ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT EV CHARGING AT HOME

Switching from the conventional fossil fuelled vehicles to electric is an exciting step towards a greener world.

However, new EV users usually don’t consider having a charging station at home, leading to dangerous and slow charging at home.

In previous years, electric vehicles have faced issues from critics due to limited mile range, and lack of accessible charging points. Thankfully, battery technology surrounding EV is rapidly advancing.

EV charging can take anywhere from 3 minutes to 12 hours, however there are many factors that affect the charging speed, such as battery size and speed of charging point.

What types of EV charging are there?

Electric vehicles use DC (direct current) to charge, but the national grid delivers AC (alternating current).

EV charging is a simple design, working similarly to other household chargers, e.g., your mobile phone or laptop charger and just like different phones, depending on the model and brand depends on the connector needed. So, knowing if you need type 1 or type 2 socket is important.

What the best way to charge my EV and make the most out of the battery life?

Like all batteries they deplete overtime, but whilst a laptop and phone battery can be damaged from consecutive charging, EV batteries won’t. This is because of the advanced safety systems used to prevent damage from too much fast EV charging. Most EV’s can acknowledge when there is too much power being administered and will lower the charge.

However, there are many factors that can affect the charging speed:

Battery size – Although this seems basic, it is important to acknowledge that the bigger the battery, the longer it will take to charge. It is advised to top up charge rather than charging from empty to increase speed.

Maximum charge rate of the vehicle – Many people may want to speed the process up by buying faster charging points. However, this can be redundant as your car can’t reach the charging points maximum rate.  Check your maximum charge rate, before buying a faster charging point.

Environmental factor – In cooler climates, charging can take a little longer and the vehicle may also run less efficiently. This can lead to a few extra miles being added to every journey.

How long will it take to charge my car from home?

The length of time to charge your EV will depend on all the variables mentioned above. However, to give a guideline, generally a 60kWh charging car will take approximately 8 hours to completely charge from empty using a 7kW electric charger. The 7kW electric charger is one of the lowest options, Flowing Energy Solutions stock 7-22kW.

How much will it cost in electricity?

The cost will depend on the size of the battery and electricity rates charged by your supplier. Currently it will cost around £20 for a full charge of a 60kWh car battery at an electricity rate of 0.34p per kWh, whereas many public super charging points cost over 0.66p per kWh.

FAQs

Why would you choose a slow charger for home?

Rapid chargers are the fastest type of electric charger, and they are usually found at motorway services. Fast chargers can be seen at supermarkets, car parks and leisure centres, whilst slow chargers are the usual choice for domestic properties as homeowners can charge their electric vehicles overnight whilst energy prices are lower.

Where can I install an EV charger?

If you’re installing an electric vehicle charger at home, you can get the device fitted in the following locations:

• Your garage
• An outdoor wall of your home
• Off-street parking

Most businesses get EV chargers installed in company car parks.