Electric vehicle use is on the rise, with more people opting for this greener transport solution. However, deciding to switch to electric is a big step, with lots of new things to learn and get used to – that’s where we come in!
We’ve created this handy guide to electric chargers to help you get started and learn what’s involved in keeping your new car powered up when you are at home and when you are out and about. With our help, you’ll be confident in knowing the best way to charge your car – take a look now.
Understanding EV Chargepoints
The first thing you need to know about electric vehicles is that whilst they cost more to purchase upfront, keeping them charged and ready to drive is much cheaper than a petrol or diesel car. You can have a chargepoint installed at home for easy charging that gets billed through your utility bill, and you can also find public chargepoints to keep your car topped up when you are out and about.
Chargepoints can be installed at most properties if there is a garage or driveway that can hold the charging stations. Chargepoints can also be installed in public places such as street parking, services, car parks, garages, supermarkets, shopping centres and more.
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EV Charger Average Prices for Your Home
Installing an EV point at home is a great way to get access to charging whenever you need without having to pay upfront or wait for a charging slot to become available. With so many different types of chargers available, it can be hard to understand whether the price you are given is fair and appropriate. Find out more about EV chargers for your home.
| Charger Type | Power Output | Typical Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Universal Socket | 22kW | £1000 – £1600 |
| Universal Socket | 7kW | £375 – £900 |
| Universal Socket | 3kW | £320 – £850 |
| Tethered | 22kW | £1000 – £1600 |
| Tethered | 7kW | £450 – £950 |
| Tethered | 3kW | £300 – £900 |
| Commando | 7kW | £200 – £400 |
| Tesla | 7kW | £440 – £500 |
EV Charger Average Prices for Your Business
The pressure on businesses to install EV chargers is growing and more companies are taking action when there is financial support available from the government. Getting an EV charger for your business is straightforward, all you need to do is pick the right charger types for your needs and then arrange installation with a dedicating company. Find out more about EV chargers for your business.
| Charger Type | Power Output | Typical Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Universal Socket | 22kW | £1000 – £2500 |
| Universal Socket | 7kW | £375 – £2000 |
| Universal Socket | 3kW | £320 – £1750 |
| Tethered | 22kW | £1000 – £3500 |
| Tethered | 7kW | £450 – £2000 |
| Tethered | 3kW | £300 – £1750 |
| Commando | 7kW | £200 – £1000 |
| Tesla | 7kW | £440 – £2000 |
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The Different Types of Chargepoints Available
It’s not a shock to learn that all-electric vehicles need to be charged. However, there are a number of different types of chargepoints to choose from, including:
- Slow Chargers – this type of charger is always the cheapest way of charging your car, but it will take the longest to power up your car. Slow chargers are best used when you can leave your car plugged in for hours at home, work or when you are out somewhere for the day.
- Fast Chargers – if you only have a few hours available to charge your car, then a fast charger may be a more suitable alternative. This type of charger is typically found in car parks for shops and supermarkets so that you can get the electricity you need while completing tasks such as shopping or having lunch with friends.
- Rapid Chargers – if you need to charge your car in a hurry or you don’t have long to wait, then a rapid charger could be the answer as it offers up to 80% charge in around 30-40 minutes. Rapid chargers are typically found in service stations and garages and are expensive to use, making them unsuitable for home installation.
- Ultra Rapid Chargers – the newest type of chargepoint on offer is the ultra-rapid model that offers up to 80% charge in just 20 – 30 minutes. This option is found in service stations and is usually only possible to use when you are the only car charging as it takes up so much electricity. Ultra-rapid charging is offered on a rapid charging station, ensuring that you get rapid charging as a minimum.
If you are keen to learn the difference in output for each chargepoint option, check out the illustrative table below:
| Slow Chargepoint | Fast Chargepoint | Rapid Chargepoint | Ultra-Rapid Chargepoint | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charge Time (0 – 80% | 8 Hrs | 2 -4 Hrs | 30 – 40 Mins | 20 – 30 Mins |
| Vehicle Mile Range(After 30 Minutes of Charging) | 6 – 12 miles | 4 – 8 miles | 70 – 80 miles | 100 – 120 miles |
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Charging Your Electric Vehicle at Home
In reality, most electric vehicle owners will charge their cars at home for the majority of their charging needs, and unless you have a subsidised charging scheme at work, your home electric will be the cheapest option available. However, to have a chargepoint installed at home, you will need a driveway or garage that can house it.
Having an EV chargepoint installed at your property can be expensive, but there are a number of different grant schemes you can apply for to reduce the cost. The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles offers a range of grants for homeowners and landlords, paying for up to 75% (up to £350) of your installation charge.
Once your EV charger is installed, you can then use it to charge your vehicle at a time that suits you best. It’s important to remember that many electricity suppliers offer smart charging hours to help keep your costs down by using electricity when it is in the lowest demand, such as overnight. Get in touch with your supplier to find out more about smart energy use and discover if you can get a cheaper rate at non-peak times.
If your property is not suitable for an EV charger or you do not want to install one at home, then you can opt to use a three-pin plug socket to charge your car instead. However, this type of charging is not advised as your main source of charging because it takes significantly longer to get the car charged, and it is not as safe as an external charger because it requires you to pass cables into your home from outside. If you do choose this option for emergency charging, then remember that EV charging cables cannot be used with extension leads under any circumstances.
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Getting a Chargepoint Installed
If you are keen to get a chargepoint installed at home but you are worried about safety, then the Electric Vehicle Consumer Code for Home Chargepoints (EVCC) offers clear guidance and support so that you can proceed with confidence. The EVCC works with EV manufacturers, EV installers and EV charger suppliers to maintain a consistently high standard across the industry so that consumers can feel safe when choosing to switch to electric.
If you do decide to proceed with installing your own EV charger at home then you will need to go through a registration process with the Distribution Network Operator. The DNO works to ensure that you have the right electricity at your property for use with an electric vehicle, and typically, your EV charger installer will complete the registration on your behalf during their visit. If they are unable to register the charger, then they will provide you with information on what you need to do next.
Using On-Street Chargepoints
When you are unable to install a charger at home, on-street parking may be the next best solution for your charging needs. However, you are not able to apply for and install your own on-street parking. Instead, you will have to contact your local council to request an on-street charger installation in your area.
Each local authority is able to access the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme, which gives them access to funds that they can use to install on-street chargers. However, this funding is only available for areas that do not have off-street parking, meaning it is not a suitable option if you have a garage or driveway.
If you do not have an on-street charger nearby and cannot install a charger at home then you may find that your workplace has chargers that you can use. If your workplace does not have a charging station yet, then they can also apply for a grant from the OZEV to cover their costs too.
Using Public EV Charging Networks
Even when you have access to home charging, there will always be times when it is more convenient or essential to charge when you are away from your property. In the UK, there is a rapidly growing number of EV chargers that you can use, with a huge of public charging networks that you can tap into. The main networks in play include:
- Zap Map
- Plug share
- Pod Point
- AutoTrader EV Charging Point Map
- ChargePlace Scotland
- Open Charge Map
Even if you have one of the most up-to-date EVs with significant mileage to enjoy, it is always wise to be aware of chargers on your route so that you can access electricity whenever you need it.
Paying for EV Charging at Public Chargepoints
When you do need to use a public charging station, you will need to have an appropriate method of payment to be able to charge your car. EV chargepoints do not operate on cash, and you will need to
either an RFID card, a compatible phone app or a contactless card that you can use to pay for your electricity.
The price you pay will include costs for connecting to the charger and the electricity you use – the electricity charge per KWH will be dependent on the company’s set tariff, which you will find displayed on the charging machine.
Some of the charging networks offer a membership service that can get you a discount when you use their chargers – so take the time to check and download the relevant apps so that you don’t miss out on any discounts that may be available.
Drive With Battery Life in Mind
While you cannot change how much you are paying for your electrical units, you can hone your driving to maximise each charge for the most miles possible. Some of the simple ways you can do this include:
- Keeping your speed below 60mph as you will use more charge the faster you go.
- Maintaining a consistent speed so that you don’t have to brake hard or accelerate excessively.
- Avoiding using air-con or heating mechanisms unless absolutely necessary.
- Making use of Eco or Eco+ mode to reduce your energy consumption
Find Out More About EV Charging Today
If you are keen to learn more about EV charging then take a look at our home and work guides as well as finding out more about individual charger brands that are available for your use. When you feel confident about how to charge an EV car, then it’s time to buy your new electric vehicle and enjoy saving money on getting around!