Where can I charge an electric car for free in Ukraine?

In times of inflation and rising energy prices, more and more people are looking for ways to save on electricity costs. Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more popular, but the issue of charging these cars for free remains relevant. In this article, we will look at how you can charge an electric car in Ukraine for free using mobile apps, and share some useful tips to help you save on charging.

We remind you that you can purchase home and commercial charging stations in our online storeand also use the public charging stations ECOFACTORcharging points located throughout Ukraine. For convenient access to charging infrastructure, we recommend using our mobile applicationwhich is available on iOS and Android.

Use the app from ECOFACTOR

Our ECOFACTOR EV Charging app allows electric car drivers to conveniently find charging stations that meet their needs, including stations that offer free charging. In the app, you can search for charging points along your route by maps of charging stationsYou can check their availability in real time and even reserve a charging space a few minutes before arrival.

ECOFACTOR EV Charging is a mobile app for electric car drivers, available for both iOSand for Android. You can use it to find more than 180,000 charging stations across Ukraine and beyond, including free charging options available in your area. In addition, the app allows you to filter stations by connector type, charging speed, and pay for charging with Apple Pay, Google Pay, or bank cards.

How to find free charging in the ECOFACTOR app

1. Download the app: First, download the ECOFACTOR app on your iPhone or Android device. It is free and available via the App Store or Google Play.
2. Choosing a route: Enter your destination or plan your route via the app. You'll get all the charging stations along the way, including those that offer free charging.
3. Filter by price and connector type: Using the filters, you can select only those charging stations that offer free charging. You can also sort the stations by the type of connector that suits your electric vehicle and by charging power, for example, fast or standard charging.
4. Check the availability of stations: The app provides real-time information on the status of the charging station, so you always know if it is available for use.
5. Reserving a place for charging: If you plan to arrive at the charging station in a few minutes, you can reserve a charging space 15 minutes in advance.
6. Payment and monitoring: Pay for the charge using Apple Pay, Google Pay or a card, and track the charging process in real time. You will receive progress updates and can stop the session directly through the app.

Additional features of the application

• Charging history and costs: The app allows you to view your charging history as well as your costs, allowing you to keep track of your electricity expenses.
• Cables and accessories: In the app, you can also find information about compatible cables, adapters and other accessories for charging your vehicle, which are available from our online shop.

ECOFACTOR online shop and other services

We also provide complete solutions for charging electric vehicles, including the design and manufacture of charging stationsThe Group's facilities meet international standards. In addition, our online shop offers a wide range of accessories, such as cables and adapters for charging, allowing you to conveniently connect your car to different types of charging stations.

Ours charging stations include both AC stations (up to 44 kW) and fast DC stations (up to 420 kW) suitable for different types of electric vehicles. We also offer customised solutions for businesses and companies that want to install charging stations for their customers or employees.

In addition, we develop a charging station management platform that allows charging station operators to effectively track energy consumption, set up charging rates and perform reporting. Our solutions are available to businesses around the world, including large companies such as Amazon, SOCAR and Yasno.

Thanks to our app and online store, you can not only find a convenient charging station, but also buy everything you need to charge your electric car safely and efficiently.

Where can I charge an electric car for free in Ukraine?

Charging an electric car for free is becoming more and more accessible in Ukraine thanks to initiatives by businesses and local authorities. Let's take a look at where you can find these convenient and free options.

Supermarkets

In Ukraine, several large supermarket chains have installed charging stations for electric cars, offering free charging to their customers. This is a convenient opportunity for electric car owners to charge their cars while shopping, saving time and money. For example, ATB has charging stations available at some of its large locations, making shopping even more comfortable for environmentally conscious customers. Silpo is also actively installing charging stations, offering customers free charging in a number of its stores. Metro has also installed charging points at several of its locations, allowing electric car drivers to charge their cars while shopping.

Shopping centres

Popular shopping malls in Ukraine are also actively installing charging stations for electric cars in an effort to make the shopping experience even more convenient for electric car drivers. For example, in Kyiv, Ocean Plaza and Gulliver shopping malls have charging stations where electric car owners can charge their cars for free while they shop. In addition, charging stations are also available at Respublika shopping centre, which makes it convenient to combine shopping and charging.

Sports and fitness centres

Sports club and fitness centre brands in Ukraine, such as Sport Life and X-Fit, are increasingly integrating charging stations for their customers. This allows owners of electric cars to charge their vehicles during workouts or sports without having to spend time searching for charging points. This service adds another convenient aspect to the use of fitness facilities and encourages people to use environmentally friendly transport.

Car dealerships

Some car dealerships in Ukraine provide free charging for their customers. This is a convenient option for electric car drivers who are planning to visit a car dealership for a test drive or to have their car serviced. For example, car dealerships of brands such as Tesla, BMW, and Nissan offer charging stations, allowing customers to charge their cars while visiting the showroom.

Hotels and hotel complexes

In Ukraine, some hotel chains have already started installing electric car charging stations on their premises. This is a convenient service for guests who travel by electric car and don't want to worry about a place to charge during their holiday. For example, Premier Hotel Rus and Holiday Inn Kyiv in Kyiv have charging stations for their customers, and the Reikartz chain also offers a similar service for its guests in regional hotels.

Four additional ways to get free charging

While mobile charging station locator apps are great tools for finding convenient charging locations, there are several other effective ways to save money on charging your electric car in Ukraine. Here are a few options to help reduce your costs.

1. Charging at work

Many companies in Ukraine are indeed starting to install charging stations for their employees as part of their sustainability programmes and support for environmentally friendly transport. This allows you to save money on charging at home and provides your car with energy until the end of the working day. Charging at work is especially convenient for those who spend most of the day in the office. Many large corporations have already introduced this service and offer special programmes for employees to motivate them to use environmentally friendly transport. If your company doesn't already have charging stations, you can suggest that it install them to make life easier for employees.

2. Solar charging

Installing solar panels for charging an electric car is a profitable and sustainable option that allows you to be independent of external energy sources. Such a system is environmentally friendly and saves money on charging, especially if you plan to use your car every day.

• Assess your needs: To begin with, it is important to understand how much energy you use to charge your car. You can do this by figuring out the average distance you drive per day and determining how much energy you need to fully charge.
• Selection of solar panels: Choose solar panels with high efficiency that can provide enough energy for charging. Consider the size of your roof or the space you have available to install the panels, as well as the average number of sunny days in your area.
• Inverter: An inverter is required to convert the energy from direct current (DC) generated by the panels to alternating current (AC) used by the car charging stations. Choose an inverter that is suitable for your system and can handle the number of panels.
• Installation of a charging station: Connect a charging station that is compatible with your electric car. Make sure that the station is properly protected and meets all safety standards.
• Monitoring and maintenance: It is important to regularly monitor the system and clean the panels to keep them working efficiently. You should also check all connections to ensure that the system remains in working order.

3. Promotions from manufacturers

Some electric car manufacturers in Ukraine do offer free charging as part of their marketing promotions. This is a great opportunity to get additional benefits when buying a new electric car.

• Vauxhall: Provides new buyers of electric cars with a year of free charging at partner charging stations such as supermarkets and shopping centres. This promotion allows you to save on charging and make using an electric car even more profitable.

4. 4. Government initiatives

The Ukrainian government actively supports the development of infrastructure for electric vehicles through various programmes and initiatives. Here are some of them:

• Infrastructure development support programme: This programme facilitates the rapid installation of charging stations in underserved areas where there is a shortage of them. This helps reduce charging costs and makes electric cars more accessible to more people.
• Grant for the installation of charging stations: The programme covers part of the cost of installing a charging station at home. This significantly reduces the cost of charging infrastructure and makes electric cars more attractive to those who want to save on energy consumption.

Potential limitations of free charging

Despite all the benefits, it's important to remember that some charging stations may have access restrictions. Here are some of the restrictions you may encounter:

Conclusion.

Charging an electric car for free is becoming increasingly available in Ukraine thanks to the development of infrastructure and support from large supermarket chains, shopping centres, hotels and other businesses. Using our ECOFACTOR EV Charging app, you can conveniently find free charging stations on your route, check their availability in real time, book a spot and even pay for charging directly through the mobile app.

It is also important to consider other ways to save money on charging, such as charging at work, installing solar panels, or taking advantage of special promotions from electric car manufacturers. All of these options can make the charging process more cost-effective and convenient for electric car drivers in Ukraine.

Frequently asked questions