A practical guide to help you, as a London and PCO/private hire driver, find the cheapest and fastest places to charge your electric car in the capital, with clear tips on how to plan your charging around work and cut downtime without relying on guesswork.
Quick Answer: Where to Charge Your EV in London (Cheapest vs Fastest)
If you drive an electric car in London, you’ll usually rely on a mix of:
Cheaper but slower charging:
- Home charging (if you have off‑street parking)
- On‑street residential chargers
- “Destination” chargers in car parks, supermarkets, hotels and retail parks.
Faster but more expensive charging:
- Rapid and ultra‑rapid hubs on main roads and at motorway services
- High‑power chargers at petrol stations and some retail sites
- New TfL‑linked rapid hubs across the city
Nationwide, there are now well over 100,000 public charge points, with London holding more than a third of the UK’s total public charging infrastructure and over 1,500 rapid chargers in the capital alone.
That means you can usually find a charger within a short distance, but the cost and speed vary a lot.
How to find EV chargers near you?
There are a few sites that you can use when looking for a place to charge your EV. Using one of the pages below, all you need to do is put In what area you are looking to charge your EV car and they will do the rest.
Zapmap – Find and pay for EV charging stations
Carwow – EV Charging Stations Map
Octopus Electroverse – Find public chargers near you
Cheapest EV charging options at a glance
If you want to keep running costs down, and you can plan a bit ahead, these are typically the lowest‑cost options:
- Home overnight charging: still generally the cheapest way to run an EV, especially on an EV‑specific or off‑peak tariff, where overnight unit rates can be far below daytime prices.
- On‑street residential / lamppost chargers: slower (often 3–7kW) but designed for long stays and overnight parking.
- Destination chargers (car parks, supermarkets, hotels, leisure sites): often standard or “fast” (7–22kW); prices vary, and some locations offer reduced parking or charging costs for customers.
- Smart tariffs and subscriptions: some energy suppliers and charging networks offer lower overnight prices or member discounts that can make a big difference if you charge regularly.
Fastest EV charging options at a glance
When time matters more than price, for example, turning the car around between airport runs, you’ll lean on rapid and ultra‑rapid charging:
- Motorway and A‑road rapid hubs: multiple chargers at 150kW+ are increasingly common on key routes; nationally, almost half of motorway services in England now have six or more ultra‑rapid chargers.
- Petrol station forecourts and high‑power hubs: many sites now install 50–350kW chargers, often with good lighting and facilities.
- TfL‑supported and city rapid hubs: London has around 1,550 rapid chargers and is rolling out more ultra‑rapid hubs at locations like Hanger Lane, Canning Town, Hatton Cross and Tottenham Hale, with more planned before 2030.
A typical rapid or ultra‑rapid charger can take many EVs from around 20% to 80% in roughly 20–45 minutes, depending on your car and the charger’s power.
Understanding EV Charging Types in London
Slow, fast, rapid and ultra‑rapid – what it means for you
Public chargers are usually grouped by power:
Standard / slow (around 3–7kW):
- Common on residential streets and some car parks
- Best for overnight or all‑day parking
Fast / “standard plus” (around 8–22kW):
- Often in public car parks, hotels and shopping centres
- Useful when you can park for 2–4 hours
Rapid (50–149kW):
- Found at many forecourts, motorway services and dedicated hubs
- Typically 30–60 minutes to get a large chunk of range
Ultra‑rapid (150kW+):
- Growing quickly at motorway services and city hubs
- Can offer 20–30 minute top‑ups for compatible cars
Which EV Charging speed makes sense for a PCO driver?
- If you can charge at home: use home or local on‑street chargers for your main charging, and keep rapid charging for busy days or longer trips.
- If you rely on public charging only: a mix of fast (7–22kW) during natural breaks and rapid/ultra‑rapid when you need a quick turnaround.
- For airport and long‑distance work: motorway and A‑road rapid hubs are particularly useful.
Rapid and ultra‑rapid charging is usually more expensive per kWh than slow or fast charging, so it’s worth thinking in terms of “time vs money” each time you plug in.
Cheapest Ways to Charge Your Electric Car in London
Home and overnight charging
If you have a driveway or private parking, fitting a home wallbox is often the lowest‑cost way to run an EV.
Government statistics and independent analyses suggest that home charging, especially on an EV‑specific or off‑peak tariff, can bring your cost per mile down well below typical public rapid prices.
If you drive high mileage:
- Look at EV tariffs that offer cheap overnight rates (often under the standard daytime unit rate).
- Schedule charging for the off‑peak window using your EV app or charger app.
On‑street and residential charging
Many London boroughs now offer:
- Lamppost chargers and bollard chargers in residential streets
- Dedicated EV bays in controlled parking zones
These are usually 3–7kW, so they’re not ideal for quick top‑ups between jobs, but they’re practical if you can park near home or a regular base overnight.
Destination chargers and low‑cost public options
A large share of UK public chargers are “destination” units in:
- Supermarket and retail car parks
- Hotels and leisure centres
- Multi‑storey and on‑street car parks
These are typically standard or fast chargers. They can be cost‑effective if you’re already:
- Shopping
- On a meal break
- Staying overnight
Always check for parking limits and overstay fees, especially at supermarkets and retail parks.
Smart tariffs and subscriptions
Some energy suppliers and charging networks offer:
- Lower off‑peak rates for home charging
- Subscription models or membership discounts on public rapid chargers
- Bundles that include public charging
These can help if you cover a lot of miles, but they only make sense if you regularly use the relevant chargers. Always compare the off‑peak rate and the higher daytime rate to how you use electricity at home.
Fastest EV Chargers in London for Busy Drivers
Motorway and A‑road rapid hubs
For airport runs, long‑distance jobs or when you’re working across regions, rapid hubs near motorways and major A‑roads are crucial:
- Analysis of England’s motorway services shows a strong increase in 150kW+ chargers, with many sites now having six or more ultra‑rapid chargers.
- Charge point operators like GRIDSERVE run large hubs at motorway services and around airports, often with multiple high‑power chargers, shops, toilets and workspaces.
These are ideal when you need a reliable, quick stop and clear facilities.
Petrol station and retail rapid chargers
Major fuel brands and independent networks now offer:
- 50–350kW chargers on petrol station forecourts
- Rapid hubs at large retail parks and supermarkets
These are usually:
- Well lit
- Close to toilets and food
- Open long hours, sometimes 24/7
They can be among the more expensive ways to charge, but convenient when you need to get back on the road quickly.
City and TfL‑supported rapid hubs
Within London, TfL is working with private operators to add more rapid and ultra‑rapid chargers, especially for high‑mileage users:
- As of mid‑2020s data, London has close to 28,000 public charge points, including around 1,550 rapid chargers.
- New ultra‑rapid hubs are being developed at sites such as Hanger Lane, Canning Town, Hillingdon Circus, Hatton Cross and Tottenham Hale, each with at least six high‑power chargers and up to 20 at some locations.
For a PCO driver, these hubs can be useful:
- Between airport jobs
- While waiting for the next booking
- As a regular “anchor” location for top‑ups
Charging Strategies for PCO and High‑Mileage Drivers
Plan around your earning hours
To protect your earnings:
- Use slower, cheaper charging when you’re off shift or on planned breaks.
- Reserve rapid charging for times when you genuinely need a quick turnaround and expect to earn more in that time than you’re paying extra for the faster energy.
For example, you might:
- Do an overnight charge at home or on‑street near home.
- Use a fast or rapid top‑up in the afternoon lull if you know the evening will be busy.
Balance time vs money
A simple way to think about each charge:
- If you can leave the car for 2–4 hours, a cheaper 7–22kW charger often makes sense.
- If you have less than an hour and need the range, a rapid or ultra‑rapid charger is more realistic but accept that you’re paying a premium for that time.
Nationwide data shows that public rapid and ultra‑rapid chargers have higher average prices per kWh than standard or fast chargers, so using them sparingly can help keep overall costs under control.
Be ready for common problems
To reduce stress:
Overstays and penalties:
-
- Always check both charging and parking rules at each site.
- Many rapid networks apply idle fees if you stay plugged in after charging finishes.
Busy or broken chargers:
-
- Use an up‑to‑date charging map to check status and reviews before you drive to a site.
- Keep a backup charger in mind nearby.
Low‑battery anxiety:
-
- Try not to let the battery drop too low in heavy traffic.
- Know at least one reliable rapid hub you can reach comfortably from your usual working area.
Is London’s Charging EV Network Good Enough Yet?
London is ahead of most of the UK on public charging:
- TfL estimates that EVs in London can already use almost 28,000 public charge points, including around 1,550 rapid chargers, representing roughly a third of the UK’s public charging infrastructure.
- At the same time, projections suggest the city may need 43,000–51,000 charge points and up to 3,500 rapid chargers by 2030 to keep up with demand.
What this means for you:
- If you plan your charging, London is workable for full‑time EV and PCO driving.
- You will still experience busy sites, occasional faults and higher‑priced rapid chargers.
- Being flexible – willing to use more than one network and having a clear backup is key.
How Rapid PCO Can Fit Into Your Charging Plan
If you hire an EV through a PCO specialist, you can:
- Choose a car with charging performance that suits your style of driving, for example, strong rapid‑charging speeds if you rely on hubs, or good efficiency and AC charging rates if you mainly use 7–22kW points.
- Ask for guidance on:
- Which public networks are most practical from your usual base
- Which charging apps and cards are worth setting up
- How to plan your first week of charging so you’re not learning under pressure
When Rapid PCO (or any PCO provider) offers advice, treat it as part of your planning, not a guarantee of specific savings or earnings. Your actual costs will depend on where and when you charge, your tariff, your driving pattern and traffic conditions.
