As I write this post, both InstaVolt and GRIDSERVE had announced the next batch of price increases (monthly?) for their chargers. People like me with their driveway and EV tariffs are shielded from such price increases. But what about the 60% or more EV users who rely on public charging without access to EVSE at home? Here are some ideas to get your EVs charged for cheaper by compromising on time.
Pod-Point
Pod-Point offers free 7kW charging at several Tesco Superstores in the UK. Some locations with 50kW rapid chargers also offer free 22kW charging capability. At 28p per kWh, Pod-Point is the most affordable rapid charger.
Other Pod-Point locations, such as public car parks, offer a free vend for 15 minutes without confirming the charge on the app. By simply disconnecting the cable from the charger and reattaching it after a few seconds, one could continue to enjoy the free charging in batches of 15 minutes.
Tesla destination chargers
Tesla offers free destination chargers in several locations. These chargers are usually reserved for customers, but some free chargers are available at public car parks. Depending on the site, a monthly season ticket could cost as low as £100 with free EV charging. One example of such a parking place is CitiPark at Gade-Watford.
Always check for any special parking conditions before using any Tesla chargers. If required, inspect and take photos of the parking signs showing the conditions and limits.
Co-Charger and JustPark
Depending on the location, hosts could offer cheaper charging options on apps such as Co-Charger and JustPark. Phone or message to confirm the availability.
Workplace chargers
While becoming rare, employers offer free or subsidised EV charging for employees and visitors. Even some car dealerships and NHS trusts offer free charging that can be located using apps such as Zap-Map by carefully using the filter. One should watch out for the parking restrictions and conditions for using the charger to avoid hefty penalties.
Bonnet App
We reviewed the Bonnet app a while ago. With a £50 refill, one could get up to 200 kWh per month and a rate of 25p per kWh beyond this. Multiple users could share accounts to maximise the benefits. One could also create multiple accounts to capitalise on available promotional codes, although this could be against the terms of use.
Subscription discounts
Operators such as BP Pulse, Fastned, and Ionity offer cheaper charging rates for subscribers. Depending on your EV's make and model, such a subscription could be included for free for the first few months or even up to a year. If in doubt, always check with your dealer and proactively seek the voucher codes since they usually cost next to nothing for the dealers.
ZoomEV is another provider offering EV bundles for cheaper charging with operators such as Osprey and BP Pulse. EV car subscription providers such as onto include free charging as part of their monthly fee for added benefits.
Charging Frequency
Depending on the EV, it might be possible to charge 80% just once per week and handle the commutes for the entire week. Or you could make multiple visits to the supermarkets and car parks to accumulate enough charge for the next few days.
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