How to Charge an EV in Northamptonshire

One of the first questions we hear from drivers thinking about an electric car is simple: where do I charge it?

The good news is that Northamptonshire is well served. Between motorway services, retail park hubs, council car parks and on-street points, there are plenty of places to top up. And for most drivers, the most convenient place to charge is outside their own front door.

Here’s how charging works in Northamptonshire, and where to find it.

The three ways to charge

1. At home (usually the cheapest and easiest)

If you have a driveway or garage, a home wall box is the simplest way to live with an EV. You plug in when you get home and wake up to a full battery, just like a phone. A typical home charger delivers around 7kW, which is enough to fully charge most cars overnight.

Home electricity is normally much cheaper per mile than public rapid charging, and many energy suppliers offer cheaper overnight EV tariffs. Use a qualified installer, and check whether any grants are currently available, particularly if you rent or live in a flat.

2. At work or destinations

Many employers, supermarkets, retail parks and gyms now offer charging. These are typically slower “fast” chargers (7kW to 22kW), ideal for topping up while you shop, work out or work a full day.

3. Public rapid and ultra-rapid chargers

For longer journeys or if you can’t charge at home, rapid chargers add a lot of range in the time it takes to grab a coffee. Most modern EVs use a CCS2 connector for rapid charging and a Type 2 connector for slower AC charging.

Where to charge in Northampton

Here are some of the main public charging locations in and around the town. Availability, speeds and prices change, so check the operator’s app or a charge-point map before you set off.

Rapid and ultra-rapid hubs

Northampton Services (M1): Roadchef has added ultra-rapid 360kW GRIDSERVE chargers, among the fastest on the UK network. The northbound site gained six charging bays and three ultra-rapid chargers in a £1.5m project. A good choice if you’re passing through on the motorway. electricdrives evfleetworld
St Peters Way retail park (A508): An InstaVolt ultra-rapid hub with Argos, Home Bargains and PureGym nearby, easily reached from the A508. instavolt
Weedon Road Industrial Estate (NN5 5BE): An InstaVolt hub at Tower Retail Park, open 24 hours. instavolt instavolt
Weston Favell (NN3 8YU): An InstaVolt ultra-rapid site at McDonald’s, open 24 hours with easy access from the A43. instavolt
Williams Way: InstaVolt ultra-rapid charging in the Co-op Food car park, handy for food, drinks and essentials. instavolt
Grange Farm, A45 London Road (NN4 0LY): A 62.5kW rapid charging station just off the A45. instavolt

Slower “destination” and on-street charging

St James Retail Park (NN5 5EL): Two dual 22kW Type 2 chargers on the Believ network. Ideal while you shop. westnorthants
On-street points: West Northamptonshire Council lists Believ on-street chargers at locations including Upper Thrift Street, Ardington Road, Semilong Road and Oakwood Road, plus the Co-op car park on Barry Road. These are a lifeline if you have no driveway. westnorthants
Welford: A 7kW on-street charger on West Street, run by Connected Kerb. westnorthants

Where to charge elsewhere in the county

Kettering

bp pulse hub: The operator’s largest and most powerful hub, with 10 chargers rated at 300kW, equal to 20 charging points. bppulse
InstaVolt hub near Stanier Retail Park: Twelve ultra-rapid 160kW chargers, with a Costa Coffee on site. transportxtra
Trading Post Pub & Restaurant: Osprey’s hub of 150kW chargers with simple contactless payment and no app needed. ospreycharging
Burton Latimer and Great Oakley: A 62.5kW InstaVolt charger at the A6 McDonald’s in Burton Latimer, and a 120kW site at the McDonald’s in Great Oakley, close to the A43. instavolt instavolt

Council car parks
North Northamptonshire Council lists 50kW rapid chargers in car parks including Elizabeth Street in Corby and Church Street in Wellingborough, with a programme of new chargers being delivered with Connected Kerb through 2026. The council has also set out plans to significantly increase chargepoint numbers over the next few years. northnorthants hellorayo

How to find and pay for a charge

Use a charging map or app. Zap-Map and the operators’ own apps show live availability, speeds and prices.
Check the connector. Make sure your car’s socket matches the charger.
Know how to pay. Many chargers accept contactless, while others need an app or RFID card. Having one or two apps set up before a long journey saves stress.
Compare prices. Rapid charging usually costs more per kWh than charging at home, and prices vary between networks and times of day.

Ready to go electric?

Charging in Northamptonshire is easier than many people expect. If you’d like to see how it fits your routine, browse our Electric & Hybrid page, explore the XPENG and GWM ranges, or look at our used EV and hybrid stock. You can spread the cost with our finance options, keep an eye on the latest Hot Offers, and contact your nearest dealership to arrange a test drive.

Already driving electric? Our servicing team can keep your car in top condition.

How to Charge an EV in Northamptonshire