Charging an EV
Everything you need to know about charging an EV
Electric vehicles (EVs) are on the rise and in the not too distant future we’ll all be driving them, but here at Xcite Car Leasing we know that many drivers are still apprehensive for a number of reasons. The 2 biggest reasons that our customers give for being concerned about electric vehicles are worries about the range and charging them.
We’ve got a separate guide that looks at the range of electric vehicles and what can impact it, so in this guide we’re going to focus on EV charging.
A lot of the points we touch upon here will also apply to plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) as these also require regular charging in order to get the most from the hybrid benefits. For more information on hybrids and the benefits of PHEVS just click here.
Types of EV chargers
In the UK, chargers are divided into 3 categories depending on the speed of charging they can offer. These 3 speeds and categories are:
- Rapid
- Fast
- Slow
Within each of these categories, you can choose between tethered and untethered units. Tethered units have the charging cable permanently attached so you just need to plug this into your charging port. Untethered units don't have a charging cable fixed to the charger and so you will need to use the one supplied with your vehicle and connect this to both the unit and your car.
We recommend always carrying your charging cable with you as one of our top charging tips.
EV connectors, cables and currents
Before we take a look at the different types of chargers available we thought it would be useful to first have a look at the connectors and cables that your EV will come with or use.
There are a number of different charging connectors that your EV might use depending on the manufacturer, the speed of charging it can accept, the charging unit and socket it uses and the vehicle’s inlet port.
Rapid charging units will usually use a CHAdeMO, CCS or Type 2 connector, while fast and slow units will use a Type 2, Type 1, Commando or three-pin plug connector.
EVs should always come with the necessary cables for you to charge them at an untethered unit.
Currents
There are 2 types of electricity currents: Alternating Current (AC) and Direct Current (DC).
With a DC, the electricity only flows in one direction whilst in an AC the flow of energy can change direction.
Power flows off the electricity grid in an AC current but batteries that are charged to store electricity can only accept a DC current. So, when you are charging your EV, the current will need to be converted by AC to DC. Some charging units will convert the electricity supply for you but with AC charging units, your car will then convert the power to a DC current before it's stored in the battery. There’s very little difference between currents in terms of charging your vehicle other than where the current is converted.
AC connectors include a UK 3-pin plug, Commando Type 1 and Type 2 chargers. DC Connectors are CHAdeMO, CCS and Tesla’s supercharge connectors.
Rapid chargers are the fastest of the 3 main chargers available for EVs, and all rapid charging units have a tethered cable so you will just need to connect your car.
There are ultra-rapid chargers that are being developed to make charging even quicker and though not common on the charging network yet, we're gradually seeing more and more appearing.
Ultra-rapid chargers can usually fully charge an EV within 20 to 40 minutes to get you back on the road as quickly as possible. You'll still be able to use an ultra-rapid charger on a vehicle that is only capable of accepting up to 50 kW of power as the charger will adjust to restrict the power to your vehicle.
Both rapid and ultra-rapid chargers usually use a CCS or CHAdeMO connector unless it's one of Telsa’s Superchargers which sometimes use a Type 2 connector.
Not all EVs are compatible with rapid charging, so we recommend checking whether the particular model you have is able to accept it, by consulting the vehicle’s manual or the manufacturer’s website.
If you’re in the process of looking for a new vehicle and considering an EV then one of our Leasing Consultants will be happy to advise you on the charging capabilities of any model you’re interested in. You can speak to us on 0330 221 0000 or request a call back via the purple phone in the bottom left of your screen.
Rapid chargers can provide up to 43 kW via AC charging, 50 kW via DC charging or over 100kW via DC ultra-rapid charging and because of the speed of charging that they provide, you'll usually find them at service stations, so that you can get back on the road as quickly as possible. They will typically charge an EV to 80% in an hour or less depending on your battery’s receiving capacity and the starting level of charge.
The next level of charging available is via fast chargers which is the middle level of charging available, typically offering either 7 kW or 22 kW of current for you.
Most fast chargers typically have an AC current and are untethered, allowing you to connect your own charging cable to the unit. It will usually be a Type 2 connector that you need to use though there are some 25 kW DC chargers that are being installed with a CCS or CHAdeMO connection.
Some home and workplace fast charging units are tethered to make it easier, as these will regularly be used by particular users and vehicles.
Tesla destination chargers are also classed as a fast chargers, with either 11 kW or 22 kW of electricity. Like Tesla’s superchargers they are only intended to be used with Tesla models, however many also have a Type 2 charger at the same location which is compatible with any vehicle that has a Type 2 connector.
Just as with a rapid or ultra-rapid charger, not all vehicles are capable of receiving 7 kW of power or more, but this is less likely to be the case with modern EVs. Any vehicle that isn't able to accept fast charging speed can still be plugged into a fast-charging unit but it will only be charged at its maximum power level.
The third level and speed of charging in the UK is via a slow charger, which offers you 3 to 6 kW of energy.
It's usually home charging units that fall into this category, though there are still a few on the public network which are usually older models or lamp-post charging units where existing infrastructure limits the power output.
Slow chargers can be tethered or untethered units and use one of a number of connectors.
The 3-pin plug which goes into a regular power socket is classed as a slow charging method, however we don't recommend this as a long-term charging solution due to the length of time it takes to charge and the higher current demands an EV has compared to other household electronics.
Where to charge
There are three main places that EV drivers can charge their vehicle:
- At home
- At the office
- At a public charge point
Charging at home
For most EV drivers, a home charging unit is the best option. Charging your vehicle while you’re home is the most convenient, as you can go about your usual routine without having to worry about going out to charge the vehicle, or it getting enough charge while you do the weekly shop.
Although the majority of electric cars are supplied with a cable that has a 3-pin socket for slow charging in a mains plug, it’s not recommended you regularly use this to charge your vehicle as it's quite a slow process and can have a significant impact on electricity usage.
The alternative is having a home charging unit installed.
In order to be eligible for a home charging unit, and to be able to apply for a government grant to help with the cost, you'll need to have off-road parking available as well as the permission of the homeowner if you are renting, as the units are usually wall-mounted on the side of the property.
A home charging unit will either be supplied as a tethered unit with either a Type 1 or Type 2 cable depending on your vehicle - or you can have an untethered unit with a Type 2 compatible socket.
Home charger units can offer slow or fast charging speeds, depending on the existing infrastructure at your property and the amount you want to spend on a charging unit (a fast unit is more expensive).
In order to be eligible for the government’s grant, you must have the unit installed by an Office for Low Emission Vehicles approved professional installer.
The UK government is currently running the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme, through which some drivers can apply for a grant that offers up to £350 off the installation cost. This is currently only available for homeowners in apartments and flats or drivers in rental properties.
You will need to have a PHEV or EV that was purchased after October 2016, or if you are still waiting to receive the vehicle, proof that it's on order.
The cost of a charging unit can vary between £250 and £800, depending on not just the speed but also the brand and whether it's a smart charger (one that connects to your home and vehicle to share date, update software and much more).
Please be aware that you can only apply for a maximum of two vehicle grants at one property and that, depending on your existing electricity infrastructure, there may be an additional cost for installing the unit.
On-street charging
Not all homes have off-street parking, and for drivers looking to get an EV in these homes then a good alternative for home charging is on-street residential charging units.
In order to have on-street charging available for you to use, you'll need to speak to your local authority as they will be the ones responsible for installing and maintaining the units.
The central government also have grants available for local councils in order to assist with the cost of installation.
There are a number of charging units available for on-street chargers but the majority fall into 2 categories.
The first is a charger installed onto or in a lamp post. This is commonly chosen as it reduces the installation costs and doesn't need as much change to the existing road layout.
The second type you’ll see are freestanding or pillar units similar to the public charging units you get in car parks.
These units will usually be located close to the kerb to reduce cable trailing length to a minimum.
Both types of units are usually Type 2 untethered units that require the driver to use their own cable like most other public units.
In a similar way to a home charging unit, most on-street units will usually supply either slow or fast charging speeds depending on the existing infrastructure.
Most units will work like other public chargers with an RFID card or app needed to charge them.
Some units may have a smart cable, that includes a metre on the cable, which measures the electricity used for accurate billing to the driver, as well as activating and stopping the charge.
Charging at work
More and more businesses are trying to encourage their drivers to opt for a more environmentally-friendly hybrid or fully electric model, and one way in which they are doing this is by providing chargers for their employees to use.
If your company does have workplace chargers available for you to use then you might find that daily charging while in the office is enough to meet your mileage needs without having to install a home charging unit.
There are a number of benefits to employers as well, and there is a government workplace charging scheme to help them with the cost of installation.
Using a public charger
Though we recommend having a home charging unit, especially if you have opted for a full EV rather than a PHEV, we know that this isn't always an option and even if you do have a home charger there are times when your vehicle needs charging out and about. This is why the government and charging companies are working to improve the UK public charging network.
You'll see public chargers in a number of locations but some of the most popular are in motorway service stations, public car parks at supermarkets and shopping centres.
The speed of charging you can receive varies between units and there can be slow, fast, rapid and ultra-rapid chargers on the public network.
In the UK, there are a number of different companies that provide public charging units across the network and you'll usually need an app on your phone or an RFID card to charge your vehicle for each of these different providers, which is linked with your contact and billing details. Some might also be able to take contactless card payments at the unit too.
The cost of charging
The cost of charging an electric vehicle varies depending on what type of charging unit you're using and whether you're charging at home, work or using a public charger.
According to the Department for Business, Energy and Industry Strategy the average cost of electricity in the UK for 2019 was 16.3 pence per kWh.
kWh is the measurement of how much energy you're using, not the number of kilowatts you are using; it's simply a unit that is equal to the amount of energy you would use if you kept one 1,000 kW appliance running for an hour.
Based on this measurement if you were to charge a 60 kWh electric car it will cost around £9.80 depending on where you live.
Most employers will provide charging for electric vehicles free of charge if they have had units installed.
A lot of public charging units at supermarkets and car parks are also free of charge to use for the duration of your stay, though some might also require you to pay for the energy used.
Motorway service stations usually have rapid charging units in order to get you back on the road as quickly as possible. They roughly cost around £6 for 30 minutes of charge.
Find out more about electric and hybrid vehicles by heading back to our EV guides homepage.