Need to know the basics of charging an electric vehicle? Here are the key areas you need to know: which connectors to use and the speeds you can expect from different ways to charge an EV.
Electric vehicle charging is really simple, you just need to know the basics. Every EV is built with a charging point in the vehicle which requires a ‘connector’ to be plugged into it but what is the difference between charging on the road and at home? Here we break down the basic information to help you charge your vehicle.
All about connectors…
What’s a connector?
A connector for an EV is the plug, although it’s different in design to the type you’d have for a kettle or lawnmower. There are different types, and they can be plugged into sockets either at home, work, or at public charge points, as well as the vehicle.
Attached permanently to a cable, they may have connectors at both ends depending on what they’re used for.
Usually, a connector is a ‘Type 2’ which is the EU standard and used by most manufacturers. The other is a CHAdeMO connector which some, mainly Japanese, brands use however new EVs are no longer allowed to be sold with CHAdeMO connectors in the UK.
Charging in public
Public charge points almost always use the Type 2 arrangement, especially for slower charging below 50kW. Again, there are CHAdeMO versions available too. Usually you can find out ahead of time via apps such as Zapmap which cable will be used or needed at each charge point.
Some may require you to use your own cable, although sometimes they have tethered cables which are permanently attached to the charger, it’s then just the vehicle that needs to be plugged in.
For faster charging speeds, usually using a direct current (DC) for rapid charging above 50kW, your car or van’s socket will need to have a Combined Charging System (CCS). This is an extra bank of sockets below the Type 2 socket, usually fitted with a cover.
The CCS system uses both sockets in the vehicle and the connector is nearly always tethered to the charger. You simply take the handle and plug it in to both sockets at the same time.
The speed of charging points can vary. This can be because the charge point is only designed for a certain speed, or is connected to power which will only supply up to a particular level.
Sometimes though they may deliver slower charging than the advertised speed – providing 60kW when 100kW is stated, for example. This can be because many other charge points nearby are in use and there is only so much power available, or to do with the vehicle and other factors.
Charging at home
It’s likely that for home charging you will use two methods of charging. One is using a standard plug socket with an approved cable and connector to the vehicle. While the cable may have a three pin plug at one end, it’s likely to have a Type 2 connector which goes into the vehicle charging socket at the other.
For pure battery EVs, charging regularly straight from a standard plug socket is not recommended because it is much slower.
The second is using a specialist wall box charge point. Put in by an approved installer, it will deliver faster charging speeds and will either use a cable with Type 2 connectors at both ends (although the one that plugs into the charge point is slightly smaller than the one that plugs into the EV). Alternatively, there will be a cable that is ‘tethered’ to the wall box.
EVs usually come supplied with the latter Type 2 cable, although some also provide the cable which plugs into a standard socket as well.
How quickly can I charge my EV?
EVs are capable of charging at different speeds depending on several factors. Just because you’re plugged into a 350kw charger does not necessarily mean your vehicle will be able to charge at the speed and there are many reasons behind what affects the charging speed of an EV. One of which is the battery state of charge – a battery charges faster when it’s low and slows down as it fills up, due to the need to prevent overcharging and maintain battery health.
With this in mind, these are the speeds you can expect from different ways to charge your EV, and how quickly they can replenish a battery between 20% and 80% (based on a total battery size of 70kWh).
Speed: 1.5kW (Slow)
Location of charge point: Domestic plugs
20% - 80%: 24 hours
Speed: 7kW (Slow)
Location of charge point: domestic and workplace wallboxes, some public and pavement chargers and lampposts
20%-80%: 6.5 hours
Speed: 22kW (Fast)
Location of charge point: Workplace chargers, public chargers
20%-80%: 2 hours
Speed: 50kW (Rapid)
Location of charge point: Charging hubs, public chargers
20%-80%: 1 hour
Speed: 150kW (Ultra-Rapid)
Location of charge point: Charging hubs, public chargers
20%-80%: 30 minutes
Speed: 350kW (Ultra-Rapid)
Location of charge point: Charging hubs, public chargers
20%-80%: 15 minutes
There’s a lot to think about when charging your vehicle. Our solutions and tools such as the Allstar Co-Pilot app helps to make it simpler to charge on-the-road and easier to find the nearest charge point. Download our app today from the App Store and Google Play.
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