How to avoid queues at charging stations this summer

Overview of the number of charging stations in the UK

At 1 April 2024, there were 59,670 public electric vehicle charging devices available in the UK. Of these, 11,590 were 50kW and above. This summer, e-mobility is ever more present on A-roads and motorways and nearly all motorway service stations are now equipped with charging stations.

Statistics published by Zapmap state that at the end of May 2024, there were 62,536 electric vehicle charging points across the UK, spread across 32,992 charging locations. This represents a 43% annual increase in the number of public devices, with 18,910 installed since May 2023.

In May 2024, there were 12,249 fast or ultra-fast charging devices, spread across 5,336 charging points in the UK. So waiting 1 hour to charge for 4 hours may be a nightmare of the past – as long as your EV is equipped for rapid charging, of course! 

However, all this is not sufficient to absorb the increasing number of EVs on the road. Queues at charging points will therefore still be part and parcel of your journeys this summer. You can nonetheless take on board a few tips to avoid queues as much as possible and take to the road stress-free in your EV this summer. 

Our 6 handy tips to forestall queueing at charging stations

1. Keep your battery at a certain level for charging stops

On an everyday basis, it is recommended to keep your battery level between 20% and 80% at all times. This is all the more important during the holiday period when you tend to need to charge more frequently. 

Never wait until you are approaching a battery level of 0% before charging and always try to keep a safety margin of around 20%. Why? Because sometimes you won’t be able to charge at the station you were aiming for and therefore have to continue a few extra miles to the next en-route charging device. For example, there may be too many EVs queueing up at the charging station or some charging points may be out of order. As a bonus tip, think about checking out the status of the charging station and recent reviews by the community in the Chargemap app.

Moreover, charging takes longer when your battery level is under 20% or over 80%. So if you keep within this bracket, you will optimise your charging time on long journeys and free up charging points quickly for other vehicles queuing up behind you. This is also good practice for preserving your battery, as we explain in our article about the 6 mistakes to avoid to take care of your battery.

2. Target charging areas where there are at least 6 charging stations available

Our second tip to avoid long queues at charging points is to choose stations with a sufficient number of connectors available. On this topic, non-isolated charging stations are prioritised by the Chargemap route planner. When planning your trips ahead of time, you can check the number of charging points in a charging pool. We advise you go for at least 6 charging stations in good working order. If the charging stop proposed doesn’t suit you, you can always change the charging stop. To do this, simply activate the “Stations” button on the route planner map and then select the new charging station and add it to the trip by tapping “Charge at this station”. 

3. Choosing charging stations with nearby amenities

If you take our advice on board, you will avoid a few queues during your holidays, but not all of them. This means the presence of nearby amenities is essential to fill in the waiting time. The general mood at queues can be good and it is always pleasant to have a relaxing moment 😉

Use the “Nearby services” filters to prioritise stations with nearby facilities such as a park, shops or just a place you can grab a coffee and a delicious ice cream!

4. Avoid charging your EV at peak times

Try to charge in the early morning or late evening to avoid peak charging times. These are the ideal time slots to enjoy a bit of calm and cooler summer temperatures. In fact, your charging time is optimised if you charge your EV outside the hottest moments of the day.  To find out more, consult our article all about the impact of heat on charging your EV.

5. Spread out your options for greater queueing flexibility 

As a footnote to our tip #1 – keeping a battery level of at least 20% – we recommend that you plan for several backup options for charging stations. To do this, prioritise geographical areas with several charging stations in the vicinity. On the Chargemap map, you can spot these “station clusters” as they are indicated by a green dot. Don’t forget to add alternative charging stations to your favourites so you can easily find them on the day you set off.

6. Go for rapid charging stations to reduce waiting time

Finally, if your EV has the capacity, charge at rapid charging stations with a power rating of between 50 and 350 kW whenever possible. As we said at the beginning of the article, there are more and more high-powered en-route charging stations. 

Networks specialising in rapid charging are continuously increasing their coverage across Europe. There’s a broad choice to pick from: Ionity, Allego, Electra, Power Dot, etc.

To recharge at the best price 💰 you can use the Chargemap application to search for charging stations that charge by the kWh. This way you can avoid networks with complex and sometimes illegible tariffs.

Using the same principle, you can also set your maximum rate per kWh. This will save you time in your search by eliminating charging stations that are out of your budget. Practical, isn’t it?

In the Chargemap app, all you need to do is activate the “Rates per kWh only” and “Maximum kWh price” filters.

The main rules of good conduct for using charging points

1. Don’t squat in spaces reserved for EV charging

A space reserved for charging an electric vehicle should not be considered as a parking space. Thermal, hybrid and even electric cars are not allowed to park in this type of space unless they are plugged in and charging.

2. Free up space after charging

Once charging is complete, the space must be freed up for another user. The vast majority of electric vehicles indicate the time remaining before charging is complete. The most recent models can even warn you in real time by sending a notification to your smartphone. You can also set a reminder on your mobile phone!

3. Use the right charging station for your journey and your vehicle

There are several charging standards for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. It’s advisable to use a charging point that’s suited to the technology on board your electric car, but also to your journey. If your EV’s on-board charger doesn’t exceed 3kW, there’s no need to connect to a 43kW fast charging point. In this way, you can avoid taking up a charging point that is more suitable for another vehicle.

If you only have a short journey to make before arriving at your destination with sufficient range, there’s no need to charge your vehicle at a fast-charging station.

4. Indicate end of charge time

On the very popular charging points on motorways, for example, it’s always useful to mention when your car is due to finish charging. All you have to do is put a small note on the vehicle’s dashboard. This will tell other users how long they’ll have to wait before plugging in.

On the Chargemap application, you can check the occupancy of a charging station remotely. Always useful!

5. Respect the charging station

It’s worth remembering that it’s very important to respect the facilities in place. They represent a costly investment for the station operators. Respecting them also means making sure they work properly.

Make sure you replace cables and plugs on their supports once the charge is complete, and don’t leave them lying around on the ground. Follow the instructions given to start and finish charging. If the charging point doesn’t work, don’t insist on pressing all the buttons, just call the service number printed on the equipment.

6. Be courteous to other road users

Have you noticed that a user is having difficulty plugging in/charging their electric car at a charging point? Don’t hesitate to offer your help! That way, you’ll be able to explain how the various facilities work.

We hope these tips will help you charge hassle-free this summer ☀️🚙
And what about you? Do you have any extra tips to avoid endless queuing at charging points ?

Download the Chargemap mobile app free of charge and plan your charging stops stress-free this summer.