To support the idea of a green Earth and incorporate eco-friendly systems in transportation, electric vehicles (or EVs) are growing in popularity. More people are switching to EVs from fuel-powered cars, using them for family holidays, long-distance trips, and airport drives. Following this trend, London Heathrow Airport (LHR) has introduced parking solutions with EV charging stations.
This feature can cost a fortune to the EV owners when Heathrow's parking spaces are already high in demand and tend to fill up quickly, so finding a balance between a cheaper option and a convenient EV charging can feel like a real challenge. But the good news is that there are more parking choices than most people even realise. Somewhere between a vast range of parking, from premium Meet and Greet to cheap Park and Ride, LHR airport parking offers not only one but several balanced choices for EV owners, and this blog explores those options.
Cheap Options for EV Parking at Heathrow
When looking for an affordable airport parking option, your best bet lies in the official Park and Ride facility and independent off-site providers. These options offer cheaper rates than the on-site choices and still include EV charging services. Let's explore how these off-site option can save you money while providing the convenience that your vehicle requires.
Park and Ride with EV Charging
Heathrow Park and Ride areas are considered to be the most affordable options compared to other parking services at the airport. These facilities are generally located a few kilometres away from terminals, and the airport provides a free shuttle service for passengers to transfer to and from the parking and terminals. As for the electric vehicle owners, many Park and Ride facilities have now upgraded to include EV charging stations.
For the travellers going away on a week-long trip, Heathrow Park and Ride will cost them around 40% less than any on-site parking, be it a short-stay or Meet and Greet. This means they will have to pay nearly half the price and get almost the same level of security, including constant CCVT monitoring, fencing, and regular staff patrols, and even a designated EV charging bay. By and large, the Park and Ride option can be a great deal for those who wouldn't mind taking a quick shuttle ride in exchange for saving some pounds.
Budget Off-Site Car Parks with Charging Access
Third-party off-site parking providers often grant even cheaper rates for EV parking than the official Heathrow sites. The practice is usually similar to the standard Park and Ride service, parking the vehicle, boarding onto a shuttle bus, and getting off at the terminal, only at lower pricing.
The main reason these facilities are cheaper is that they are independent of Heathrow's premium zone, and they often offer their own range of discounts and sales, including holiday discounts, end-of-season sale, off-peak season discounts, site-exclusive promo codes, membership discounts, etc. Hence, they can save even more than the Park and Ride parking. Frequent business travellers and budget-conscious flyers looking for an affordable parking with EV charging access can go for this option without having to compromise too much on security.
Pairing Budget Parking with Rapid Charging Nearby
This can easily be the most resourceful approach to save big bucks. You can book a cheap LHR Airport parking space without a built-in charging point and use a nearby rapid charging station before or after your flight.
This option is the smartest choice for EV owners who don't need their vehicle to be charging the entire time and want more control over expenses. They only have to pay for the budget parking and choose when to spend on charging their vehicle, avoiding extra costs of built-in charging stations while also having access to rapid charging service when needed.
The rapid charging hubs can be a hotel, a motorway service, a petrol station, or any EV hub around Heathrow Airport. You can even find the EV charging stations on specially designed apps like Zapmap and PlugShare. For finding and sharing private chargers, you can check the CoCharger app.
Charging Stations Near or At the Terminals
- Tesla Public Supercharger: Located at Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3, Tesla Public Supercharger is available 24/7 for Tesla and other EVs with CSS compatibility.
- Pod Point: Pod Point EV charging points are installed at Heathrow Airport Short-stay Terminal 4. These stations are known to be free of cost for charging a vehicle, but the usual short-stay parking fees may apply.
Other EV Options at Heathrow
There are several options also available for those who prefer convenience over cost, and time is money for them. Heathrow offers the following convenient EV parking and charging points:
Meet and Greet
Several third-party parking providers offer EV charging as part of their EV parking package. You only have to ensure that your charging cable is working fine. A professional driver, sent by the parking provider, takes your vehicle from you near the terminal and drives it to the designated parking lot, where it can be charged while you are away. Upon your return, the car is fully charged, ready for your drive home.
Hotel Parking (Park Sleep Fly)
Many hotels around Heathrow Airport offer car parking equipped with EV charging points. These can be useful for those staying overnight or booking a ‘Park Sleep Fly' package. The most common hotels known to provide EV charging services include Holiday Inn London - Heathrow Bath Road, Radisson Hotel & Conference Centre London Heathrow, and Hyatt Place London Heathrow Airport. Prices may vary as some facilities require additional payment for EV charging, some offer it for free, and some services charge rates according to the EV charging type or level.
Affordable EV Parking at Heathrow Is Easier Than You Think
With the growing use of electric vehicles, facilities dealing with vehicles day in and day out are adapting to the trend. LHR Airport parking also offers numerous services designed for EV vehicles, providing their charging stations and required security measures. However, it is wrong to think that for vehicles as fancy as Tesla, the parking costs must be sky-high, because at Heathrow, the service is available in all ranges. From the cheapest Park and Ride option to pricey-but-convenient Meet and Greet, every facility provides a version of special service to the EV owners. With some planning, travellers with an economical mindset can get their hands on the most affordable and suitable parking for their electric vehicle.
