Complete guide to the GeniePoint charging network
Need to charge your electric car on the GeniePoint charging network? Here’s all you need to know
GeniePoint is the one of the largest rapid-charging network in the UK, operating more than 500 units across the country. It's owned and operated by Equans, which works with businesses such as Asda and Morrisons supermarkets to deliver charging points for customers with electric vehicles. Other locations include fuel-station forecourts, local-authority car parks, hotels and retail/leisure parks.
GeniePoint's chargers are powered by Octopus Energy, so all the energy comes from sustainable sources in the UK such as wind and solar. The GeniePoint Platform also runs the Revive charging network in the west of England, and until recently Wales' Dragon charging network, too.
In January 2021, it was announced that GeniePoint had been contracted by the Premier Inn hotel chain to install 600 50kW points at 300 of its locations across the UK. The first installation was at the Enfield hotel in London in March 2021, and all chargers installed under this deal are available for use by both hotel guests and the general public.
The vast majority of the network consists of 50kW DC rapid chargers, but there are still a handful of slow chargers capable of speeds between 7-22kW and rapid AC chargers that can deliver up to 43kW. Type 2, CHAdeMO and CCS charging cables all feature on the network, although not all of these are available at every station. But you can find out which cables each unit uses on the GeniePoint app.
How much does GeniePoint charging cost?
As of October 2022, it costs 57p per kWh to charge your electric car using the majority of GeniePoint chargers. However, some located in Morrisons supermarket car parks offer varied pricing of 62p per kWh from 8am til 8pm, while charging between 8pm and 8am will cost you 52p per kWh.
They all operate on a pay-as-you go (PAYG) price per kilowatt-hour (kWh) basis, meaning you only pay for the energy you use. There are no connection or subscription fees for using the network's charging points, but you will incur a £10 overstay charge if you remain plugged in for over 90 minutes and a further £10 every 90 minutes after that if you don't unplug your car.
Charging on the GeniePoint network
There are several pays to top-up from a GeniePoint charger. The first is the GeniePoint App, which is available from the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. Once you've registered with GeniePoint you use the app to start, stop and pay for charging sessions, as well as find nearby charging points. Drivers can also use an RFID card to access the network's chargers, either registering their own card (with RFID functionality) or by purchasing a GeniePoint card for £9.
Most GeniePoint chargers also accept contactless payment; just tap your smartphone, credit or debit card on the reader to topping up your car. GeniePoint is also one of the charging networks available on Zap-Pay, the pay-as-you-go service integrated into the Zap-Map app, as well as the multi-charger app Bonnet.
In February 2022, GeniePoint joined Ford's BlueOval charging network which now consists of over 16,000 chargers across the UK. This means if you drive a Mustang Mach-E, Mustang Mach-E GT or one of Ford's plug-in hybrids, you can locate GeniePoint units, as well as monitor and pay for your charging sessions, using the Ford Pass app.
The GeniePoint Network is supported by a customer service team providing 24/7 phone assistance to drivers using the network. This includes remote-start facilities for drivers requiring emergency assistance.
Recommended
The UK’s fastest electric car charger is live, but it’s too fast for most EVs
Tethered or untethered home charger?
UK EV charging network grows by 47 per cent this year
Gridserve’s new lab aims to boost electric car charging point reliability
Most Popular
Electric car repairs, servicing and maintenance: a complete guide
Top 10 best hybrid hatchbacks 2024