When you scan this card at a charger, you’ll automatically be sent the bill for any costs you incur – so it’s quick and easy.

Some older chargers are limited to RFID-only, which means you and a few other drivers will have exclusive use of them. There’s a downside, though: RFID cards can be limited to chargers installed by the company that supplied the card.

Paying for an electric car charge abroad

Europe’s charging network is constantly growing, so finding a charger on a continental highway should be a simple task. As in the UK, paying with contactless is widespread but some older chargers will still require an app or, in rarer cases, an RFID card. 

Beware, though: some banks restrict the amount you’re able to spend in one transaction when using contactless, or when paying with a mobile phone abroad. Some countries will tax you slightly for using contactless too.  

It’s also worth noting that in 2023, as part of the alternative fuels infrastructure regulation (AFIR), the EU agreed that there should be a rapid EV charger every 60km (37 miles) along the continent’s main transport corridors.

The cost of charging an electric car

The cost of charging an electric car can vary based on several factors, including where you are in the country, how fast the charger is and which charging provider you’ve chosen.

Beware: in some cases, chargers can be found in private car parks that can charge you if you stay longer than permitted, and you may have to purchase a parking ticket. 

But which providers offer the cheapest rates for charging? Well, Tesla stands out against the crowd – it charges 58p per kWh, and the great news is the supercharger network is now open for all drivers to use.

Other big-name players in the top ten include Podpoint, Ionity and Gridserve, all of which charge less than 80p per kWh with charging speeds of 150kW and above.

The most expensive mainstream public chargers to use are BP Pulse and Shell Recharge, both of which offer some of the highest charging speeds available today.