There does not appear to be many free car charging points for ones electric car, however, I have noticed Ikea do offer free car charging if it helps anyone.
Top comments
Uridium to fahed2000
15 Apr 168#8
I don't understand why anyone who lives in London even needs a car.....
cabbagekitten
15 Apr 164#4
Will i need to unpack it and use a set of screw drivers to put this thing together before i use it?
All comments (24)
Paul534
15 Apr 16#1
Most car chargers in UK are free anyway but the more the better. The IKEA chargers are also part of the Ecotricty network which also has its point at motorway services. They're all free to use as well.
You usually have to pay for a card though most network allow free access if you use free mobile app. Ecotricity is completely free - both card and charging.
CYC charges 20 for a card, pod point is 15, source London is a fiver.
I mostly use Ecotricty and CYC so pay 20/year for the card. I think I only paid once for the actual charging. FYI been driving EV for 2 years
cabbagekitten
15 Apr 164#4
Will i need to unpack it and use a set of screw drivers to put this thing together before i use it?
cabbagekitten
15 Apr 161#5
Will there be parts missing?
jdbigguy to cabbagekitten
16 Apr 16#14
Overdoing it now.
fahed2000
15 Apr 162#6
Wembley ikea has two , one is offline since a year ago and the other is constantly hijacked by cabbies
johnsmith1997 to fahed2000
16 Apr 16#17
Saw them in IKEA Croydon yesterday.
Saw someone charging their car up.
Have a Fish Friday £1 fish & chips,free hot drink and use free wifi whilst waiting for car to charge.:smiley:
fahed2000
15 Apr 16#7
I just don't understand why aren't there chademo rapid chargers in central London where 80% of residents for not have access to off street parking to order a home charge. heck if running an extension cable on the pavement I'd do so from my flat to the car.
Uridium to fahed2000
15 Apr 168#8
I don't understand why anyone who lives in London even needs a car.....
eslick
15 Apr 16#9
Got to love these environmentally friendly cars.
Most of these are coming from government grants, two tax payer funded pieces of help for the electric car industry.
MR GUS to eslick
19 Apr 16#24
Well you really need t be more knowledgeable about the oil & petroleum industry & what that costs to maintain via tax payers money, ..that'll scare you! ..then look at the cost of "oil wars" in the middle ast, ably assisted by butt licking consecutive uk government, ..think they must have fellated U.S. presidents far more often than Bill Clinton got it from his intern! :disappointed:
Darkcooleo
15 Apr 16#10
You just need to sign up for a free card at Ecotricity's website
LotusJas
15 Apr 16#11
I would actually prefer that they start charging for electricity at these points, as it is annoying to find them in use when you need one. If it cost money, at least drivers would only plug in when needed.
Heat though for OP :smiley:
jesteroo
15 Apr 16#12
All IKEA stores have free charge points. It is an offence for anywhere to buy electricity and sell it on hence why charge points are free to use. Some do require a card to use and a monthly fee for the card rather than paying for the electricity used.
I have an electric car, often charge for free at shopping centres and IKEA, very environmentally friendly, silent and cheaper to run. Still run the risk of arriving at a charge point that may be broken or occupied and not having enough charge to get home again, be a lot easier if they were all provided by the same supplier, online access to see which ones are working and occupied to make journey planning easier, still learning and enjoying the free charge last whilst I shop!!!
cicobuff
16 Apr 16#13
......to escape the madness on weekends or evenings maybe.
effingandjeffing
16 Apr 16#15
to get around or go dogging
going in the bus might get busy
mocmocamoc
16 Apr 162#16
It's sort of convincing me to get an electric car, I can charge it in IKEA near me and enjoy a free coffee whilst it is charging
r40
16 Apr 161#18
waitrose has these in Ipswich free if it helps near A12/14
deadphill
18 Apr 16#19
There are plenty of different suppliers of electricity and they have different ways of paying or being paid.
There are a few that are charge for but the main one that is free is the one used by far the most and that is Ecotricity. However they along with the others will all end up at some sort of paid for model.. but whatever it is it is likely to be by far cheaper than running an ICE (internal combustion engine for those not in the know!!)
Zoe on 9000 py on a 3 year pcp costs me £145 a month. No tax, no petrol, just charging for about a quid at home and free infrastructure when I am out... Its so cheap to run its unreal! Just be prepared if you live in/travel to london to be blocked out blocked out by ThriEV cabs who take two hours to charge their cars much to the annoyance of myself and other drivers.
Cheers
Phill
gavin1 to deadphill
18 Apr 16#20
That hire really is a good deal...
I half looked at a Zoe, but the battery rental is real problem. Base Zoe is £14k plus at least £45 a month for the battery, but the base rental only let you do 3k of miles a year, extra miles will be charged at each quarter at 30p a mile.
I do a 40 mile commute each day, which puts me right in the Zoe's target market, if you factor in the runs you wind up doing once home I do !4 to 16K a year miles a year, which makes the battery rental £100 a month. Add in the fact I'd have to charge the car nightly and your looking at £130 a month for "fuel" in terms of the battery hire and charging.
Base Fiesta is £9k, and does 50 or so to the gallon. Same commute works out about £1.4K in fuel.
The Zoe comes in around the £18.5 k mark for three years, The Leaf comes in at £24K, whereas a Fiesta is £14.5k
I do hope Tesla Model 3 succeeds as a way to bring electric to the masses, as while I'd like to go electric the costs don't stack up, and I suspect my commute distances are very similar to many others on here.
waqasahmed
19 Apr 16#21
Not a Londoner, however I've driven my car in London. It was a HUGE mistake. It was very costly in parking, just in freaking Tooting. I drove all of three miles and it took around 45 minutes. Not that far away in Reading, and I can travel 6 miles in 12 minutes.
Driving really does seem pointless in London.
ct9001
19 Apr 161#22
We bought our leaf one year old with 6000 miles on the clock for £13,000. With no battery rental it saves us £140 per month and the road tax which is free. Servicing is about £130 and thats about it. Most charge points are free. However some cities have chosen not only to put a charge on the points but also the parking space they are in. There are a few in Durham City which must be paid for. This is through charge your car. Polar is offering 6 months free registration for there charge service which is available more in the south and covers london I think.
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Opening post
Top comments
All comments (24)
CYC charges 20 for a card, pod point is 15, source London is a fiver.
I mostly use Ecotricty and CYC so pay 20/year for the card. I think I only paid once for the actual charging. FYI been driving EV for 2 years
Saw someone charging their car up.
Have a Fish Friday £1 fish & chips,free hot drink and use free wifi whilst waiting for car to charge.:smiley:
Most of these are coming from government grants, two tax payer funded pieces of help for the electric car industry.
Heat though for OP :smiley:
I have an electric car, often charge for free at shopping centres and IKEA, very environmentally friendly, silent and cheaper to run. Still run the risk of arriving at a charge point that may be broken or occupied and not having enough charge to get home again, be a lot easier if they were all provided by the same supplier, online access to see which ones are working and occupied to make journey planning easier, still learning and enjoying the free charge last whilst I shop!!!
going in the bus might get busy
There are a few that are charge for but the main one that is free is the one used by far the most and that is Ecotricity. However they along with the others will all end up at some sort of paid for model.. but whatever it is it is likely to be by far cheaper than running an ICE (internal combustion engine for those not in the know!!)
Zoe on 9000 py on a 3 year pcp costs me £145 a month. No tax, no petrol, just charging for about a quid at home and free infrastructure when I am out... Its so cheap to run its unreal! Just be prepared if you live in/travel to london to be blocked out blocked out by ThriEV cabs who take two hours to charge their cars much to the annoyance of myself and other drivers.
Cheers
Phill
I half looked at a Zoe, but the battery rental is real problem. Base Zoe is £14k plus at least £45 a month for the battery, but the base rental only let you do 3k of miles a year, extra miles will be charged at each quarter at 30p a mile.
I do a 40 mile commute each day, which puts me right in the Zoe's target market, if you factor in the runs you wind up doing once home I do !4 to 16K a year miles a year, which makes the battery rental £100 a month. Add in the fact I'd have to charge the car nightly and your looking at £130 a month for "fuel" in terms of the battery hire and charging.
Base Fiesta is £9k, and does 50 or so to the gallon. Same commute works out about £1.4K in fuel.
The Zoe comes in around the £18.5 k mark for three years, The Leaf comes in at £24K, whereas a Fiesta is £14.5k
I do hope Tesla Model 3 succeeds as a way to bring electric to the masses, as while I'd like to go electric the costs don't stack up, and I suspect my commute distances are very similar to many others on here.
Driving really does seem pointless in London.