How easy is it to use public charging stations?

In the majority of cases, you can’t just park up and charge.  Shell Recharge, BP Pulse and Pod Point are the most common operators, where you'll either need to download an app in advance, go to a website, or use a pre-registered contactless charge card.  This may sound tricky at first, but you'll soon get used to how these work.

For consideration if you envisage needing to use public chargers frequently, some operators offer monthly tariffs where you pay a discounted charging rate alongside a subscription fee.

Only a small number of charging points in the UK allow you to pay directly by credit or debit card, and none accept cash.