Back to School: Electric Car Charging

School is back in session. This week, we’re looking at electric car charging. I know, I know, you all know all about charging electric cars, just stay with me. The truth is, if you get your education from the media, you’re not getting a real education! Nowhere have I seen more scaremongering than in media coverage…

What’s the First Thing to Know About Electric Car Charging?

With electric car charging, the first thing to remember is that most times it is done at home or work. So, instead of your weekly pilgrimage to the petrol station, simply plug it in when you get to your destination!

Can You Think of Anything Simpler?

Pretty much every home with a charger on the drive will give 20 miles of range for every hour it’s plugged in. Some newer homes can charge faster, but let’s think about that…

This means that while you eat, shower, and sleep – let’s say between 8 pm and 6 am – you’ll get 200 miles of range added. Yes, 200 miles! Okay, okay, one question at a time. Yes, there is a huge selection of very affordable electric cars on our scheme. And yes, much of these can indeed cover 200 miles between charges! Better still, if you charge overnight and opt for an off-peak tariff, it’s only around £5 for the 200 miles! As well, while you get ready in the morning, you can pre-heat your electric car via your EVs app!

When You Have 200 Miles Charge, How Often Will You Need to Charge on the Road?

Our research indicated that people who travelled over 200 miles in one day did this around 5 times a year. The great news is that when you do have to charge, it’s so simple! Albeit with some safeguards that you wouldn’t have to worry about with petrol or diesel…

There are over 30,000 public charge points in the UK, increasing by nearly 30% year on year. You’ll always bump into them, in car parks, hotels, gyms, and even supermarkets! On motorways, they’re in use less than 5% of the time! However, you can’t just show up without doing your homework!

What Kind of Electric Car Charging is Available?

Typically, there are 3 charging connectors used in the UK and chargers with different speeds. Generally, the faster the charge, the more it will cost. Don’t worry though, there are some cheats to make the whole thing much easier. Apps such as Zap-Map will plan a route for you when you stray to the edge of your range, it can even plan a route where you can charge for free! As well, with Apple’s iOS 14 update, Apple Maps will now show charging stations on your route! With the right cable kind of charger to suit your car too!

If You’re Not a Planner…

Just remember that virtually every motorways service has fast chargers. Though, you should aim to charge when you have 50 miles left in the tank rather than 5. That way, if the points are full (or worse case faulty) you can just carry on to the next services.

Like your first smartphone, it’s important to acknowledge there is a little learning curve with electric cars. In the next lesson, we will cover the thrills of actually driving them! And hey, it’s worth noting that, like a smartphone, once you’ve made the move, you’d never go back…

Download a guide!