Electric Car Charging Guide

Find out the best time to charge your EV, what charging apps are available and where to charge your car

Published: 16 May 2023
Categories:
- Electric
- Guides & Education

Plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles are on the increase as drivers prepare for a future without relying on diesel or petrol-fuelled motors. One of the biggest concerns for those looking to make the transition to an EV is charging, but it really isn’t as complicated as you might think.

Our in-depth guide to charging an electric car explains the types of chargepoints available, how to charge an electric car at home or in public, and where you can access free EV charging. Read on to find out more…

Types of EV chargepoints

Not all chargepoints are the same so do vary depending on the amount of power required. Vehicle charger power is measured in kilowatts (kW) to determine how much energy is being used or is required. Most chargepoints fall into one of three key categories:

Slow speed and standard charging

Standard and slow speed chargepoints often prove the cheapest way to charge an EV. This is because they are best used when parked for longer periods of time or overnight, so produce a lower output of power between 3.7kW and 7kW.

Referred to as AC (alternate current) connectors, these come in two types:

Type 1 AC connectors have a typical power rating of between 3.7kW and 7kW, and have 5-pins present.
Type 2 AC connectors have a typical power rating of between 3.7kW and 22kW, and have 7-pins present.

Fast Charging

Preferred by most EV drivers, fast chargepoints have a power output of up to 22kW which provides a full charge in around four hours. The majority of fast chargers are powered by an AC connector, but some are now installed using a DC (direct current) connector instead for increased power.

Rapid and ultra-rapid charging

As the EV charging network across the UK improves, so too does the time it takes to charge a car. Rapid and ultra-rapid chargepoints are powered using a DC connector providing a battery boost of up to 80% within 30 minutes to one hour.

DC connectors come in three different types:

CHAdeMO
CCS (Combined Charging System - also known s a Combo connector)
Tesla's own brand of supercharger connectors

Expect a power output of around 50kW from a rapid chargepoint and over 100kW of power from an ultra-rapid chargepoint, making them ideal for a service station top-up when on the road and handy when out shopping. However, this proves the most expensive way of charging your EV.

How to charge an electric car

Charging an electric car isn’t restricted to your home or place of work - there is a growing network of over 42,000 public charging points across the UK which are accessible to anyone with an EV.

Here we explain how to charge your electric car whether you are staying at home, are at work or out and about…

How to charge an EV at home

Much like you would charge your mobile phone, it is advisable not to let your electric car battery fall to 0% charge. Instead, it’s a good idea to get in the habit of topping up your EV battery whenever you are at home; follow the ABC rules of electric car ownership - Always Be Charging!

Installation

When charging at home, you’ll need to have an authorised EV chargepoint installed by a qualified specialist for the most efficient way to fully charge your car. It is possible to use a 3-pin plug socket to charge an EV, but it isn’t recommended and you should never use an extension cable if you do.

Most home vehicle charging units are wall-mounted and you’ll want to install it close by to where you park your car (such as a garage or driveway). Chargepoints are weatherproof so they can be fitted inside or outside.

Costs incurred

To install an EV charger at home costs anywhere from £500 up to £1,000 depending on the type of unit required. If you’d prefer to have a more powerful 7kW charger it will cost more to install than one with a lower 3.7kW power output.

The electricity rate from your supplier and the size of the battery in your EV will depend on the cost to charge an electric car at home. Expect to pay around £10 per full charge for EVs with the smallest battery and shortest range, or up to £40 per full charge for an EV with the largest battery and longest range.

Data shows that on average, electric car owners pay £17 for a full charge at home. It is best to charge your vehicle overnight when electricity costs tend to be lower than they would be at peak times during the day.

Type of unit

Because most domestic properties have what’s called ‘single phase power’, the maximum charging rate for an EV charger installed at home is usually a 7kW output unit.

Charging time

The time it takes to fully charge an electric car depends on the size of the vehicle’s battery. To give you a better idea, charging an electric car with a 50kWh battery from flat to full will take around seven hours. The general rule of thumb is that a 7kW charger will provide around 30-miles of range per hour that it's charging for.

This is why overnight charging at home is highly recommended, as this will leave you in the best position for a daytime boost when you’re out and about if needed.

How to charge an EV at work

Assuming your place of work has an EV charging unit installed, the process is very much the same as it would be at home. Some businesses even offer chargepoint usage free of charge to employees who drive an electric car.

It is likely a standard 7kW charging unit will be available, so during a typical eight hour working day you could achieve up to 200-miles of range. Most drivers who commute to work have a journey of 30 miles or less, so even an hour boost at your place of work should be sufficient.

How to charge an EV at public chargepoints

Unlike at home or your place of work, public EV chargepoints can vary from standard to fast, rapid and ultra-rapid connectors. The more powerful the kW output means the more expensive it will be to charge your car.

However, you could be surprised at the number of chargepoints you can access for free in villages, towns and cities across the country (we explain more about this, below).

Where to find them

Access to public chargepoints for EV drivers can be found at destinations such as supermarkets, shopping centres, public car parks, on-street parking, library car parks, and many more places. Some public car parks will waive the parking fee when actively using an on-site chargepoint.

There are four main ways to access and pay for public chargepoints, they are:

Instant plug-in and charge
Via an app
Pay by debit/credit card
Using an RFID card (which works much like an Oyster card would do for the tube)

How much they cost

Prices to charge your EV using public chargepoints can vary - most require a minimum spend of £1. Apps and websites such as Zapmap allow drivers to access an EV charging cost calculator to estimate how much it would cost when using a chargepoint from the vast public charging network.

Don’t get caught out when using electric car parking bays, read our blog all about the rules of parking in electric car spaces.

How to access public charging networks

Zapmap has the widest choice of charging stations across the UK that can be accessed online via their website or by using the app on a smartphone. These include free chargepoints which you can search for in your local area.

Government grants for EV chargers

If you are switching to an electric car there is help available from the UK Government. You can apply for a contribution towards the cost of installing an EV chargepoint at home and there are also grants available to businesses too:

Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant

If you own or rent a flat, help is available towards the cost of installing an EV chargepoint at your premises via the Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant (you’ll need to get permission from the landlord first if you rent).

This scheme replaces the previous Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS). Eligible applicants can apply for a grant of either £350 towards the cost of a chargepoint, or £75% off the cost to buy and install a unit.

Workplace Charging Scheme

Eligible businesses in the UK can apply for a grant towards the cost to buy and install an EV chargepoint via the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS). Owners can apply for up to 40 charging units that can be used to benefit both employees and business fleets.

Applicants can choose to have 75% of the total cost covered, or £350 off per charging unit. Businesses have until the 31st March 2024 to make their application.

Electric charging FAQs

When it comes to the most frequently asked questions about electric charging, we’ve got you covered…

How long does it take to charge an electric car?

The time it takes to charge an electric car depends on the make and model of vehicle, the size of the battery and the type of chargepoint used. Most EVs using a standard charging unit will take up to eight hours to fully charge. Using a fast or rapid charger, most electric cars are capable of achieving a battery boost of between 20% to 80% in as little as 30 minutes.

How much does it cost to charge an electric car?

Prices to charge an electric car can vary depending on the electricity tariff, size of battery and type of charger used. On average, it costs an EV owner £17 per full charge here in the UK.

How much does it cost to install an electric car charger?

Depending on the provider used to install an electric car chargepoint, it can cost anywhere between £500 to £1,000. Government grants are available to help towards the cost of installing a unit at home or the workplace.

Should I charge my EV to 80% or 100%?

If you wish to drive on a long journey, charging your battery to full in order to maximise the range available is your best option. But if you are driving on shorter journeys, then charging the battery to 80% may be more cost effective. This is because the rate of charge slows down between 80% to 100%, so it will take longer for the battery to charge for the remaining 20%.

When’s the best time to charge an electric car?

Charging an electric car overnight will prove cheaper as it is during an off-peak time for electricity rates.

Should I charge my electric car every night?

The more often you charge an electric car means that your battery will degrade quicker. Of course if you drive long distances every day, then you’ll no doubt need to charge the battery every night. But if you drive shorter journeys, then it is likely you’ll only have to charge the battery two or three times a week.

How long does an electric car battery last for?

Electric car batteries are designed to last for at least 10 years and it is likely it could last for up to 20 years. Most manufacturers will offer an EV battery warranty for up to eight years.

Can you charge an EV using a 3-pin plug socket?

Yes, you can charge an electric car using a 3-pin plug socket, although this is not considered to be best practice and is only recommended in an emergency. Using a 3-pin plug socket to charge your car will result in the slowest charging with just 2.3kW of power output available.

Electric vehicle driving guides

If you’re considering switching to an electric vehicle, then you’ll want to do your homework first. As specialists in the sale of new and used plug-in hybrid and electric cars, we have done the hard work for you. Check out our helpful electric vehicle guides, including:

New and used electric cars at Wilsons Epsom

Accelerate your journey to an electric car future by visiting our multi-franchise state-of-the-art showrooms in Surrey. Here at Wilsons Epsom, we stock the latest award-winning EV models such as the brand new Jeep Avenger, all-electric MG4 EV and the exciting Hyundai IONIQ 6.

Explore all of our new electric cars online as well as our electrifying range of used EVs including the popular Tesla Model 3 and Nissan LEAF.