UK switching to electric vehicles discussion

[jon0844]

I'd still stop at them in an EV for convenience purchases. They are handy for that.

Can't say I have a strong view on them to be honest.

If in a real desperate rush, perhaps, but when I saw 4 cans of Coke Zero costing £6 in a Shell (Waitrose) I realised that it is nearly always better to find a Tesco Express or something instead.

Admittedly, Tesco no longer keep stores open as late so I'd perhaps concur that if I needed something between 2300 and 0600 then maybe I would go to one - but I've managed to plan well enough to not need to do that for many years now.

 

[bangor-toad]

As has been stated before, all chargers will let you pay by contactless.

Really?
Is that actually true across England / Wales / Scotland?

Here in Northern Ireland I have never found a charger that will accept payment via contactless. Every single public charger nearby requires you to go through an app. Luckily the majority of car use for us means we charge at home but we've had to register for a load of different apps for the odd occasion we need to charge elsewhere. I would very much prefer to pay by contactless if I had the choice.

Cheers,
Mr Toad

 

[jon0844]

Really?
Is that actually true across England / Wales / Scotland?

Here in Northern Ireland I have never found a charger that will accept payment via contactless. Every single public charger nearby requires you to go through an app. Luckily the majority of car use for us means we charge at home but we've had to register for a load of different apps for the odd occasion we need to charge elsewhere. I would very much prefer to pay by contactless if I had the choice.

Cheers,
Mr Toad

I meant to say fast chargers, not all chargers (as this includes all sorts of things like roadside/lamp post chargers that can be 7kWh or even less).

It's a requirement in England at least. I believe operators also need to maintain a decent level of uptime too.

 

[Energy]

Really?
Is that actually true across England / Wales / Scotland?

Here in Northern Ireland I have never found a charger that will accept payment via contactless. Every single public charger nearby requires you to go through an app. Luckily the majority of car use for us means we charge at home but we've had to register for a load of different apps for the odd occasion we need to charge elsewhere. I would very much prefer to pay by contactless if I had the choice.

Cheers,
Mr Toad

I meant to say fast chargers, not all chargers (as this includes all sorts of things like roadside/lamp post chargers that can be 7kWh or even less).

It's a requirement in England at least. I believe operators also need to maintain a decent level of uptime too.

Yep, all new chargers >=8kW, and existing chargers >=50kW, must have contactless or the operator faces a £10,000 fine per charger.

The >=8kW rule hasn't really worked; many operators have put 7.4kW AC charging points where they would previously put 22kW units, e.g. Shell...

It's worth getting an Octopus Electroverse card; since it processes its payments as direct debits, it charges lower fees to the charging networks than their credit card processors, which is reflected in a small discount to you.

 

[Snow1964]

I meant to say fast chargers, not all chargers (as this includes all sorts of things like roadside/lamp post chargers that can be 7kWh or even less).

It's a requirement in England at least. I believe operators also need to maintain a decent level of uptime too.

There are a few sites where extra chargers were clearly added later, and one or two old ones on the end of a row still exist which don't take contactless, but the newer ones next to them do. Sometimes those old ones are slower (nearer 50-75kw) than the new rapid ones. Although where there are mix of speeds the less rapid ones are often cheaper.


Latest data says now 118,321 public EV chargers across 45,561 locations

Standard (3 - 7.9kw) and standard plus (8 - 49kw)
91,312 chargers (but this includes many single ones at a location)

Rapid (50 - 149kw) and ultra rapid (150+ kw)
27,009 chargers at 6727 locations
452 extra in a month
so if same rate continues for rest of 2026 will be over 31,000 by end of year

EV charging statistics 2026 - Zapmap

view the latest monthly data on the uk public electric vehicle charging network. track growth across standard, standard plus, rapid, ultra-rapid and destination charging points with zapmap insights.

www.zapmap.com

 

[Mawkie]

It's worth getting an Octopus Electroverse card; since it processes its payments as direct debits, it charges lower fees to the charging networks than their credit card processors, which is reflected in a small discount to you.

And you can avoid the ghastly £40/50 pre authorisation fees.

 

[jon0844]

Yep, all new chargers >=8kW, and existing chargers >=50kW, must have contactless or the operator faces a £10,000 fine per charger.

The >=8kW rule hasn't really worked; many operators have put 7.4kW AC charging points where they would previously put 22kW units, e.g. Shell...

It's worth getting an Octopus Electroverse card; since it processes its payments as direct debits, it charges lower fees to the charging networks than their credit card processors, which is reflected in a small discount to you.

I've set BP and Shell on A Better Route Planner as sites I absolutely don't want to use. I'd rather push my car home.

My local Shell rebuilt entirely and added EV bays and one charger was out of use every single day I drove by for a year. Recently it's been working so I figure it was deliberate before they were forced to keep them all on.

They seem to want to encourage people to avoid EVs because of high prices or lack of availability, thus keeping their ICE cars instead. I don't even think this a conspiracy. It's like green washing (no doubt getting grants, subsidies or tax relief) but not actually caring.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

As Dave Takes It On from YouTube says, nobody was crying out for larger petrol tanks to give them 1000 miles without refuelling.

That's because refilling your tank takes <5 minutes. What's often called "range anxiety" is really "charging anxiety" simply because charging takes longer (even with rapid chargers) and isn't as familiar for drivers.
The argument that drivers should really be stopping for more than just a few minutes if they've just done 300 miles non-stop is of course valid- driving without frequent breaks is never a smart idea.
However if an ICE vehicle doesn't have the biggest fuel tank it isn't as much of a psychological block, because refuelling is quick and familiar. All you early adopters have already gone through the process of adjustment.

 

[The exile]

Yep, I can do 600 miles in a Skoda Enjaq EV with one (necessary) stop, for £250/month lease cost. Roughly the same price as a low spec VW Golf.

One stop of how long?

 

[Bald Rick]

One stop of how long?

As long as necessary! But using a fast charger, around 40 minutes would be enough, which is not as long as I would one-stop for on a 600 mile journey.

 

[The exile]

As long as necessary! But using a fast charger, around 40 minutes would be enough, which is not as long as I would one-stop for on a 600 mile journey.

Ok - once all the car-parking spaces at NT properties, English Heritage sites and other beauty spots are fitted with fast chargers then I’ll think about it. 40 minutes at a money-grabbing M-Way service area? Not on your life!

 

[Mawkie]

Ok - once all the car-parking spaces at NT properties, English Heritage sites and other beauty spots are fitted with fast chargers then I’ll think about it. 40 minutes at a money-grabbing M-Way service area? Not on your life!

Seems like the National Trust have started on their EV charging journey - 36 sites covered at the moment. Given the amount of time a person usually spends at a heritage site, rapid chargers aren't really necessary, so 22 kW will suffice, saving a little on infrastructure costs. Hopefully they have negotiated a slice of the profits from Raw Charging too.

We're working with a new supplier, RAW Charging, to bring more electric vehicle charging points to the places in our care. Please continue to check back here as new places with electric vehicle charging points are added.

 

[Bald Rick]

Ok - once all the car-parking spaces at NT properties, English Heritage sites and other beauty spots are fitted with fast chargers then I’ll think about it. 40 minutes at a money-grabbing M-Way service area? Not on your life!

If you‘re doing a 600 mile one way trip specifically to see a National Trust property, and not able to dive off the motorway to charge somewhere more reasonable, then you will be in a very,very small minority.

 

[Bletchleyite]

If you‘re doing a 600 mile one way trip specifically to see a National Trust property, and not able to dive off the motorway to charge somewhere more reasonable, then you will be in a very,very small minority.

One of the problems, indeed, of this thread is that it's getting a bit like the "RailUK Standard Minority" - there are a load of fairly niche reasons why an EV would not be usable for someone, and we are tending towards a line that everyone has all of them or does all of the affected journeys several times a day.

In the end the way you use an EV is different from the way you use a petrol car. This will sometimes be more convenient and sometimes less convenient. It kind of evens out. It will be negative for some and they should probably stick with petrol for now, but for anyone for whom it's neutral or positive they should consider one the next time they change cars.

I suspect if we were the other way round (some early cars were electric, remember, so it could have happened) we would have a thread just like this "do you think that the UK switching to petrol vehicles is realistic?" and people would be pushing the downsides e.g. pollution, the need to spend time specifically filling it up rather than being able to do it as you sleep and so on.

People just don't like change even where that change is overall neutral or even positive.

 

[jon0844]

There is now a movement towards BEVs with range extenders (it's been done before, such as the BMW i3 which had it as an option). Fit a small gas tank and generator, and you've got extended range without having to build a complex hybrid solution.

Intended perhaps for bigger countries where longer road trips take place, I wonder if we'll see more of these go on sale as a further nail in the coffin for ICE cars?

 

[Peter Sarf]

One of the problems, indeed, of this thread is that it's getting a bit like the "RailUK Standard Minority" - there are a load of fairly niche reasons why an EV would not be usable for someone, and we are tending towards a line that everyone has all of them or does all of the affected journeys several times a day.

In the end the way you use an EV is different from the way you use a petrol car. This will sometimes be more convenient and sometimes less convenient. It kind of evens out. It will be negative for some and they should probably stick with petrol for now, but for anyone for whom it's neutral or positive they should consider one the next time they change cars.

I suspect if we were the other way round (some early cars were electric, remember, so it could have happened) we would have a thread just like this "do you think that the UK switching to petrol vehicles is realistic?" and people would be pushing the downsides e.g. pollution, the need to spend time specifically filling it up rather than being able to do it as you sleep and so on.

People just don't like change even where that change is overall neutral or even positive.

This probably sums it all up really. People who find EVs convenient will just quietly get on with it. People who are borderline will mostly just be quietly getting on with it if they actually switch. That leaves the likes of myself who are not ready to make the change. For me it will be a long while I suspect due to no off street parking, only a light user and will only really look when the new tech is established in older (10 + year old) cars.

Your analogy of a transition from battery to petrol in the distant past has some key differences to blur it. Back in those days a car was something only the privileged few had (so cost was not quite the same consideration) whereas now a car is a god given right and necessity. Another difference is that without the internet many opinions and or issues would not be very well know.

Yes, there is always a reluctance to change.

 

[stuu]

I saw some loon on facebook (I know!), claiming that EVs give out electromagnetic radiation and are a danger to the occupants. Hadn't heard that one before. But as per Einstein's alleged quote, human stupidity does seem to be infinite

 

[Ediswan]

I saw some loon on facebook (I know!), claiming that EVs give out electromagnetic radiation and are a danger to the occupants. Hadn't heard that one before. But as per Einstein's alleged quote, human stupidity does seem to be infinite

The first part is true. The health clain is highly dubious.

 

[bspahh]

The first part is true. The health clain is highly dubious.

Both statements are true. If you drive an EV into a tree, it will be a danger to the occupants. Whether the electromagnetic radiation is a danger to the occupants is another matter.

 

[The exile]

If you‘re doing a 600 mile one way trip specifically to see a National Trust property, and not able to dive off the motorway to charge somewhere more reasonable, then you will be in a very,very small minority.

No - my point was that if I’m doing a longer journey that is going to require something longer than a pee stop, then that break is going to be at somewhere of interest, not a soul-destroying, over-priced M-way service area.

 

[Bald Rick]

No - my point was that if I’m doing a longer journey that is going to require something longer than a pee stop, then that break is going to be at somewhere of interest, not a soul-destroying, over-priced M-way service area.

Excellent we’re agreed then.

 

[gswindale]

I am tempted by an EV. The reason is my "normal" journey.

It is a 12 mile drive which goes past precisely 1 petrol station (in one direction only). Unfortunately for me, that is on my morning commute when time is of the essence.

Other stations require a bit of a detour off my commute route, and let's face it - who wants to divert 10 minutes off route to get home in the evening?

I could install a charger at home, or i believe our work car park has some ev chargers on level 7.

The somewhat poor facilities for refueling that exist in this part of Berkshire mean that an EV is surely the way forward?

 

[gazthomas]

I am tempted by an EV. The reason is my "normal" journey.

It is a 12 mile drive which goes past precisely 1 petrol station (in one direction only). Unfortunately for me, that is on my morning commute when time is of the essence.

Other stations require a bit of a detour off my commute route, and let's face it - who wants to divert 10 minutes off route to get home in the evening?

I could install a charger at home, or i believe our work car park has some ev chargers on level 7.

The somewhat poor facilities for refueling that exist in this part of Berkshire mean that an EV is surely the way forward?

Based on your daily drive you would be fine with a "granny charger", at 2.2 KW/h charging it would take about 4 hours to give you the necessary range for work (assuming 24 miles return?). You should be able to get a night tariff at 7p KW/h for charging. I have a home charger which allows me to charge at 7 KW/h overnight and with a dynamic tariff I can often charge the car at the reduced rate during the day time

 

[telstarbox]

And as a further option you could get your weekly mileage at a rapid charger in about 30 minutes - for example Sainsbury's have some decent ones so you can charge while shopping.

 

[Mawkie]

It is a 12 mile drive which goes past precisely 1 petrol station (in one direction only). Unfortunately for me, that is on my morning commute when time is of the essence.

To give you an example, I also do 11/12 miles each way to work and only charge every 2ish weeks in winter (well, let's say when the temperature is lower than 5C) and every 3ish weeks in summer.

 

[Noddy]

Ok - once all the car-parking spaces at NT properties, English Heritage sites and other beauty spots are fitted with fast chargers then I’ll think about it. 40 minutes at a money-grabbing M-Way service area? Not on your life!

Seems like the National Trust have started on their EV charging journey - 36 sites covered at the moment. Given the amount of time a person usually spends at a heritage site, rapid chargers aren't really necessary, so 22 kW will suffice, saving a little on infrastructure costs. Hopefully they have negotiated a slice of the profits from Raw Charging too.

The RHS are also using RAW to fit chargers their sites. For example:

RAW Charging is bringing EVs to the UK’s most popular gardening group

RAW Charging partners with RHS to install 90+ EV chargers at five popular UK gardens, improving accessibility...

electricdrives.tv

EV charging is becoming easier to find, and a new partnership is making it even more convenient for drivers. RAW Charging, a leading UK EV charging company, has teamed up with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) to install over 90 charging points across five of the UK’s most famous gardens.

The chargers will be placed at RHS Wisley, RHS Bridgewater, RHS Harlow Carr, RHS Hyde Hall, and RHS Rosemoor. These gardens attract millions of visitors every year, and now they’ll also offer a chance to charge your electric car while you explore.

Charging is moving away from city centres and motorways, and becoming available at more everyday destinations. This shift to destination charging means drivers can top up their cars while visiting places they already love, like parks and gardens. It’s a simple but effective way to make electric cars more practical for more people.

This idea is already catching on in other parts of the UK. RAW Charging has added chargers at well-known sites, including National Trust properties, Merlin Entertainments parks (like LEGOLAND® Windsor), and retail centres. With 1 in 3 new UK cars being electric or hybrid, it’s clear that having more charging options is key to making EVs a more attractive choice for drivers…

Cadw have partnered with Evolt:

Evolt Charging supports Cadw | Evolt Charging

Need a Fleet and public charge point solution? Find out how Evolt made this happen for Cadw across their depots and historic sites

evoltcharging.co.uk

Bringing electric vehicle charging to Wales’ most historic sites​

Evolt Charging, part of SWARCO Smart Charging, the UK’s leading electric vehicle (EV) charging business, is supporting, Cadw the Welsh Government’s historic environment service, to deliver fast and reliable EV charging to heritage sites across Wales that are now live and ready for public use, as well as helping to electrify Cadw’s own fleet of electric cars and vans.

9 new Cadw EV charging sites​

Evolt has installed a series of 22kW public charge points across an initial nine Cadw sites, including the Tintern Abbey in Monmouthshire and Grade 1 – and UNESCO-listed Castell Harlech set amongst the backdrop of Snowdonia National Park. These sites present their own unique challenges as it meant liaising with the third-party owners of the adjoining car parks. A further challenge is getting power to the sites. Installing new supplies near historic monuments required Scheduled Monument Consent and archaeological oversight due to the potential for archaeological discoveries…

 

[DelW]

....
I could install a charger at home, or i believe our work car park has some ev chargers on level 7.
....

You wouldn't need to install anything if you have a 13A socket available for overnight use. I have a PHEV rather than full EV, but all my charging is from a 13A socket. A 3 - 4 hour charge gives me about 30 miles range in summer, 25 miles in winter. (Obviously a larger EV battery could charge for longer and give more range).

 

[Snow1964]

I could install a charger at home, or i believe our work car park has some ev chargers on level 7.

You should budget around £1000 for a good home charger (might be bit less, but could be more if long cable runs etc).

If getting new car, often deals where manufacturer pays proportion of installation cost. If you rent your house, landlord can now get up to £500 grant towards installation.

To put it into perspective, I do around 10,000 miles a year, and was buying about £100-120 petrol per month, now nearer £15 per month on overnight electricity. So cost of installation is recovered in about 10-11 months.

Although in theory use a 13amp socket with a granny charger if only do very short journeys, if you have a 7kw charger only need to plug it in every few days, so becomes even easier than going to a petrol station (just takes few seconds, rather than having to detour to a petrol station, wait whilst filling and pay).

There are occasions when on holiday, visiting relatives etc doing longer trips, that I need to use public chargers (car has range of about 250 miles in summer, nearer 200 miles in winter) I estimate around 15% of my electricity is away from home. But tend to use rapid chargers (even some big Sainsbury's near main roads have them nowadays). When using these charging is slower if try and fill beyond around 80%, but I only put enough in to get me home with about 10-15% battery.

Finding EV stations in unfamiliar parts of the country is easy, just use something like zap map. No harder than finding a petrol station in an area you don't know. And EV charging sites seem to be growing, unlike petrol stations (I am sure everyone is familiar with those former petrol station, now car washes or car lots, or redevelopment sites, which in some places seem to be easier to spot than open petrol stations)

The cars estimated range (which can be displayed during charging), and distance to go on google (or Waze etc) maps make it easy to see how far can go (same as estimated range indicator in a petrol car). A few months ago maps seem to have been upgraded and now tells you how many chargers are free, get something like 7/10 (7 available out of 10) at EV sites showing on maps, so can skip those that are busy (unless very low on battery and need to charge rather than continue to next one).

I still have access to my daughters (petrol) car, and to be honest stopping at a petrol station (which are off route for normal journeys, so needs a special trip, or a deviation) is more of a faff than charging at home. Actually there is a petrol station nearby that is on route, but it is consistently about 10-15p / litre more, so we avoid it because costs extra £5 to fill tank there. Paying £50 for petrol to do 220-250 miles when overnight electricity costs £4 for same distance isn't great.
.

 

[Mawkie]

The RHS are also using RAW to fit chargers their sites. For example:

RAW Charging is bringing EVs to the UK’s most popular gardening group

RAW Charging partners with RHS to install 90+ EV chargers at five popular UK gardens, improving accessibility...

electricdrives.tv

Cadw have partnered with Evolt:

Evolt Charging supports Cadw | Evolt Charging

Need a Fleet and public charge point solution? Find out how Evolt made this happen for Cadw across their depots and historic sites

evoltcharging.co.uk

Range anxiety is dead - the new BMW iX3 is doing 500 miles on a single charge.

Charging anxiety is dead - latest figures are now 118k chargers across the UK.

Destination chargers are everywhere - the last 2 garden centres I went to had charging with lovely Kempower units, and the last 3 shopping centres had charging too (Brent Cross has 58 Raw Charging points @45p per unit)

It doesn't matter how often anyone says it, the old argument of "But, but, but, there's no where to charge an electric car and the grid can't cope" is finally dead!

 

[MotCO]

Range anxiety is dead - the new BMW iX3 is doing 500 miles on a single charge.

....if you have a spare £58,755 for a base model, and the range quoted is 449 miles, probably less in reality. A BMW series 3 petrol base model is £44,475, some £14,500 (or 33%) cheaper.