7 ways to bring down the cost of charging your electric car

How to reduce the cost of charging your electric vehicle 

With rising energy costs and variable rates of charge, charging your electric vehicle (EV) might seem like a full-time job. Especially if you’re looking to save a few pennies on your energy bills.

Although the upfront cost of an electric car can often be higher, the lower cost of electricity compared to petrol or diesel can make EVs cheaper to run.

An electric car lease lets you drive the latest EV technology while keeping costs predictable with fixed monthly payments instead of a hefty upfront purchase price.

Many people assume that the cost of charging their EV is out of their control, but it’s worth looking at all the different charging solutions.

Whether you’re at home, at work or on the go, here are seven ways to reduce the cost of running your electric car.

The cheapest ways to charge your EV

Make use of free public chargers

It’s not unusual to see charging stations around the UK now, but you’ll most likely have to pay to use them.

However, some places such as supermarkets, or attractions like zoos and theme parks offer free charging stations for the public when on their premises (although this is rarer now).

So, it might be worth thinking ahead and tying in your weekly shop or a day out with your next EV charge.

Finding those free charging points is not a difficult task either, there are apps for electric car drivers that can help you locate any near you.

If you’re planning a long journey, it’s worth thinking ahead and searching for charge points that are on your route to stop and charge while you take a break.

Many infotainment systems now have route planners that can plan charging stops too – how useful is that?

Although free chargers are often slower and therefore less convenient, you might be willing to go for a slower charge if that means you’ll be saving money. And if you're spending the day at, say, the zoo, why not get a whole day's charge?

Install a home charger

One of the cheapest ways to charge your electric car is by installing a home charger and signing up to an EV tariff.

An EV tariff is a special electricity rate that some suppliers offer to make home charging even more affordable. These tariffs provide specific off-peak times during the day when electricity rates are much lower – perfect for overnight charging.

However, with the ongoing UK cost-of-living crisis, many of these cheaper EV tariffs are either increasing in price or being withdrawn for new customers. It's worth shopping around to find the best deal for your situation.

While you can use a regular UK socket to charge your car, it's a lot slower than a dedicated wall box charge point. It's also not as safe as it can involve running charging cables from inside your home.

Also, if you don’t have off-street parking, charging your electric car at home can be more challenging.

Install solar panels

Although installation can be pricey, charging at home with solar panels can be one of the cheapest ways to charge your electric car.

Solar panels produce clean (and free!) energy that can power your car as well as other appliances in your home to help save on your energy bills.

Drive economically

You can extend the range of your electric car by watching your driving habits and adopting eco-driving techniques.

One of the easiest ways to do this is by keeping an eye on your speed and avoiding harsh acceleration or braking.

Do you use features like heating, air conditioning and heated seats? They can consume a lot of energy and reduce your overall range.

It’s also worth making sure you know what innovative energy-saving features your vehicle has and making use of its eco-mode. If your EV has regenerative braking, then it’ll also gain back charge whenever you brake – proper game-changing stuff.

Charge during off-peak periods

Charging your car during off-peak times can make things significantly cheaper.

Off-peak periods are times when energy demand is lower (like overnight), so you'll pay less for electricity.

You can often pre-set your chargers to only charge during these cheaper periods. There are also apps such as Optiwatt which can help you schedule your car to charge when rates are lowest.

Avoid rapid charging

Rapid charging is the most convenient way of charging your car, but it can be one of the most expensive.

You’ve probably heard of Tesla Superchargers – these are often more powerful than regular rapid chargers, and some are now open to non-Tesla EVs too.

A common misconception is that all Tesla owners can access the Supercharger network for free. While this isn’t the case, they do get cheaper rates and priority over chargers compared to non-Tesla drivers.

However, the charging landscape is evolving fast. NIO are shaking things up with their battery swapping stations – instead of waiting for your car to charge, you simply swap your depleted battery for a fully charged one in under five minutes.

It'll be as fast as refuelling an ICE car, but electric.

Meanwhile, BYD's new Super e-Platform promises ultra-fast charging that could see cars gaining hundreds of miles of range in just minutes.

These innovations could make rapid charging both faster and more affordable in the future.

Make use of government schemes

There are plenty of incentives to help ease the cost of switching to an EV, including a grant of up to £3,750 off a new EV – yes, actual money off from the government.

If you run a business and want to offer your employees an electric business car lease, you may have access to grants for installing charging points on your work premises as well as tax breaks on your electricity. 

The bottom line

Charging your electric car doesn't have to break the bank.

From hunting down those free charging points during your weekly shop, to installing solar panels at home, there are plenty of ways to keep your EV running costs down.

The key is to think ahead and make the most of off-peak rates, government incentives, and your car's own energy-saving features.

And with exciting developments like NIO's battery swapping and BYD's super-fast charging on the horizon, the future of EV charging is looking both faster and more affordable.

FAQs on EV charging

Are EV charging cables waterproof?

Yes, electric vehicle chargers are waterproof. Both the chargers themselves and the charging ports on electric cars are designed to be weatherproof and water resistant.

Are EV charging stations free?

Not all EV charging stations are free. There are apps and websites available to help you find free chargers.

Are EV charging cables universal?

EV charging cables aren't completely universal, but most public chargers can connect to all electric cars. However, you'll often need to bring your own compatible charging cable, as many public chargers don't provide one.

There are different types of charging cable, and which one you need depends on your car and the type of charging:

• Type 1: Found on some older electric cars like the early Nissan Leaf. An adaptor is usually included to make it compatible with Type 2 chargers.
• Type 2: The standard connector for the vast majority of electric cars sold in the UK. Used for slow and fast AC charging at home and many public charging points.
• CHAdeMO: Used by some EVs like the Nissan Leaf for rapid charging, but it's being phased out on newer Nissan models.
• CCS Combo Type 1: Not found in the UK or Europe – this is mainly used in North American and Asian markets.
• CCS Combo Type 2: The standard rapid charging connector for most electric cars sold in the UK. Used for DC fast charging at motorway services and rapid charging hubs.

Will EV charging get faster?

Yes, EV charging is getting significantly faster thanks to constant technological advancements.

Several breakthrough technologies are already emerging:

• Ultra-rapid charging – Some new chargers can already add hundreds of miles of range in just 10-15 minutes, with speeds continuing to improve.
• Revolutionary platforms – BYD's Super e-Platform is set to make charging as quick as filling up with petrol.
• Battery swapping – NIO's technology eliminates charging wait times entirely. Instead of plugging in, you simply swap your empty battery for a fully charged one in minutes.
• Improved battery chemistry – New battery technologies are being developed that can accept charge much faster without degrading.

As these technologies become more widespread, the days of long charging waits will become a thing of the past. Within the next few years, charging an EV could be faster and more convenient than visiting a petrol station.