EV Charging Points
Electric Charging Points Guide
One of the first big decisions when getting an electric vehicle charging station installed at home is the level of the charging station. Charging stations typically come in 3 levels;
Level 1 Charging Station:
Level 1 chargers use a 120 V AC plug and are plugged into a standard outlet. Unlike other electric car chargers, Level 1 chargers do not require the installation of any additional equipment and tend to be mostly used at homes. Level 1 charging tends to typically give an output of two to five miles of range per hour of charge.
Level 2 Charging Station:
Level 2 electric car chargers can typically fully charge an electric vehicle in two hours, at a rate of 10-60 miles of range per hour, this varies dependent on the vehicle. These EV charging stations tend to be popular for both businesses and homeowners due to the range of miles that can be charged up in such a short period of time.
Level 3 Charge Point:
Level 3 charging stations for electric vehicles offer a very impressive 60-100 miles of charge within just 20 minutes. However, they tend to only be used in a commercial and industrial setting due to them requiring highly specialist equipment to both install and maintain, they are also much more expensive than your standard Level 1 and 2 electric charging points.
How Do I Charge My Electric Car?
When you have a charging station installed at home the process of actually charging your electric vehicle is very simple, all you have to do is lift the lid cap that covers your electric charging port and plug it in.
Once this is done you simply leave your car to charge up overnight and it will be ready to go when you next need to drive. This works both the same if you have a hybrid electric car or a fully electric vehicle. It is a simple as charging your mobile phone!
How Much Does It Cost To Get An Electric Charger Installed at Home?
The average cost of installing an electric car charging point at home is around the £1000 mark on average. However, electric vehicle owners can get a £500 government grant towards the cost of having one installed. The cost is also reduced even more by the fact that a further £300 from the Energy Saving Trust (EST), will also apply. The cost of having an electric car charger installed will also work out much better value for money if used for multiple cars from the same household.
Where Can I Charge My Electric Vehicle?
Across the UK, there has been a constant increase in the number of charging stations where you can charge your electric vehicle, and this will continue to rise as the UK continues to push for a greener future. One way in which you can monitor this very easily is through using an app called Plug Share. Through using this app, you can see where there are electric charging stations all across the UK. Not only does this help you plan your electric journey but can also optimise the usage of your electric vehicle, and ultimately reduce your travelling costs.
How Much Does it Cost To Charge My Electric Car?
The cost to charge an electric car in the UK varies between home, work and public charging. For a typical electric car with a 60kWh battery and a 200-mile range, it will cost about £8.40 to charge from home. This average cost however can be significantly reduced by using free charging stations across the UK in car parks and places of work, despite it already being miles cheaper than your conventional petrol or diesel engine.
Range Anxiety?
One of the biggest concerns that new electric car drivers have is the fear of running out of fuel. One of the best ways to overcome this issue is to plan your journey and check to see if your place of work has electric charging stations. Most companies have allocated car park spaces that owners of electric vehicles can charge their car for free.
However, if buying an electric vehicle still seems like quite a daunting idea, why not rent one of our electric vehicles and see how you get on? We will talk you through charging and give you confidence that electric cars are the future!
Next Steps
With the average EV driver doing 80% of their car charging at home, if you were seriously considering purchasing an EV, we would recommend a level 2 charging station.
Not only do they have a much more impressive and efficient charging rate, but the short charge time means that they can charge multiple electric vehicles at the same household, meaning everyone can leave for work in the mornings fully charged.
If you are looking to get one installed why not contact Pod Point, a UK leading business for home installation of charging points, (link below) where you can get one fitted and installed for as little as £449.