New ev driver - basic question re public charging.

Bandy2023

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82068300#Comment_82068300

I wouldn't agree with this 'never' thing.

Yes 80%-20% on a rapid may take longer, but if you need it you need it.

I've been in EVs since 2016 and have left a rapid to go to 100% before.

I'm already stopped, it's easier to just wait a bit longer and then get to my destination in one go than the hassle of stopping again.

WellKnownSid

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82071539#Comment_82071539

2016 would have been a very different proposition.

Your car may have had a range of 100 miles or so, so the extra 20% charge might have been essential to you getting to your destination.

The charging curve probably meant you were waiting twice as long for that extra 20% - not 10x or 20x that you might get on a newer car.

At a guess there were probably 100x fewer charging points, so departing sooner might well have left you stranded.

I'm simply pointing out that - on newer EVs - you don't need to wait around as I've witnessed multiple families doing over the past couple of weeks with their big, expensive new toy. Our Zoe is probably the slowest charging EV out there these days but we were in and out before all of them - and we all know why!

They were treating their car like they treat their phone - panicking as soon as the dial hit 55%, plugging in way too early, and waiting for it to hit 100% when 60-70% might have been much more sensible.

When we hired an EV to tour the Algarve recently I think the longest time we were ever plugged in for was 12 minutes - using the same strategy.

Bandy2023

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82072181#Comment_82072181

10 or 20 times the wait for the last 20% is nonsense, it's nowhere near that bad on any EV I've had ( and I've had six, away to get my seventh soon )

If you're one of the 'go to 80% then zoom off to the next one' brigade that's perfectly fine.

I'm just pointing out people may prefer to just wait for the 100% if they're stopped already, knowing that 100% will take them all the way without another stop.

tom192

It's a balancing act charging to 100 percent, if you are having a meal anyway then leave it charging but you will get much faster energy input with a lower battery level. I do get there is a toss up between adding another stop in to the mix though. It also depends if you are going to finish at your home charger and therefore it doesn't matter how low you arrive and know you will be able to charge or going onwards further along, bank holidays for example when chargers are generally busier it may make more sense to charge for longer and avoid a second stop it's not a hard and fast rule

TheComputerGuru

Hi All

I have had an EV (a Kia EV4 GTLine-S) with 81.4 kWh battery which is rated at max charge speed of 150kW since Nov 25 and I have only charged up publicly a few times.

1. 02-Dec-2025 - Southend-On-Sea - Tried to charge at Tescos but the only charger free would not accept my credit card nor Octopus Electroverse card.
   Costa which has one device was occupied.
   Ended up going to nearby Morrisons which had pleanty of free chargers. Electroverse card didn't work bu CC was fine.
   36% → 80% (38.25kW) 46 minutes - Costing £26.39 (@ 69p / kW)
2. Three charges at PoGo (Co-op at Ashburnham Way, NR33 9EJ) - Avertised max charge rate of 200kW
   Of the 5 devices, with 10 charging points only two had working touch screens. Paid with CC each time as the Electroverse app was playing up.
   On all three charging sessions the peak charging rate I saw on my car was approx 90kW which dropped rapidly after approx 75%
   On all three occasions I was the only car using the site.
   24-Jun-2026 42% → 90% (44.8kW) 42 minutes - Costng £29.14 (@ 65p / kW)
   27-Jun-2026 34% → 81% (33.9kW) 32 minutes - Costng £25.94 (@ 65p / kW)
   28-Jun-2026 41% → 80% (34.4kW) 25 minutes - Costng £22.36 (@ 65p / kW)

General Tips

1. Download and use Zap Map. Look for major supermarkets with multiple devices.
   https://map.zapmap.com/ gives best view on a PC
2. Zap Map and other apps don't always show accurately how many charging points are free / working.
3. If a site has multiple devices, try to NOT use one which is currently charging another car as I am told that the devices max charge rate will be SHARED between each of it's (two) charging points. As an eltrician this makes perfect sense.

WellKnownSid

If you're one of the 'go to 80% then zoom off to the next one' brigade that's perfectly fine.

It's more a case of 'go to 80% then zoom off to the next loo stop' with our bladders…

Even in our little city car, 80% will comfortably get us from the Tesla superchargers at Trentham to either London heading South or back to our home in Scotland. The kids need a minimum of 2 intermediate stops in either direction, neither of which are needed to charge the car.

silverwhistle

Nothing to worry about really; if you've the common sense to ask questions beforehand you've the common sense not to have problems.

Off to Italy for the third time in my EV very soon, and it's not particularly a long range one but gets us there in a day.

I've got Electroverse which comes off my Octopus bill, so no credit card reservations and they have very wide coverage including abroad. Zap map in the UK for identifying the location of chargers, ABRP for route planning but learn its foibles, and if you are doing long distances it can be worth getting an Ionity and /or Tesla subscription with the latter having particularly good prices. Cancel the subscription after your holiday if you usually charge at home. The break evens on the subs are only about two decent charges.

You made need a few other bits and pieces for unusual situations but the above should cover pretty well all situations.