Charging your electric vehicle in Europe

Europe's electric car charger network is extensive and growing on a monthly basis, so it's easy to find somewhere to charge an EV on a European road trip.

There are over 1.17 million charging points installed across the continent as of March 2026, according to the International Council on Clean Transportation. That's an 18% increase on March 2025, and a massive 85% increase from the end of 2023.

Just under 80% of chargers in Europe are slower 'AC' connections, but there are still nearly a quarter of a million DC rapid chargers.

While paying for a charge using a debit or credit card is increasingly common in the UK, many organisations in Europe require registration via a smartphone app or RFID card.

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

Where to find EV charging points in Europe

The countries in Europe with the most number of EV chargers are, in order, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium and Italy.

Most electric vehicles can easily locate the nearest charging point via in-built sat-nav, or via third party apps such as Google Maps.

Newer electric cars can go one step further - the sat-nav is able to work out not only where you need to charge along your route, but also how long you need to charge for. 

However, there are also websites where you can find the location of EV chargers. These include Chargemap, Open Charge Map, Plugshare and Plugsurfing. EV-specific route planners like A Better Routeplanner (or ABRP in your phone's app store) can also find you the best route including your charge stops. 

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 common locations where you’ll be able to charge an EV in Europe. And if you’re staying in a hotel, convenient ‘destination chargers’ will often 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.

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The major EV charging networks in Europe

Tesla operates its global Supercharger network across Europe. With nearly 15,000 Superchargers at 1,500 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.

IONITY, Electra and Fastned operate some of the biggest charging networks in Western Europe. Between them they have nearly 12,000 rapid and ultra rapid chargers, some of which that can add over 100 miles of range in a few minutes.

Another pan-European network, Allego, offers more than 34,000 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 a service that gives you access to over 850,000 chargers on various networks via a single subscription and smartphone app.

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

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How much does it cost to charge an EV in Europe?

The UK is one of the most expensive countries (currently THE most expensive) to charge an electric car in Europe if you're using public networks.

Generally, you'll pay significantly less per kWh to use public fast chargers on Mainland Europe.

According to EV charging comparison service Chargeprice, here are the top 10 cheapest European countries to fast charge an electric vehicle and the average per kWh price across the top 20 networks:

Top 10 cheapest countries in Europe to fast charge an EV

1. Finland: €0.38
2. Bulgaria: €0.38
3. Lithuania: €0.40
4. Latvia: €0.40
5. Estonia: €0.41
6. Iceland: €0.46
7. Spain: €0.47
8. Denmark: €0.49
9. Romania: €0.49
10. Norway: €0.51

Top 10 most expensive countries in Europe to fast charge an EV

1. United Kingdom: €0.82
2. Italy: €0.71
3. Netherlands: €0.69
4. Belgium: €0.69
5. Ireland: €0.68
6. Switzerland: €0.66
7. Portugal: €0.65
8. Luxembourg: €0.65
9. Germany: €0.59
10. Austria: €0.59

Driving and charging an EV in Europe

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

Ireland

EV drivers can access over 2,500 public charge points in Ireland. In addition to the networks listed below, IONITY, Tesla and Applegreen points can also be found.

• EasyGo: over 4,500 fast charging CCS and Chademo points across Ireland, Northern Ireland and the UK, including those from Circle K and ESB ecars. No subscriptions, just pre-paid credit. Buy an 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: monthly subscription or Pay-As-You. Register for an account via the ecar connect smartphone.
• GoCharge: 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 165,000 public charge points. Belgium has a choice of over 100,000. As well as Electra, Tesla, Fastned and IONITY chargers you should look at the following:

• Izivia, part of EDF Energy, allows access to around 200 networks and 500,000 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.
• Fulli offers a similar set-up, with an RFID card and a choice of subscription, which permits national access to more than 525,000 chargers in France and elsewhere in Europe including Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain.
• Oil company Total has rolled out 175kW fast chargers on its fuel forecourts, adding to the 75,000 charge points it already has across Western Europe. It also operates the Bélib network of over 2,000 chargers in Paris. 

Spain and Portugal

If you are charging an electric car in Spain, you can choose between more than 50,000 chargers. In Portugal, there are around 11,000.

As well as Tesla, IONITY and TotalEnergies you'll find thousands of charging stations operated by companies such as Powerdot, Atlante, Zunder and Iberdrola.

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 nearly 185,000 chargers, Germany has one of the biggest EV charging networks in Europe. Austria has approximately 33,500, while there are over 16,000 in Switzerland.

You'll find thousands of charging stations from well-known providers such as Tesla, Ionity, Allego, TotalEnergies and Shell Recharge. Other big networks include EnBW Hypernetz, Ladenetz and supermarkets such as Aldi.

Unlike many European countries, Germany is leading the way with contactless payment terminals on many of its chargers. This can avoid the need for a subscription, although you can still save money over time using these.

Italy

Italy has a network of around 65,000 chargers. As well as smaller providers, drivers can charge their EVs at Electra, Atlante, Tesla and IONITY stations.

• BeCharge operates around 20,000 EV chargers in Italy, accessed by registering through an app or using a card. It also allows access to other networks.
• 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 over 200,000 chargers.

The networks are dominated by large providers such as Fastned, Tesla, Shell Recharge and TotalEnergies. Other networks include Vattenfall and Allego.

Denmark, Norway and Sweden

In Scandinavia, Denmark has around 50,000 charge points, compared to Norway’s 27,500. Sweden has around 45,000. IONITY, Tesla and Fastned chargers are common, but there are other networks such as

• Clever’s Danish network of chargers is extensive. 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.
• 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 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 7,500 EV chargers, Poland has approximately 11,000, while you can charge at just over 2,000 in Croatia and 5,000 in Hungary. IONITY and Shell Recharge are common, along with:

• The ČEZ Group in the Czech Republic offers one of the largest networks of 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.  
• In Hungary, MVM Mobiliti and E.ON drive operate significant networks across the country.

Charging around Europe

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 visit RAC Charge Watch to keep up to date with UK charging costs.

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