Electric Vehicle En-Route Charging
Summary
If you’re looking to invest in an EV, but have some concerns about managing long-range driving, here’s a guide to electric vehicle en-route charging and how you can make it work for you.
What Is En-Route Charging?
En-route charging refers to charging an electric vehicle in the middle of a journey. It involves using public charging points, which are usually located at motorway service stations, supermarkets, and other establishments with large parking facilities.
En-route charging is different from destination charging, as destination charging refers to charging infrastructure designed for overnight or longer charging sessions, for example, home EV charging, or public charge points set up in hotel car parks.
Because en-route charging is designed for periodically topping up a vehicle’s charge over the course of a moderate-to-long journey, the charging points used tend to be faster than at-home charging points and other forms of destination charging.
This allows drivers to plug their vehicles in and return within a relatively short space of time, instead of having to leave their car plugged in overnight to reach the same level of charge.
Because of the increased charging speed offered by en-route charging infrastructure, these charging points tend to be more expensive to use, but much more convenient when topping up your battery mid-journey.
Across the UK’s EV charging infrastructure, en-route charging tends to be the least-used of all charging options, due to the fact it’s only needed for a small portion of a typical EV’s usage. However, just like petrol stations, en-route charging stations are a key part of the broader charging infrastructure, and are expected to be essential if EV driving is to take over conventional internal combustion engine cars.
How Quick Are En-Route Charging Points?
As they’re intended to charge your vehicle and get you back on the road as fast as possible, en-route charging points tend to have a high rate of power transfer, with many being able to charge EV batteries from empty to 80% full in well under an hour.
Having said that, like with all EV charging points, the exact time you’ll need to use an en-route charging point for depends on the design of your vehicle’s battery and the speed of the charging point.
As a general rule, the larger your car’s battery, and the lower the charging point’s power output, the longer it will take to charge your car up to its desired level. En-route charging times can also be affected by factors such as the battery’s age and condition, and the surrounding temperature on the day.
With some rare exceptions, en-route charging points in the UK tend to have a power rating of 50 kW to 350 kW, placing them in the “rapid” or “super rapid” categories of EV charge points.
What Do En-Route Points Look Like?
En-route charging points are made in a variety of different styles depending on the en-route charging companies manufacturing them and the kind of location where they’re designed to be used. Different models of chargers are also distinguished by unique design features used to make charging more accessible for users.
Here’s an overview of the designs used by some of the major en-route charging companies active in the UK:
Osprey Charging: Osprey en-route charging stations feature extra-wide and extra-long parking bays designed to accommodate a wider range of vehicle models. They feature spring-loaded charging cables that help to manage the hardware’s weight and make it easier to plug and unplug the vehicle one-handed.
Evyve: Commonly found in smaller locations such as pub and restaurant car parks, Evyve chargers are usually situated between two parking bays, distinguished by their green branding and a design that has the charging cable cradle and screen on the same side.
Ionity: IONITY operates ultra-rapid charging stations at motorway service areas and key A-road locations across the UK. Each site includes multiple 350kW chargers, typically installed under canopies for weather protection. The stations follow a consistent layout and are designed for use during long-distance travel.
GRIDSERVE Electric Highway: Primarily found on motorways, GRIDSERVE maintains electric forecourts designed in a similar way to conventional petrol stations. This layout provides a familiar charging experience that will be more comfortable for people who have recently made the switch to electric driving, along with weather protection thanks to the stations’ slanted roofs.
Tesla: Tesla en-route charging stations have a distinctive white-and-red colour scheme, with a rounded, hollow portion in the centre with an integrated cable cradle. The space-efficient design allows a large number of charging points to be installed in a given parking area.
Fastned: Fastned charging points are black boxes with a charging status screen on one face and the cradle for the charging plugs on the other. In many locations, these are situated under a distinctive yellow zig-zag roof with integrated lighting strips. Like GRIDSERVE, this design provides a familiar forecourt experience that will be easy to adapt to for any driver, especially those who have recently made the switch from a conventional petrol car.
Zapmap
One of the nation’s most popular en-route charging maps, Zap Map's free app allows you to locate nearby charging points, and filter en-route charging stations based on variables such as pricing, accessibility, and nearby facilities.
Because Zapmap: Android | iOS isn’t associated with any one charging network, you can use it to access a wide range of charging points from several different manufacturers, enjoying greater variety than some other apps that are restricted to certain EV charging brands.
Zapmap also has a route-planning feature that makes it easy to plan your trip around available charging points, ensuring that you’ll always be sufficiently topped-up and free of range anxiety.
Zapmap also has a user community made up of hundreds of thousands of EV drivers, which allow you to share images and comments of different charge points and check on other drivers’ experiences with en-route charging stations before you decide to use them.
PlugShare
Similar to Zapmap, PlugShare: Android | iOS is an en-route charging map application that covers several different brands and is backed up by community features allowing you to check reviews and share your own opinions to ensure you get the best experience possible.
PlugShare has a number of handy features made to help you find the en-route charging solution that’s right for you, including filters to sort available charging points by plug type, provider, and charging speed, including a category for super rapid and Tesla Superchargers.
While Zapmap has a more UK-oriented focus, PlugShare boasts international coverage, making it a good choice for more ambitious road trips that take you abroad.
Google Maps
As electric vehicles have become more popular and the demand for charging infrastructure has ramped up, Google has been steadily updating Google Maps to provide handy information on en-route charging stations around the UK and globally.
When searching for en-route charging options on Google Maps: Android | iOS, you’ll be able to see key details such as the charging point’s location, charging speed, and the connection types available to ensure compatibility with your vehicle.
As the world’s most popular navigation app, Google Maps benefits from a simple, intuitive UI that you’re likely to be familiar with from the start.
Unlike Zapmap and PlugShare, it doesn’t have the same community-oriented features or specific filters that allow you to customise your map view around your preferences. However, if you’re looking to use a no-frills, straightforward app that you’re already familiar with, Google Maps could be the way to go.
Octopus Electroverse
Octopus Electroverse: Android | iOS is another en-route charging map application that collates charging points from several different major providers, including but not limited to Osprey, EVBOX, and Shell Recharge.
The app can either be used on its own through your smartphone, or with navigation software that comes pre-installed on various car’s infotainment systems such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Aside from its handy navigation and charging point information features, Octopus Electroverse also allows you to pay for charging from multiple providers, either directly through the app or using a personal RFID card. This means you can avoid the hassle of having to sign up to manufacturer-specific accounts or download multiple apps to access your nearest, most convenient en-route charging stations.
If you use en-route charging frequently enough, you may also want to join one of Octopus’s two subscription plans to earn discounts on the cost of charging. With Octopus Go, you can take advantage of a 5% discount on all public charging paid for through Octopus Electroverse, while Intelligent Octopus Go offers an 8% discount.
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