How do you know which EV charging site to pick?

Five ways you can choose the right one

New to public charging? If you’re a first-time buyer, renter or leaser – or even if you normally only charge at home but are about to dip your toe into the public charging infrastructure – you may have questions about charging on the go. Such as how do you choose a charging site? What charger speed should you be looking for? Is there any tech that might help?

With bp pulse, you can charge up and down the country, from large Gigahubs, bustling retail parks or quieter convenience stores. If you’re new to public charging and wondering how to choose between them on any given journey, we can help.

The key is in the planning. Let’s take a look.

1. Think charger and connector, every time

Knowing what kind of charger you might want or need for your journeys in advance can be really helpful. Of course, it’s fine to sometimes wing it, but if you’re short on time, you might already know you’d prefer a 300kW rapid charger. Zone in on charging sites with your preferred charger speed with our free app’s ability to filter your search.

You can also check to see if the charger has the right connector for your vehicle, so you can make the most of your time on the road.

Tip: Remember the charger speed you’ll see at a charger isn’t a guarantee for your EV. It’s the maximum speed that charge can give out, and other factors will impact how fast your EV can charge. Find out why here.

2. Check on charger status and availability

If you don’t have time to wait for other drivers to charge before you, you can head to our app or website and use the live map. This will let you see if a charger at your desired location is in use, or available. It only takes a few seconds and can make a big difference to your journey planning.

Pro tip: If you subscribe to our app, you can also store your favourite chargers for later use and build a record of your preferred chargers. Find out more.

3. Plan ahead to get ahead

Take five or ten minutes before you head off on your journey to identify charging sites that are on your route, with a back-up, too. Look for places that are the shortest detour from your chosen route to flip range anxiety into range confidence. Consider using Google Maps if you don’t already to see charging spots along the way.

4. Make your charging an experience

When it comes to EV charging on the go, knowing what you want while you charge can turbo-charge your top-up choices. Want a coffee and a quiet space to call your mum? How about a workout and a chance to hit the shops? Whether you choose a charger near a handy Wild Bean Café, or a bustling charging hub on a retail park to get that cardio on, some forward planning and location browsing can help you make the most of your time spent charging.

5. Look at pricing

If pricing is a big consideration when choosing your EV charging sites, remember you can use our free bp pulse app or live map to search for chargers and view their pricing per kWh. This may help you anticipate the cost of your charge ahead of time. Our app can also help you track your charging history and spending, too.

With a bit of practise, these mindsets could become a habit and help you choose charging sites that feel like a second home on the road. And if you're really keen to bust those newbie worries away, check out our charging site etiquette for beginners. See you on the road.