Free charging - UK

[Ankh87]

Hi all,

Planning my first long weekend trip with the EV. I'm looking for some free chargers while I'm out and about in the North of England. I know that I can charge up at site but there's obviously a cost. Is ZapMap the only option to locate possible free to use chargers or is there another app?
Thanks

[Mammasaid]

Ankh87 said:

Hi all,

Planning my first long weekend trip with the EV. I'm looking for some free chargers while I'm out and about in the North of England. I know that I can charge up at site but there's obviously a cost. Is ZapMap the only option to locate possible free to use chargers or is there another app?
Thanks

You do realise that the North of England is quite a large area?

And that free chargers are rare as hen's teeth, just find a charger near where you would stop anyway and pay, in the grand scheme of things it's not a huge outlay.

[SDK]

Unlikely you will find free EV charging in 2026.

If any do still exist likely they will blocked by DPD vans spam charging

[_Rodders_]

The last ones I know of where Tesco but they went a couple of years ago.

Seems unlikely you'll find many, if any, in 2026.

[samoht]

I think that you're unlikely to find truly free chargers nowadays. Most of the ones that show as 'free' are probably either (a) restricted to certain people such as those in an employee or hotel car park and/or (b) not actually free, just the payment information isn't available to zap-map or whatever.

[FiF]

Free chargers, lol.

Plenty in Jersey but that's a different case. Not exactly oop North.

On the mainland our university had some free chargers way back when EVs were relatively few. Free to staff and public, though the latter had to pay and display for parking.

Now there are many chargers >100, but rates are 45p (7kw) 75p 22kw and above plus P&D charges. The free ones removed even though for a long time technically they were contracted to be operational and free.

[JQ]

Do free chargers still exist in public places?

This reminds me of an acquaintance who got an EV, a few years ago, based solely on there being a free EV charging point walking distance from their house, despite having no ability to charge at home. After 6 months of said person hogging said charger, the owner disconnected it and has never re-instated it. Acquaintance now hates EV's as they have a nightmare charging it and took a 4 year lease.

[gangzoom]

Ankh87 said:

Hi all,

Planning my first long weekend trip with the EV. I'm looking for some free chargers while I'm out and about in the North of England. I know that I can charge up at site but there's obviously a cost. Is ZapMap the only option to locate possible free to use chargers or is there another app?
Thanks

Your about a decade to late for 'Free' EV public charging. Back in 2015 pretty much all public EV chargers were free, these days the closest your get is if you have a Tesla with either 'Free for life' or rewards credits for charging at Tesla chargers.

https://www.stratford.gov.uk/news/index.cfm/item/1...

[Ankh87]

I thought that it would be really rare if any at all.

I think I'm going to be cheeky and use my 10m 3pin cable to the caravan. I'd rather not but this is a private caravan and not the resorts. So it is possible as I cannot see it in the T'c & C's.

[normalbloke]

Ankh87 said:

I thought that it would be really rare if any at all.

I think I'm going to be cheeky and use my 10m 3pin cable to the caravan. I'd rather not but this is a private caravan and not the resorts. So it is possible as I cannot see it in the T'c & C's.

I’m pleased to see you’ve really thought this through..

[Pistonheadsdicoverer]

gangzoom said:

Your about a decade to late for 'Free' EV public charging. Back in 2015 pretty much all public EV chargers were free, these days the closest your get is if you have a Tesla with either 'Free for life' or rewards credits for charging at Tesla chargers.

https://www.stratford.gov.uk/news/index.cfm/item/1...

If the Model S had V2L and it was towing a caravan, you could have free electricity (and heating) for life in your mobile home....

[TheDrownedApe]

Ahh I remember the days of a free vend.

Nowadays no chance

[vikingaero]

normalbloke said:

Ankh87 said:

I thought that it would be really rare if any at all.

I think I'm going to be cheeky and use my 10m 3pin cable to the caravan. I'd rather not but this is a private caravan and not the resorts. So it is possible as I cannot see it in the T'c & C's.

I m pleased to see you ve really thought this through..

Is it fair that the owner of the private caravan pays for your "fuel" for you to get to your holiday site and travel around? Have you thought about being polite and asking them first?

If the fuelling cost of your EV is so critical, then you can't really afford to go on holiday.

[Ankh87]

vikingaero said:

normalbloke said:

Ankh87 said:

I thought that it would be really rare if any at all.

I think I'm going to be cheeky and use my 10m 3pin cable to the caravan. I'd rather not but this is a private caravan and not the resorts. So it is possible as I cannot see it in the T'c & C's.

I m pleased to see you ve really thought this through..

Is it fair that the owner of the private caravan pays for your "fuel" for you to get to your holiday site and travel around? Have you thought about being polite and asking them first?

If the fuelling cost of your EV is so critical, then you can't really afford to go on holiday.

Is it fair that they put up the price because it's school holidays? No.
Is it fair that the council will send me a fine if I take my child out for a day? No.


Is if fair for me to use their electricity? Yes. I'm not going to abuse it but adding a few hours over the weekend wouldn't hurt. Maybe they should put it in their T's & C's. It says on the caravans site page no EV charging but that's for that company. I will ask them but maybe they need to put it in the T's & C's.

I also might not actually need it. It's more of an option if I did decide to travel a bit more in the car. I can easily do the journeys that I need to do but I'd be close the 10% left by the time I got home.

[RotorRambler]

FiF said:

Free chargers, lol.

Plenty in Jersey but that's a different case. Not exactly oop North.

On the mainland our university had some free chargers way back when EVs were relatively few. Free to staff and public, though the latter had to pay and display for parking.

Now there are many chargers >100, but rates are 45p (7kw) 75p 22kw and above plus P&D charges. The free ones removed even though for a long time technically they were contracted to be operational and free.

Plenty of cheap 22Kw Tesla ones in NW area
Eg Tesla Preston, lots open to all, cheaper still if you dip into £9.99 a month membership:-

[MediumBuild]

Ankh87 said:

Is it fair that the council will send me a fine if I take my child out for a day? No.

WTF?

[normalbloke]

MediumBuild said:

Ankh87 said:

Is it fair that the council will send me a fine if I take my child out for a day? No.

WTF?

Breeder problems..

[Mark V GTD]

Still a free one left in my local shopping centre car park but as others have said they are extremely rare now.

[Ankh87]

normalbloke said:

MediumBuild said:

Ankh87 said:

Is it fair that the council will send me a fine if I take my child out for a day? No.

WTF?

Breeder problems..

Some of us decided that we wanted children. English government and councils decided with their wisdom, that if your child is out of school on a holiday (1 day or 100 days), you get a fine of £80 per child, per adult. Doesn't apply in Ireland though because even they realise it's stupid.
Yet if your child is ill, it is school policy for 48 hours off from the last time they vomit, even though the little monsters could just eat a load of rubbish that's made them vomit.

Anyway back to the point. I'm guessing if there are any, then ZapMap will show me. Where I'm going there's only a few paid chargers but I thought that there could be an app or something that points out some free ones even though they could be 3pin only.

[MediumBuild]

Yes - we know. Those of us with teachers in the family understand why that is.

The WTF was using what that has to do with charging your car.