SHOP

Price reductions on selected cars, from £250 - £1000 off

skip to main contentskip to footer

How to use GRIDSERVE Electric Highway

The GRIDSERVE Electric Highway is a public charging network for electric vehicles that covers the UK’s motorway system

A white Vauxhall Corsa electric at a charging station. Image supplied by GRIDSERVE

What is the GRIDSERVE Electric Highway?

The GRIDSERVE Electric Highway is a public charging network for electric vehicles (EVs) that covers the UK’s motorway system. You’ll find GRIDSERVE charging points at service stations, for easy access to give your EV a boost.

GRIDSERVE is probably most well known for its electric charging forecourts. These allow you to plug in your EV and use its facilities to eat, drink and relax while you charge up.

Previously owned by Ecotricity until June 2021, GRIDSERVE now owns and operates the network and has been upgrading and installing new locations.

About GRIDSERVE

GRIDSERVE is an international sustainable energy business with a focus on developing, building and operating solar energy and battery storage solutions. Its aim is to make the fastest net-zero carbon charging network for electric vehicles across the UK – and the Electric Highway is one of the main elements of this.

Incredibly, GRIDSERVE uses zero-carbon solar energy to ‘fuel’ its charging network and create a sustainable way to power vehicles. The energy is produced at its large-scale hybrid solar and battery farms and is then delivered to the charging network.

How much does GRIDSERVE Electric Highway cost?

Paying for GRIDSERVE charging is a simple process that just requires you to use a contactless payment card or device against the payment terminal, just like you would with any other contactless purchase.

There’s no need to download an app or sign up for membership to use GRIDSERVE, which is an advantage over other charging networks.

There are a few pricing options at the charging points, depending on how you choose to charge your EV. You can pick between high, medium and low power connectors.

As of 28 September 2022, prices are as follows:

  • High Power (up to 350kW): 66p/kWH

  • Medium Power (up to 60kW): 65p/kWh

  • Low Power (up to 22kW): 44p/kWh

  • Electric Forecourts (up to 350kw): 64p/kWh

The prices at the GRIDSERVE Electric Forecourts are slightly lower, as it has the ability to control how much energy is sleeved from its hybrid solar farms. You'll find options for Type 2, CHAdeMO, and CCS charging at GRIDSERVE charging points.

How to find GRIDSERVE Electric Highway locations

You can use the GRIDSERVE public charging locations via the map on its website, and this will also tell you what connectors are currently available.

Conveniently, the map will let you know how many chargers are at each location and which ones are currently available for use. This will help you find charging points that are compatible with your vehicle, so you’re not disappointed when you arrive.

GRIDSERVE charging points can be identified by the distinctive branding – look for a large white ‘G’ on a blue background to locate a charging point while you’re on the go.

Electric Forecourts

The first GRIDSERVE Electric Forecourt was opened in 2020, and it’s pretty impressive. Not only are there six 22kW destination chargers, six Tesla Superchargers, 12 90kW rapid chargers, and 12 350kW ultra-rapid chargers, but there are also facilities for the driver to fuel up too.

You’ll find places to buy your road trip essentials, grab a coffee, sit down in an office pod, or use the public toilets.

Charging Hubs

GRIDSERVE charging hubs typically house between six to 18 charging stations, usually based on the UK’s motorway network. These aren’t as kitted-out as the Electric Forecourts, but are still a handy spot for you to plug in with your EV and get a boost.

Over 55,000 public chargepoint connectors, 35 networks and one single way to pay with cinchCharge

How to use the GRIDSERVE charging network

You can use the GRIDSERVE online map to find the nearest charging station to your location, and make sure it caters to your charging type. The network features CHAdeMO, CCS and Type 2 chargers, so should cater for most models.

Once you’ve made your way to the charging station, follow these simple steps:

  1. Park up safely in the space near the charging point you intend to use.

  2. Grab the connector from its holster and plug it into the charge port on your EV.

  3. Use the contactless payment terminal to pay for your charging by tapping your payment method as you usually would.

  4. The payment system will reserve a £1 fee to pre-authorise your payment method, which will be released once you’ve finished charging.

  5. Wait until your connector has locked into place, and charging will begin.

  6. End your session by pressing the ‘STOP’ button on screen, then wait for the connector to release and return it to the holster.

  7. Standalone AC Type 2 charging points will need you to tap your card onto the payment terminal to stop your session, then the cable will release.

At the Rugby MOTO services, a £25 pre-authorisation fee will be taken instead of the standard £1. It can take up to 24 hours for the reimbursement to appear in your mobile banking app.

How fast can a GRIDSERVE charging point charge my EV?

GRIDSERVE charging stations offer up to 350kW, with Tesla Superchargers too, but the model of EV you have will depend on how quickly you can charge your vehicle and what points you can plug into.

The 350kW points are super-fast, with the latest EVs able to gain 100 miles of range in less than 10 minutes. These are among the most powerful EV chargers in the country.

Most EVs will be most compatible with the Medium Power charging points, supplying up to 90kW. These will fit most modern EVs and can give a sizeable boost in as little as 30 minutes.

Learn more: