The Electric Zone
How do you charge an electric car and how much will it cost you? Find out everything you need to know about making the switch to an electric car today.
We regularly post information and updates on electric cars, legislation you need to be aware of and everything in between to help you on your journey to making the switch.
Are you ready to switch?
We asked our social followers if the rising costs in fuel prices had made them consider switching to an electric car and the results were very positive!
Keep checking The Electric Zone and our Electric Vehicle specific blogs and articles and get all the information and tips on making the switch and living with an electric car.
Understanding the different charge point speeds
There are 4 types of charging slow, fast, rapid and ultra-rapid. Slow charging is between 3kW-6kW and is generally used at home with a 3-pin plug, however the recommended use of a 3-pin socket to charge your electric car varies by manufacturer. Always read the manufacturer guidelines on charging your car with a 3-pin socket or if you want to charge regularly from home, a dedicated home chare point unit it recommended. When out and about, you will find 3 main charge speeds.
Fast (7-22kW)
This category covers charging from 7kw through to around 22kw and tends to cover both home charging units and out of home charging points.
Rapid (50+kW)
When you’re out on the road and need a top-up, a rapid charge is a great option. These charging points can top you up from empty to 80% full in around 30 minutes.
Ultra rapid (100+kW)
Ultra Rapid is the next-generation of rapid charge. Supercharger is the name Tesla has given to its charging network. Only available to Tesla drivers, these chargers can deliver a 200-mile range in just half an hour.
Charging your EV at home
One of the best ways to charge your car is at home. Like all plug-in devices such as your phone or tablets, you can leave your car to charge overnight, so it's ready to go the next morning when you are.
To help the adoption of electric cars, the government offer the EV Charge point Grant, which provides funding of up to 75% towards the cost of a domestic charge point.
However, this grant does now only apply to flat owner-occupiers and those who are living in rented accommodation. For further information on how to apply or find out if you are eligible, visit the government website below.
Check eligibility
Charging in public
Whilst most EV drivers opt for home or workplace charging, there are are currently over 30,000 public charge points across the UK that you can also use when you are out and about or travelling to keep your battery topped up.
Zap-Map regularly keeps updates this number so you can track the UK charge point growth each month. There are also a number of free charging locations at many supermarkets including Tesco, Aldi, M&S and Lidl varying from fast to rapid charge speeds. You can also use Zap-Map to search for charge points all across the country to help plan your journeys and make sure you get to a charge point when you need to.
Find EV ChargingHow long do EVs take to charge?
The charging time will vary from vehicle to vehicle, depending on the battery size and the charging speed. To get a general idea, you can use the following equation. Find out more about electric car charging with our free download.
Charging connectors
As with charging speeds, the connector cables used to charge your electric car will depend on the make and model of your vehicle, but the most common charging types are found below.
Type 2
This is the standard for European and Asian vehicles from 2018 onwards and can charge at a level of up to 43 kW.
CCS
Widely used in Europe, this is a version of type 2 connector with two additional power contacts. It allows very fast charging. This socket is always combined with either a Type 2 or a Type 1 socket.
CHAdeMO
Mainly used in older vehicles and the Nissan Leaf (100% electric BEV) and the Mitsubishi Outlander (partially electric PHEV).