Charging on the go
You’ll likely need to use the public charging network during your lease. Learn how it works and how we can support you.
What is public charging?
Most electric car drivers need to charge on the public network from time to time, even if they have home charging. There are nearly 60,000 chargepoints across the UK.* You can find these in service stations, car parks, supermarkets, and even at the side of the road.
*Source: Zapmap
See if an electric car is right for you: check if there are chargepoints near you and on your usual routes.
How we'll support you
We’ll support you with charging. As part of our worry-free package, we’ll give you our Motability Go Charge card. This lets you charge simply, at over 45,000 chargepoints. You’ll never pay more than the chargepoint operator’s ‘pay as you go’ tariff.
If it's your first lease
If you’re leasing your first fully electric car on the Scheme and you cannot get a home chargepoint, we’ll give you a subscription to the bp pulse network. Some of these public chargepoints will give you better charging rates and some are free.
If you're getting a new lease
If you’re getting your next vehicle on the Scheme and you had bp pulse for your last one, we’ll offer you this again.
If you had a home chargepoint for your last vehicle, you will not be able to get a bp pulse subscription from us.
I have off-street parking at home
You might be able to get a home chargepoint installed. This is the cheapest way to charge.
Learn about home chargingAccessible chargepoints
Because there are so many places you can charge, how accessible a chargepoint is can vary depending on where you are.
It might be in a difficult spot on the side of the road. Or you might need to use an untethered cable, which can be heavy, as you need to plug in both sides of the cable.
If you’re only charging on the go, you’ll need to make sure chargepoints on your usual route are accessible first.
If you’re not sure about public charging, please speak to your dealer. They’ll show you how to connect a car up to a chargepoint.
Just follow the instructions on the chargepoint, press 'Start', and away you go.
Patricia, electric car customer
Cost of charging
Like fuelling any vehicle, costs will vary depending on the provider. It also depends on the speed of chargepoint you choose.
The higher the charging speed, measured in kilowatts (kW), the quicker you can charge. But it’ll also be more expensive.
Here's an idea of your options:
|
|
Charging time |
Costs |
Charging cables |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Slow charger |
0-80% in 10 hours* |
Public: £0.15 per mile** |
|
|
Fast charger |
0-80% in 7 hours* |
Home: £0.07 per mile** |
|
|
Rapid charger |
0-80% in 1 hour* |
Public: £0.22 per mile** |
|
|
Ultra-rapid |
0-80% in under 30 minutes* |
Public: £0.23 per mile** |
  Type 2 or CCS |
|
Ultra-rapid |
0-80% in under 20 minutes* |
Public: £0.23 per mile** |
|
Summary of things to think about
- Check there are chargepoints near you and on your typical journeys
If this is your first fully electric car on the Scheme, and you cannot get a home chargepoint, we’ll offer you a bp pulse subscription
- Even if you cannot get a bp pulse subscription, you’ll get a Motability Go Charge card
- Remember, public charging costs vary, depending on the operator and speed you choose
- There are different places to charge and some might not suit you. You’ll need to plan ahead and find chargepoints that meet your needs
