Pod Point vs Connected Kerb: Which Is Best for On-Street EV Charging?

Connected Kerb is the better pick for on-street residential charging if you have no driveway: it works with 27-plus local authorities to put chargers on residential streets and council car parks. Pod Point (now also branded as Pod), owned by EDF, is mainly a destination network at supermarkets and retail sites such as Tesco and Center Parcs. For a kerbside overnight charge, Connected Kerb usually wins; for a top-up while you shop, Pod Point is the more convenient option.

Both networks are listed on the Zapmap app, which is the quickest way to check what is actually available near you. The distinction between them matters most if you have no off-street parking, because the network that serves your street is the one that determines whether owning an EV is practical.

What is the difference between Pod Point and Connected Kerb?

The two networks are solving different problems, which is why a simple “which is better” answer misses the point.

Connected Kerb was founded in 2017 and specialises in on-street EV charging for drivers without off-street parking. It works with more than 27 local authorities to install chargers in residential streets and council car parks, specifically targeting the drivers who cannot charge at home. On-street EV charging is its core business, not a secondary product.

Pod Point (now branded as “Pod”) was founded in 2009 and is based in London. It is owned by EDF and has built its public network primarily around destination charging: supermarket car parks, retail parks, leisure venues and workplaces. Pod Point Tesco charging is one of the most visible parts of the network, with units across hundreds of Tesco stores nationwide.

In short:

• Connected Kerb: residential streets and council car parks, for drivers without driveways
• Pod Point (Pod): destination and retail sites, for drivers charging while parked at shops or leisure venues

How big is each network and where are the chargers?

As of March 2026, Pod Point has 8,265 chargers across 1,882 locations nationwide, with the bulk of its footprint in supermarkets and retail or destination sites. Connected Kerb has 7,040 chargers across 1,576 locations, focused on residential streets and council car parks. Connected Kerb has stated a target of 190,000 on-street chargers by 2030 (figures vary, verify current data).

Pod Point’s larger total reflects its longer operating history and its model of working with high-footfall retail partners rather than individual councils. Connected Kerb’s numbers are growing as more local authorities join the scheme.

National totals are less useful than local availability. A driver in a borough where Connected Kerb has a council contract will find chargers within a short walk; a driver in an area where no contract exists may find none at all. Checking the Zapmap app for your specific postcode is a far more reliable guide than comparing headline charger counts.

Pod Point vs Connected Kerb: head to head spec and cost comparison

The comparison most drivers want does not exist elsewhere on the web, because every other page covers only one network at a time. The table below puts both side by side.

Feature	Pod Point (Pod)	Connected Kerb
Network focus	Destination, retail, supermarkets	On-street residential, council car parks
Chargers (Mar 2026)	8,265	7,040
Locations (Mar 2026)	1,882	1,576
Speeds (kW)	Varies by site; Tesco has 7kW, 22kW, 50kW and new 75kW units	7kW-22kW (AC fast)
Typical price/kWh	Set by host retailer; varies by site	50p/kWh typically (35p-62p/kWh range)
Pricing model	Host-set: retailer determines the rate	Network-set: Connected Kerb sets the price
How to pay	Zapmap app, Zapmap card, contactless (8kW+)	Connected Kerb app, Zap-Pay, RFID card, Zapmap app and card, contactless (8kW+)
Membership or connection fee	None	None
Best for	Charging while you shop or at leisure venues	Overnight charging near home without a driveway

A note on Pod Point pricing: because the host retailer sets the rate, quoting a single figure is not reliable. At Tesco from April 2026, the rates are 44p/kWh on 7kW units, 49p/kWh on 22kW, 62p/kWh on 50kW and 69p/kWh on the new 75kW units. Prices at other Pod Point sites will differ; always check the Zapmap app or the charger itself before plugging in.

Connected Kerb typically costs 50p/kWh across most of its network, with a published range of 35p to 62p/kWh depending on location and charger speed (figures vary, verify current data using the Zapmap app for live prices at a specific charger). There is no connection fee or membership required.

For context, the Zapmap February 2026 Price Index puts the weighted average PAYG cost at 54p/kWh for standard and standard-plus chargers (3-49kW) across all networks. Both Pod Point and Connected Kerb sit broadly within that range (figures vary, verify current data).

How do you pay at each network?

Payment friction is a real issue on residential streets, where there may be no attendant and no app signal. Both networks have worked to reduce it.

At a Connected Kerb charger, you can pay via the Connected Kerb app by scanning the QR code on the charger or entering the charger ID, through Zap-Pay, or using an RFID card. No subscription or minimum spend is required; you can use it as a one-off without setting up an account.

Both Pod Point and Connected Kerb appear in the Zapmap app and accept the Zapmap charging card, which means drivers who already use Zapmap for navigation can start a session on either network without downloading a second app.

Under the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023, which came into force on 24 November 2023, any public charger rated at 8kW and above must offer contactless payment. New units on both networks are therefore required to accept tap-to-pay, removing the need for an app altogether for a straightforward session.

How reliable are Pod Point and Connected Kerb?

Reliability data for individual networks is not always published, but Connected Kerb was voted Zapmap’s “Best EV charging network 2026” in the On-street/Destination category, which reflects user ratings across the Zapmap community.

The Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 also set minimum reliability standards. Rapid networks (50kW and above) must average 99% reliability over the calendar year, and all operators must provide a free, staffed 24/7 helpline. Connected Kerb and Pod Point are predominantly AC fast networks (3-49kW), so the 99% rapid reliability rule applies mainly to Pod Point’s faster Tesco units. The 24/7 helpline obligation applies to both networks regardless of charger speed.

Which should you choose?

The right answer depends almost entirely on what you need the charger for.

• No driveway, charging overnight near home: Connected Kerb. It is the network designed specifically for this situation, with residential street chargers installed through local authority partnerships. If your council has a Connected Kerb contract, this is the network to rely on for EV charging for no driveway.
• Regular supermarket or retail park visits: Pod Point. Its Tesco and retail site coverage is extensive, and plugging in while you do the shopping is a practical way to top up without a dedicated charging stop. Pod Point Tesco charging is particularly well-spread nationwide.
• Both: Most drivers without a driveway will use Connected Kerb for overnight charging near home and Pod Point (or other networks) when out and about. Picking one to the exclusion of the other is rarely necessary.

These two are far from your only options. For a fuller ranking by use case, see our guide to the best public EV charging networks in the UK, which scores each provider on coverage, price and reliability.

For a broader introduction to public charging, including how apps and RFID cards work across the whole market, see our public charging guide.

Useful Resources

Zapmap Connected Kerb network guide https://www.zapmap.com/ev-guides/public-charging-point-networks/connected-kerb-network

Zapmap Pod Point network guide https://www.zapmap.com/charge-points/public-charging-point-networks/pod-point-network/

GOV.UK Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 guidance https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-public-charge-point-regulations-2023-guidance/public-charge-point-regulations-2023-guidance

Move Electric: Tesco and Pod Point pricing update https://www.moveelectric.com/e-cars/tesco-and-pod-point-increase-charging-prices-and-add-75kw-chargers

Zapmap on-street residential charging guide https://www.zapmap.com/ev-guides/on-street-charging