When switching from a petrol or diesel engine to an electric vehicle, one of the biggest changes to get to grips with is charging your vehicle with electricity. Charging is a key part of owning an electric car and it’s important to make sure that you understand it before going into electric car ownership.
Charger Types
One of the first things to think about when it comes to charging your electric car is the charger type you will use.
There are three different types of electric car charging: slow, fast, and rapid. Each varies in charging speed thanks to the power output of the specific charging point you are using. Rapid charge points make up most of the EV charging network in the UK and are more likely to be used for electric car charging at petrol stations and motorway service stations compared to in private homes. They usually take around 20-40 minutes to charge an electric car to around eighty percent, but often come at a higher price compared to slower chargers.
Charging at Home
Charging at home is the most convenient option for electric vehicle owners. It can be a cost-effective way to recharge your car and since you don’t have to leave the home to do it, you can charge overnight to make sure that your car is ready for the next day. Homeowners can access a range of government grants designed to help towards the cost of setting up an EV charging point at home. The cost of installation is likely to be higher if you want a faster, higher-powered unit. Most are a 3kW or 7kW rating. Some electric car manufacturers include the installation when you purchase a new electric vehicle from them.
Public Charging
Like fuel stations where you can fill up the petrol or diesel tank of a standard combustion engine car, there are various public charging points located across the UK where you can charge your electric vehicle while out. It can be handy to know where these are if you are travelling since electric cars tend to have lower mileage on a full charge compared to the mileage you’d expect from a combustion engine on a full tank of fuel.
Many electric car owners who do not have a charging point at home will use public charging stations exclusively to charge their vehicles. Some are offered free of charge and are conveniently located in places like supermarket car parks, so that you can leave your car to charge while you are getting groceries or running other errands.
Charging an electric car can take some getting used to when you’d normally fill up with fuel. But with options to charge either at home or in public, it won’t take long for it to become a standard part of your life as an electric vehicle owner.