BP Chargemaster [Polar], Pod Point and Charge Your Car. All of which offer a mix of slow, fast and rapid charging options. Most public EV charging points are installed at motorway service stations or by major roads.
For Drivers Doing Longer Journeys, Rapid Charge Is Recommended, As It Can Provide Up To 80% Of Charge In Just 20 Minutes. The Most Common Rapid Charges Used Are 50KW DC, With Rapid AC Units Rated Up To 43KW.
Destination Charging Time
The speed of charging should match the typical time a user will spend at the location. For example, hotels may offer overnight charge while a business or entertainment venue would offer a faster charge rate for visitors.
Pay As You Go
Access and electricity costs vary and some venues such as hotels and shopping centres will allow charging for free, but most EV car charging points will charge by the hour. Rapid chargers are generally more expensive, reflecting the fact that they will charge the battery in a much shorter time.
While there is a requirement for new chargers to have contactless payment options, most networks have apps that can help users find chargers and manage payment. Alternatively, many charging networks will offer a monthly subscription service for regular users. This speeds up access and makes charger use either free or much cheaper.
BACK OFFICE SOLUTIONS
Public charge points always have a comprehensive back office to:
- Control rates and payments
- Inform charge point status
More information on back office solutions can be found here.
