Charging your electric vehicle in Europe

Some 240,865 EV chargers (up to 22kW) have been recorded across the continent in 2021 to date¹, plus a further 33,956 fast chargers (those that can refill an EV battery at speeds greater than 22kW). 

As with charging networks in the UK, some organisations require registration via a smartphone app or an RFID card. However, debit or credit card payment is increasingly commonplace.

Here's everything you need to know ahead of your electrically-powered European road trip.

Most EVs have sat-nav that can help you locate the nearest charging point. However, there are also websites where you can find the location of EV chargers. These include Chargemap, Open Charge Map, Plugshare and Plugsurfing.

Throughout Europe, you will find places to charge an electric car in motorway service areas, fuel stations, public car parks and supermarkets. Train stations are also locations where you’ll be able to charge an EV in Europe. And if you’re staying in a hotel, convenient ‘destination chargers’ will possibly be found there, too.

As with long-distance EV journeys in the UK, you should be planning ahead. Regular charging means you take a break, which is encouraged for drivers of conventional cars, so driving an EV in Europe shouldn't take much more thought than normal.

• Electric cars – a definitive guide and tips for buyers
• Electric vehicle range – how far can I drive in an EV?
• Electric car charging – how it works and how much it costs
• How long does it take to charge an electric car? Charging speeds explained

Tesla operates its global Supercharger network across Europe. With 6,000 Superchargers at 600 sites, finding one should be easy. Tesla drivers can enter a destination on their car’s touchscreen and its trip planner will guide them through Superchargers along the route.

If you’re charging an electric car in Europe, IONITY has over 400 charging stations along major European motorways. A joint venture between BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Hyundai and the Volkswagen Group, there is an average of six charging points per station. All use the CCS European ultra-rapid charging standard. High-speed 350kW chargers can add 62 miles of charge in eight minutes.

Another pan-European network, Allego, offers more than 26,000 charge points. While some of those are in motorway service areas, you will also find them in McDonald’s restaurants, Geant Casino supermarkets and Postillion hotels. Payments can be made via Allego’s Smoov app, or by contactless or charge cards. 

Plugsurfing is another European-wide network you could use for charging an EV in Europe. With its unique key or card – which costs €9.95 – and its free smartphone app, you can use upwards of 200,000 chargers, including those from different networks such as Allego, EnBW, Eon, Innogy, IONITY and Vattenfall. 

NewMotion, a member of the Shell Group, also operates a pan-European EV charging service. Access to over 250,000 public charge points is via a charge card.

• Driving in Europe checklist
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• Can electric cars tow?
• Buy a car with RAC Confidence

Here are some of the major EV charging networks in popular European holiday destination countries. 

Ireland

EV drivers can access 1,372 charge points in Ireland. In addition to the networks listed below, IONITY and Tesla points can also be found.

• EasyGo: over 2,200 fast charging CCS and Chademo points including those from Circle K and ESB ecars. No subscriptions, just pre-paid credit. Buy a €6 access fob if you don’t want to use an app. Charging costs are automatically deducted from your EasyGo balance. Also a Pay-As-You-Go option which uses debit/credit cards.
• ESB ecars: €4.60 monthly subscription or Pay-As-You-Go, with prices from €0.27/kWh for 22kW chargers. Register for an account via the ecar connect smartphone.
• GoCharge: prices from €0.30/kWh. Register through the smartphone app, and charge via the app or key fob.

France and Belgium

In France, EV drivers can refill their batteries at around 47,000 charge points. Belgium has a choice of almost 13,000.

• French supermarket chain Auchan has a network of fast chargers at its stores.
• Izivia, part of EDF Energy, allows access to around 50 networks and 100,000 chargers in France and Europe, including Corri-Door and Indigo. There are subscription or Pay-As-You-Go options. Register for an Izivia Pass RFID card and activate it via an app. You can also use the app at charge points to begin the charging process, while the Izivia Pass card allows you to benefit from the best price on Corri-Door.
• Kiwhi offers a similar set-up, with a RFID card and the choice of a €24 subscription, which permits national access to more than 29,000 chargers in France and elsewhere in Europe including Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain.
• Oil company Total is also rolling out 175kW fast chargers on its fuel forecourts, adding to the 20,000 charge points it already has in France, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands². It also operates the Bélib network of 2,300 chargers in Paris. 

Spain and Portugal

If you are charging an electric car in Spain, you can choose between 8,200 chargers. In Portugal, there are around 3,200.

• Energy company Repsol has over 300 charging points in Spain, and has plans to install a fast-charging point every 30 miles along the country’s major routes³.
• Iberdrola and First Stop are also deploying chargers in Spain and Portugal that will include 350kW ultra-rapid connections⁴. Iberdrola charge points are accessed via an app, via which you can check prices and book a charger.
• Easycharger has its own network of chargers accessed by an app, but also covers other networks, too. Prices start from €0.24/kWh.
• EDP has a network of chargers in Spain and Portugal, which can be used by its Electric Mobility Card. This cuts rates to €0.20/kwh.
• Endesa X operates a charging network that includes fast connections at Spanish McDonald’s restaurants. Its JuicePass app allows access to the points, but if you register, you’ll get reduced rates.
• To use Portugal’s Mobi.E network or chargers, you need an Electric Mobility Service Provider access card or app. 

Germany, Austria and Switzerland

With around 50,000 chargers, Germany has one of the biggest EV charging networks in Europe. Austria has approximately 8,300, while there are almost 8,100 in Switzerland.

• Through its EinfachStromLaden smartphone app, charging chip or card, you can charge an EV in Germany, Austria or Switzerland at 50,000 charging points with Maingau. You can also use 200,000 points in Europe. 
• German energy supplier Ladenetz offers a network of chargers that are accessed via an app, from where you can pay for charging without pre-registering.
• Supermarket chain Aldi is also installing more EV chargers in its car parks, with plans to have a total of 1,500 in Germany by 2025⁵.
• EV drivers in Austria also have the choice of the Smartics charging network. With no subscription, 22kW charging prices start from €0.15/kWh. Access is via an app or RFID card.

Italy

Italy has a network of around 25,000 chargers. As well as smaller providers, drivers can charge their EVs at IONITY stations.

• BeCharge operates around 5,400 EV chargers in Italy, accessed by registering through an app or using a card.   
• Enel X’s JuicePass app allows access to its 74,000 charging points.

The Netherlands

The country with the most charging points, electric car drivers in the Netherlands can choose from around 82,000 chargers.

• The Fastned high-speed charging network offers refill options from €0.59/kWh if you’re a non-subscriber. Payment is by charging card unless you register, when you can also pay via a bank card. Monthly €11.99 subscriptions take the cost down to €0.35/kWh. 
• Vattenfall operates more than 6,700 chargers in the Netherlands and its InCharge network can be accessed via charging fob, card or app. 
• Total is installing 20,000 additional chargers on its fuel station forecourts, and drivers can use Ladenetz charging points, accessed through an app.

Denmark, Norway and Sweden

In Scandinavia, Denmark has around 4,000 charge points, compared to Norway’s 20,000. Sweden has 14,000. 

• Clever’s Danish network of chargers are growing, with 10,000 more set to be installed before 2025. Pay and charge directly through its app or with Apple Pay or MobilePay.
• E.ON chargers can be accessed via its E.ON Drive app or a credit card, while subscribers can use a charging chip in other European countries.
• EV drivers in Denmark can use Sperto charge points via an RFID tag or pay online. Other suppliers’ tags can also be used.
• Spirii offers its Spirii Go app, which will take charging payments and allow eRoaming at charge points from other operators who are part of Hubject.
• In addition to NewMotion and Plugshare, Mer offers EV drivers in Norway points to charge an electric car in Europe. Access is through an app or RFID card and registered members can use discounted rates.
• Nordic network Recharge has over 2,500 EV charging stations in Norway, Sweden and Finland. Drivers can refill their EV by QR code, RFID tag, SMS or app. Prices for 22kW charging start at €0.40/kWh.
• Vattenfall also runs chargers in Sweden. Like in the Netherlands, its InCharge network is used with a charging fob, card or app.

Eastern Europe

If you’re venturing east, the Czech Republic has around 1,400 EV chargers, Poland has approximately 3,600, while you can charge at just over 900 in Croatia and 2,200 in Hungary.

• The ČEZ Group in the Czech Republic offers 230 charging stations, via an RFID charging chip.
• In Poland and the Czech Republic, the Orlen Charge app gives you access to a network of charging points, and you can pay by debit or credit card through the app itself.
• To use the Polish GreenWay charging network, you have to register first through a smartphone app to receive an RFID card.  
• The ELEN network of 22-150kW chargers in Croatia are free to use, accessed by a smartphone app.
• In Hungary, the Mol Plugee charging network can be used registration-free, but registered drivers have a faster process and discounted rates. 
• Hungary’s PARKL network can be used via an app, with or without registration, but non-registered users will have to input their phone number and email address.

Taking an electric car to Europe is becoming increasingly viable and straightforward. However, as with longer EV journeys in the UK, it is important to plan ahead – and to have RAC European breakdown cover as a back-up. 

The RAC is the first breakdown assistance company in the UK to introduce a mobile charging unit for electric vehicle owners who have run out of charge. We are the number one provider of breakdown cover for electric vehicles. ​Find out more about RAC EV Boost.​ Also, please visit RAC Charge Watch.

• Did you know we offer temporary car insurance with an optional extra to cover countries within the EU, EEA, and Switzerland