How to charge an Electric Car in the UK? How long does it take for an Electric Vehicle to charge? The issue is more complicated than it appears, which presents a problem for the auto industry.
Vehicles have varying battery capacities and charge at varying rates. Charge periods for the same vehicle at different chargers will vary dramatically.
And regardless of the charger used, driving an electric vehicle involves a shift in driving behavior. This may present a challenge for automakers, who must sometimes convince cautious car customers to test an electric vehicle first.
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Most owners charge their devices at home or work. The process takes hours, which may seem like an insurmountable inconvenience to owners of gas-powered vehicles. However, it feels far handier than a trip to the gas station for existing owners because they can do other things – in many cases, sleep — while the battery recharges.
Charging on a conventional 120-volt outlet is the slowest method, adding only a few miles of range each hour.
The Ecosystem of Charging
Charging an Electric car is not the same as filling up a gasoline or diesel vehicle; electric car drivers’ plugin whenever they park and return to a vehicle with a more charged battery than when they left.
It’s wise to consider “where do I park the most frequently?” and make use of the ChargePoint that has been provided in these spots. For most individuals, this means starting at home, then moving on to work and other places.
At times, you may need to drive longer than the range remaining on your battery and will need to charge en-route using a high-powered rapid charger.
How to charge an Electric Car at Home UK?
If you have off-street parking, you can charge your electric car at home by installing a dedicated home charger. This is frequently the handiest location for charging, especially if you can plug in overnight.
A dedicated home charging port provides the quickest charging speeds possible, often between 10 and 30 miles of range per hour when plugged in.
It will incorporate safety features and, if equipped with Wi-Fi, will provide access to extra smart features such as energy monitoring and over-the-air software upgrades.
Most home chargers have a cord that you just plug into your vehicle to begin charging.
Additionally, home chargers are available with a universal ‘Type 2’ socket that accepts a separate cable and connects in the same manner as a car charger.
These separate cables are frequently included with the car, but if you did not receive one or require a replacement, you could acquire them when ordering your home charger.
Electric cars can also be charged at home using a conventional 3-pin connection; however, charging takes longer, and the outlets lack the necessary safety measures of a specialist charger. Thus, this is not considered best practice.
How to charge an Electric Car at work in UK?
Charging at work is quite convenient because your car is frequently parked for an extended amount of time during the day, like charging at home.
Numerous organizations are increasingly providing charging stations for workers and visitors as a bonus to promote sustainability or aid the transition to an electric fleet.
Workplace chargers typically provide the same charging speeds as home chargers and are equipped with universal “Type 2” outlets, which means you must bring your cable to the units.
Depending on the option of your organization, your charge may be initiated by simply plugging in, as with a home charger, or by utilizing an RFID swipe card or a smartphone app.
Occasionally, your employer may install higher-powered 50kW rapid chargers. Still, due to their expensive cost, these are often reserved for heavily utilized return to base fleet vehicles rather than staff cars.
Company car drivers who choose a vehicle with lower emissions will benefit from cheaper BIK charges.
Charging an Electric Vehicle at a Public location
You can charge your automobile while parked in public areas such as supermarkets, gyms, cinemas, retail parks, and town center parking lots.
While it is not always required to charge your battery at your destination fully, frequent top-ups ensure that you never run out of juice or are forced to wait for your battery to recharge from empty.
Destination charging stations typically provide 7kW charging, providing 20-30 miles of range per hour for fully electric vehicles plugged in (BEVs).
Many of them are supplied for free by businesses as an incentive for customers to visit their locations.
You’ll need to carry your charging cable and frequently will need to download a smartphone app to begin charging (although in some situations, simply plugging in will suffice).
Certain older charge points need you to request an access “RFID” card, although these are progressively being phased out due to their inability to provide drivers with ad hoc access.
The Pod Point map can be used to locate locations that have charging stations. It enables you to view live ChargePoint availability and manage your charge events on the Pod Point Network.
Charging an Electric Vehicle on long road trips or in an emergency
On a road trip, you may discover that the remaining range in your battery is insufficient to carry you to your destination.
In this case, you can take advantage of the network of high-power quick chargers (43-350kW) located throughout the UK’s motorway service stations and other areas. This process is referred to as en-route charging.
Rapid chargers are typically available on a pay-per-use basis due to their high cost and ability to disseminate a large amount of electricity in a short period.
Because the wires are permanently attached to the 43kW+ units, you do not need to carry your cable.
There are three types of rapid charge connectors, depending on your vehicle. Modern rapid chargers support all three or at least two of the DC standards.
In some instances, you may discover that your battery has depleted due to extensive local driving and that you require an emergency charge.
Rapid chargers are also useful for this reason, and if you’re not near a motorway service stop, you can find them in convenient locations such as supermarket parking lots.
Looking for quick, easy and reliable EV Charger installation? Wether that be for home charge, public charge or workplace charge, Trent Vehicle Charging are here to help. If you have any questions then please visit our FAQ page or don’t hesitate to get in touch.
