Electric car drivers can fill up for free – several charging stations still free to use

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The figure provided by Zap-Map showed last year there were 25,000 charging devices listed on their service, and almost 5,350 were free to use. In Northern Ireland, 70 percent of the charge points are free, thanks to the national network ecarNI.

Similarly, 1,000 of the 1,400 EV chargers from Government-backed operator ChargePlace Scotland do not require a fee.

On top of that, motorists can drive to one of the National Trust properties equipped with EV charge points to receive a top-up in a reverse donation from the charity.

Many supermarket chains also provide free EV chargers.

And on some dealer forecourts, drivers will not pay a penny for recharging a brand-specific electric car.

According to Zap-Map, 83 percent of the free chargers are “fast” but not as powerful as motorway-style rapid chargers.

Likening its service to providing hotel guests with free wifi, Grimsby-based charity Zero Carbon World donates charging stations to hospitality venues.

It expects its ZeroNet charging stations to be freely accessible to drivers.

Many Holiday Inn and Best Western hotels sport ZeroNet charge points.

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Walworth Castle Hotel in County Durham has such a charger “placed on a wooden post outside reception,” available to all.

The National Trust offers complimentary EV charging at several properties, including Cliveden near Maidenhead, Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire, and Chirk Castle in Wales.

EV owners might be more inclined to visit a stately home if they get a free top-up.

Two hours of charging with the 7 kW charge point common at NT properties provides the average electric car with about 56 miles of drive time.

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