Charging guide

Electric vehicle (EV) charging is a new concept to first time EV owners. It is not as simple as filling up with petrol; charging speeds, connector types, and understanding your vehicle specification are all important considerations. But don’t worry, we’ve created a series of simple guides to explain the world of EV charging.

These guides will help to explain the ins and outs of charging on public networks, charging at home, charging at work, as well as some of the more detailed points around EV charging in general.

EV charging explained

There are three main types of EV charging – rapid, fast, and slow. These categories represent the power outputs [charging speeds] available at a charging station. Note that power is measured in kilowatts (kW).

Rapid chargers are typically DC [Direct Current], with most units capable of delivering at least 50 kW. These will give EVs at least 180 miles of charge every hour. Rapid DC chargers are fitted with a CCS, CHAdeMO or both [connector types].

Fast chargers provide AC power from 7 kW to 22 kW, capable of delivering 25-80 miles per hour of charge. Chargers will have a Type 2 socket, or tethered cables with a Type 1 or 2 plug.

Slow chargers (up to 3 kW) are only capable of delivering 11 miles of charge every hour. They’re suitable for charging Plug-in Hybrid EVs or overnight charging of Pure EVs at home.

Charging on public networks

The UK has a number of nationwide public EV charging networks, as well as smaller local networks. Visit Zap-Map to see a map of public charging networks and locations.

Payment and access methods across public networks vary widely, with most networks requiring pre-registration, membership fees, and some form of activation mechanism to use their services (RFID card, key fob, or smartphone App). However, more increasingly public chargers are being installed with contactless card readers for open access to all drivers.

Charging tariffs tend to vary across different networks, so be sure to check before plugging in. Users will either pay a cost per charging time (pence per hour) and/or a cost per energy consumed (pence per kWh).

Charging at home

Charging at home is the most convenient and cost effective way to charge your EV. However, absence to off-street parking can be a significant barrier to charging at home.

Where you have access to off-street parking, charging can be as simple as plugging a suitable cable into a standard domestic 3-pin socket. This may not be sufficient to fully charge some EVs, even when left to charge all night. For this reason 7kW wall mounted fast chargers are becoming the preferred option, especially with OLEV’s £350 EVHS grant.

Need an OLEV approved fast charger for your home? Coventry City Council have partnered with EO Charging to make the process easier for Coventry resident’s.

Don’t have access to off-street parking? Coventry have deployed a network of on-street residential charging stations. View the interactive map of Coventry’s on-street residential charging stations to find one near you.

Charging at work

The workplace is another convenient location to charge EVs as vehicles tend to be stationary for most of the day. Many businesses base their fleet vehicles at work overnight, which makes it the natural place to charge them. Workplace chargers can also play a role in attracting customers to visit your business.

There are a variety of EV charging systems available to businesses, depending on what they need. These include specialist systems for managing your EV fleet, workplace systems for your staff and visitors, and destination systems for generating revenue from visitors to your site.

Similar to home chargers, OLEV have a grant available for installing workplace charging systems at your business. Coventry City Council have partnered with EO Charging to help Coventry’s businesses get their own workplace charging system.

EV Charging - the tricky bits

The car controls how much power to take from the charger [to protect the battery]. So, even if you connect your EV to a 7kW charger, your vehicle may not accept the full 7kW charging rate. This may be for a number of reasons, perhaps you have driven a long way, or it is a particularly hot day, and your vehicle may limit the charge rate to protect the battery.

Another important distinction is between AC and DC charging. To recap - Slow and Fast charging is typically AC, and Rapid charging is typically DC. EV battery’s charge with DC electricity. To allow charge with AC, EVs have an on-board charger to convert the AC electricity to DC before it goes into the battery. This on-board charger will have a limit to how much it can convert at any one time. What does this mean for you when charging your EV? If your EV has an on-board charger capable of converting a maximum of 7kW then this is the fastest charge rate you’ll be able to accept from any AC charger. Be sure to ask your dealer about the on-board charger when buying your next EV!