More than a tenth of the UK’s 35,000 public chargers are free to use according to research by Peugeot UK in which the company plotted a 2,688-mile journey around the coastline of mainland Britain to highlight the extent of the cost-saving infrastructure.
Starting at Land’s End, the route runs along England’s southern and eastern coasts, up through Scotland via John O’Groats before returning to Land’s End through Wales using only free public chargers.
The furthest distance between two free charge points on the route between Chelmsford and Sandringham, is 168 miles, within the 225-mile (WLTP) range of the Peugeot e-208. To make life on the road easier, the Peugeot e-208 supports up to 100kW rapid charging, with an 0-80 percent charge taking just 30 minutes.
Many of the approximately 4,400 free charge points in Britain are located in retail parks, hotels and public car parks and are funded by retailers, landowners and some Local Authorities, allowing drivers to charge overnight or run errands while their vehicles charge. The ChargePlace Scotland network features more than 2,000 chargers, with the majority available for free to users who have the ChargePlace Scotland app or who pay a one-off £10 fee for a charging card.
Driving the same route in a petrol or diesel version of the same car can cost drivers up to £421.
An 80 percent charge using a 50kW rapid charger costs an estimated £26, while using home charging, and taking advantage of lower energy tariffs can bring the same charge down to just £6.80.
According to Zap-Map, 84 percent of free public chargers are ‘fast’ meaning they will charge a car at between 7.5kW and 22kW, allowing owners to fully charge their car in seven hours and 33 minutes from a 7kWh charger, or as little as five hours when fitted with optional 11kW On-board charger (from an 11kWh chargepoint).
Drivers can also keep an eye on their vehicle’s charging status remotely using the MyPeugeot app which provides real-time updates on range and charging information.
“Road trips are a great way to experience what the UK has to offer and our research shows the significant cost savings available for electric vehicle drivers thanks to its network of free-to-use public chargers” said Julie David, Managing Director, Peugeot UK. “While few motorists are likely to complete the full 2,688-mile loop, our research highlights the potentially under-used free charging network in the UK.”
Peugeot is aiming to offer an electrified version of every model in its range by 2023.
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