Charging your electric vehicle
In our district we have 367 charging points as of 30 June 2025.
Across the UK at the end of July 2025, there were 84,218 electric vehicle charging points, across 41,979 charging locations, 112,415 electric vehicle supply equipment’s and 118,742 connectors.
The numbers of charging points continue to expand. Last month, 1,849 new charging devices were added to the Zapmap database (EV charging statistics 2025 - Zapmap).
The number of petrol forecourts has fallen. In 1991 the UK had about 21,000 petrol stations. The total number in the UK in 2023 was 8,354.
How long does it take to charge an EV?
Charging times will vary depending on your electric vehicle, battery, and type of charging point used, such as a standard charging point or a rapid one.
Check out advice on charging electric vehicles from the Energy Trust for more information.
How much does it cost to charge an EV?
A full charge in a fully electric car will give a typical range of around 220 miles and cost approximately £17 if charging at home. (Figure calculated as of August 2025). Driving a petrol or diesel car for 220 miles could cost up to £45.
The cost savings will be more when you charge at home and have access to an EV tariff or other time-of-use tariff. These tariffs cost approximately £8 for a full charge for a fully electric car and typically require a smart meter. This can work out as low as 2p per mile. Check out advice on smart charging.
If you have solar panels, you could also charge your electric car or van during the day while the panels are generating electricity, reducing your fuel costs.
Rapid charging, for example, at motorway service stations, can be more expensive.
How long do electric vehicle batteries last?
The average petrol/diesel car in the UK is ten years old.
EV batteries are expected to last 10-20 years, depending on a number of factors. You can extend the battery life by not fully charging the battery, not letting it get too low on charge and not exposing it to extreme temperatures.
For more information, check out our advice on electric vehicle batteries.
What’s the range of an electric vehicle?
The range of an electric vehicle varies depending on the make, model, and weight, such as passengers or cargo. Most battery electric cars have a real-world range of 220 miles on a full charge. However, some electric cars have a range of over 300 to 450 miles on a single charge.
There are things you can do to increase the range of your EV. For more information, check out our advice on electric vehicle batteries.
Grants for installing a charger point
Grants are available for installing electric vehicle charge points for individuals, landlords, businesses, the public sector, charities and education institutions. View the GOV.UK Electric vehicle chargepoint grants web page for more information.