How electric car drivers can avoid charging queues when driving home for Christmas

Electric-car drivers heading home for Christmas face a familiar challenge: long journeys, crowded services and the risk of waiting for a charger. With an estimated 1.7 million EVs on UK roads this winter, motorists are increasingly making the festive pilgrimage in battery-powered cars. A poll of 2,253 drivers by Auto Express found that more than a third of EV owners worry about range when planning Christmas trips, with 55% taking journeys of 100 miles or more and about 40% admitting some apprehension about making it to their destination. The aim for many is a smoother, more predictable trip with charging opportunities that fit a holiday timetable rather than a rush-hour sprint.

The RAC anticipates a record 37.5 million journeys home for Christmas in the week before the holiday, underscoring how peak travel patterns can strain services. Saturday is expected to be the busiest getaway since the RAC began tracking festive plans. Yet the number of EVs on the road and the growth of the charging network have raised hopes that Christmas charging chaos — such as three-hour queues for Tesla Superchargers in 2022 — will not reappear. The latest figures show Britain’s public charging network expanding again: between October 2024 and 2025, the network grew about 23% with roughly 15,000 extra chargers installed. Today there are more than 86,000 EV charging devices across the UK, and chargers are added about once every 33 minutes on average. In particular, 17,356 rapid and ultra-rapid chargers were added this year, with the fastest growth outside London.

Among the headline developments this year are new ultra-rapid charging hubs and larger forecourts designed to keep long-distance journeys moving. InstaVolt’s Winchester Superhub, described as the largest electric-vehicle charging forecourt in the UK, opened this year at a junction near the M3 and A34 by Winchester. Powered entirely by on-site solar energy, the site features 160 kW charging devices that can push a battery to about 80% in roughly 20 minutes. There are 44 ultra-rapid chargers, all contactless pay-enabled, and the pricing model offers a flat 0.89 p/kWh rate that drops to 60 p/kWh between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. for InstaVolt app users. The facility operates around the clock and is designed with family-friendly amenities such as a play area, dog-walking space and a Starbucks cafe, along with drive-through bays for larger vehicles and easy access for drivers with mobility needs.

For drivers traveling through Northern Ireland, Fastned opened a high-capacity hub at The Junction Retail & Leisure Park in Antrim. The Antrim station offers three 400 kW ultra-rapid chargers and six charging bays, providing up to 100 miles of range in as little as five minutes and running on 100% renewable energy. Its location within a busy shopping complex lets drivers grab a bite or complete errands while the battery tops up. In Scotland, E.ON has launched its first ultra-rapid hub in the country at Wellington Circle in Aberdeen, featuring 12 ultra-rapid bays, including four designed to improve accessibility for disabled users.

There are practical implications for timing and routing too. Industry data and experience point to the busiest times for rapid charging shifting away from peak midday hours. Gridserve’s Electric Highway data show that, on average, charging is busiest between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Aiming to avoid the densest periods, drivers can expect around a 20% quieter window at 9 a.m. or 3 p.m., according to Gridserve. The network also appears to benefit from motorists topping up early or late in the day: charging before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m. tends to see lower congestion.

Beyond timing, motorists can make smarter charging decisions by leaning on the latest rankings of ultra-rapid networks. Zap-map’s annual survey places Tesla’s Supercharger network at the top for large networks, with a rating of 4.8 out of 5, reflecting price and reliability advantages that many drivers appreciate. MFG EV Power follows in second place, praised for reliability and diverse payment methods, while Ionity and Osprey share third place for their speed and service, respectively. In the medium-size category, Sainsbury’s Smart Charge earned the gold, driven by competitive pricing, Nectar-reward integration and growing reliability. The network now lists some 335 rapid/ultra-rapid devices across 84 locations, a sign of the growing convenience for grocery runs and holiday shopping alike.

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For drivers focusing on longer trips, the UK’s ultra-rapid network is expanding with notable hubs designed to cut downtime. In the south, InstaVolt’s Winchester Superhub offers high-speed charging, a solar-powered energy source and facilities that accommodate families and travelers with large vehicles. In the north, Northern Ireland and Scotland have added significant options that extend the reach of reliable rapid charging into more remote or high-traffic corridors. The goal is simple: reduce the need to detour for a charge and keep holiday plans on schedule.

To help travelers plan ahead, several motorways are watched for congestion risk around Christmas. Based on historical trends, the M25 remains the UK’s busiest belt road, with bottlenecks commonly forming near Heathrow and the Dartford Crossing. The M6 corridor through the Midlands and North West often sees delays, particularly between junctions 10 and 12, while the A303’s approach to Stonehenge remains a recurrent crunch point for those headed to the South West. For motorists seeking the best odds of a quick top-up, the recommended approach is to stage charging stops around non-peak times and to lean on the most reliable networks rather than the cheapest rate alone.

Zap-map’s rankings also remind drivers that the best rapid networks vary by need. If a forecourt stop is part of a longer drive, the Tesla Supercharger network remains the best-known option for speed and reliability, with a large footprint across major routes and the advantage of ongoing price discipline. For shoppers who might combine charging with a store visit, Sainsbury’s Smart Charge offers a compelling blend of pricing and accessibility, as well as a growing presence in urban and suburban retail hubs. The broader message across networks is clear: plan ahead, choose a dependable hub, and be flexible about timing to minimize queueing.

Charging etiquette and best practices remain essential to a smooth experience. The first rule is to never jump a queue, as there is no formal queuing system at many sites. Drivers should be patient and courteous to those sharing a bay, particularly during peak times. The second rule is not to hog bays; once a vehicle finishes charging, move it promptly or stay with it until it reaches full capacity if possible, or consider topping up to 80% if the bay will be in use for some time. Modern EVs provide live status through onboard navigation or apps such as Zap-map, which helps drivers avoid arriving to a charger that’s already full. The aim is to keep the network moving and to share charging resources efficiently during the busiest days.

Another practical tip is to plan charging stops with redundancy. Most EVs now offer route planning that includes charging stops, but it’s wise to have a backup option in case a charger is in use or out of service. Drivers should also consider the charging curve: charging from 80% to 100% delivers much slower miles-per-minute than from 20% to 80%. For festive trips, it may be reasonable to charge to 100% before departure to maximize range, then revert to an 80% threshold en route if a busy bay is in front of them. Pre-conditioning the cabin while the car tops up can save range on the first part of the journey and ensures a comfortable ride the moment you unplug.

The big picture for 2025 is that the charging network is expanding rapidly, with more rapid and ultra-rapid options, larger hubs and more amenities designed to reduce downtime. The convergence of expanding infrastructure and smarter, data-driven planning — from in-car navigation to real-time charger availability apps — is helping to dampen the familiar fears of range anxiety and long queues during the holidays. While no forecast can guarantee a completely line-free experience, drivers who stagger their charging, choose a reputable hub, and stay flexible with timing will likely find the trip home for Christmas less stressful this year.