Does anyone have any tips for campers who have an EV? We have just bought our first electric car. Some campsites seem to allow charging, and others forbid it. Are there any useful websites which could help find the best sites? Advice welcome. Thanks
------------- Kim
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
To be blunt, and outline my stance, I'm no great fan of EVs, for no other reason than they are not really suited to caravan towing over hundreds of miles, which my Petrol vehicle does with aplomb, for a range of circa 300 miles/refill! I've driven EVs, and have a deep technical understanding of EVs, and love them - as a town car! - but then I use public transport for town travel, so they fall into the domain of in my life at least as largely pointless IMHO!!!!
The vast majority of campsites are not geared up for EV charging, it's not simplistic prejudice, it's a very practical case of their electric supply from the National Grid cannot cope with multiple EV charging demand! Many sites will allow EV recharging ONLY through your camping unit (that limits the demand to under 10A/2.4kW!), NOT direct from a EHU point, which makes recharging VERY slow, perhaps providing more a top up than a complete recharge for daily heavy users!
A few campsites, and it really is a few, have installed dedicated charging stations, which overcomes the practical aspect, but you may need to look at the cost of use and judge on worth! More and more campsites are introducing Metered EHU, and that will be at commercial payment rates, NOT the domestic rate you may be familiar with from a home charger, so some caution needed to avoid nasty shocks with final bill even when charging through your unit!
Whilst EV charging is not an area of great interest to me, I'm not aware of any central database of campsites catering for EVs, TBH, campsites often lag behind the times in many areas and EV charging is not yet well catered for!
To be fair to the campsites, technically EV charging is a PITA! Camp sites are often remote, and their electric supply of limited capacity, it would be totally uneconomic for then to upgrade, at their own expense, to cope with the heavy demand of EV charging for no real benefit to them (they cannot resell electricity at a premium rate by law, so no profits to cover upgrading of supply network!).
The more savvy campsites will advise on nearest EV charging points in nearest/nearby towns/garages etc.
The site directory here on UKCS lets you search for sites with EV charging.
I can only think of a handful of sites with separate EV charging, for most places you’ll have to find somewhere local but off site.
I can't see your outfit on the mobile app, but my understanding is you can’t charge an EV directly off an EHU stanchion, you charge it off the caravan or MH that’s actually plugged into the stanchion. So, it’s limited by what the EHU stanchion can do, the more the EV is taking, the less for the caravan or MH fridge or heating etc. (speaking simplicitally).
Quote: Originally posted by Fiona W on 23/3/2025
The site directory here on UKCS lets you search for sites with EV charging.
I can't find the filter for EV charging via Camp Site Search, where would I find that please out of interest? TIA.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
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Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
I have yet to come across any sites that has EV charging points or allow EVs to be charged via EHU points.
Don't assume, always check first to avoid disappointment I'd say.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
EV charging points require a substantial electrical supply.
Considering the remoteness of many campsites it is unlikely they will be able to provide a bank of chargers. You may at most get a single 7kw charging point.
Top up before you arrive on site would be my suggestion.
I have seen only one site with EV points, in Calais!
There are a lot more EV points about now ( apparently). It's no different to finding a fuel station really.
We have a self charging hybrid Hyundai Tucson which is great but would not consider a full EV as a towcar. Plug in hybrid maybe.
We could replace our second car (Mini convertible) with an EV but like it too much.
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
To answer your question lots of sites now have EV charging points. It’s always best to check first obviously.
I would say it’s mainly the larger sites have them but as I say always check. Most of the private sites we have been on have them for example;
Concierge Camping
Deers Mead
York Caravan park
Old Oaks Camping
Eye Kettleby Lakes
Parc Derwan
These are just a few that we have been on that we noticed charging points.
Club sites will have information on particular sites they operate too.
Don't know about 'lots of sites' having dedicated EV charging! Certainly not any on the sites I've visited, but then not likely too, as sites have been relatively remote and the local National Grid supply does not lend itself to the heavy demand of EV charging! It seems CAMC Coniston Park Coppice has added a dedicated EV point since I last stayed there, but only a 7kW! Only 15 CAMC sites out of near 180 club sites with EV charging, so a long way from 'lots' if using CAMC!
If a site has a dedicated EV charging station, it appears some may not allow charging from the EHU through your unit, you HAVE to use the charging station.
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
Seriously doubt if many sites would permit ev charging, if only because of the cost. Best answer is to use an app like electroverse or zapmap and find nearest charge point, which could be a private house in the listing.
With our little ev, not suitable for towing but we do use it for long journeys as it is far better to drive than the mondeo, we charge overnight at home 5 hours at 8.5 pence per kwh. Using electroverse app we plan mid journey recharging and suitable point on arrival at hotel. In fact last year on a trip to Guernsey, I spoke to hotel manager and was allowed to use a 3 pin socket for granny charger on 8 amp setting. All we needed was enough charge to get back to the ferry and a 40 mile drive home.
Quote: Originally posted by Ancient Uncle on 24/3/2025
Seriously doubt if many sites would permit ev charging, if only because of the cost. Best answer is to use an app like electroverse or zapmap and find nearest charge point, which could be a private house in the listing.
With our little ev, not suitable for towing but we do use it for long journeys as it is far better to drive than the mondeo, we charge overnight at home 5 hours at 8.5 pence per kwh. Using electroverse app we plan mid journey recharging and suitable point on arrival at hotel. In fact last year on a trip to Guernsey, I spoke to hotel manager and was allowed to use a 3 pin socket for granny charger on 8 amp setting. All we needed was enough charge to get back to the ferry and a 40 mile drive home.
You can’t charge on your pitch, they are dedicated charging points, usually near reception.
I assume there is a charge for this.
If you are towing and need to recharge, you will need to uncouple the caravan, wait in the queue to get to the charging point if it is working, charge the vehicle, hook up the caravan and set off for the next 100 miles before recharging again. EVs are not ideal towing cars!
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Topic: Camping with an electric vehicle
via mobile 23/3/2025 at 10:22pm
