Where can I charge an electric car?

If I think about what my next car might be, I’m thinking electric. So if my next car is an EV (electric vehicle) where can I charge an electric car?

Perhaps I’ll wait until there’s a functional network of charging points.

But there are already many more charging points than you might think.

And some of them are even free.

We live in a mountainous area of Spain.

I was thinking there wouldn’t be many charging points yet in the area.

And I was wrong.

There are 4 public EV charging points in an area with 8 petrol stations.

One of the EV charging points (at a supermarket) is free.

So where can I charge an electric car?

EV charging point maps:

• plugshare
• chargepoint
• chargehub
• chargeway
• mygreencar

Where can I charge an electric car for free?

The Supercharger network is free for Tesla S and X models.

Some public charging stations are free. Supermarkets may offer free fast charging for a limited time after installing the charging points. Some offer free 7 kw charging to customers after that.

What about driving long distances?

• Electric city cars have a range of around 150 – 200 km.
• Bigger cars have a range of around 300 – 400 km.

Charging at home

An electric car is a no-brainer if:

• you have a well-suited photovoltaic system
• you are part of a positive energy district

If using the grid, charging at night if electricity costs less could be the best option. You will probably need to increase contracted power. Charging at home or work can often be the cheapest option in terms of price per kwh.

Installing a home charging point

Mode 3 EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) is recommended for charging an EV at home. Tesla is one of the few brands to supply a Mode 3 cable with the car. Installation of the charging point is not included. Installing a Mode 3 wall charger with a 5 m cable costs about €1,000 – €2,000.

Most EVs come with a Mode 2 cable for slow/emergency charging from a suitable socket.

Charging times

• Mode 2 (15A): 15 to 30 hours
• Mode 3 (16A): 8 to 20 hours

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