Electric cars are becoming more widely recognised as a viable daily mode of transportation, with numerous advantages for both individuals and businesses, and are no longer limited to the technologically advanced and environmentally aware. One of the most significant benefits of driving an electric vehicle is the positive impact it can have on our climate. Since pure electric vehicles do not have an exhaust pipe, they do not emit any exhaust gases, reducing harmful emissions, particularly in congested cities. Electric cars are a viable option for municipalities seeking to enhance air quality and improve the health and quality of life of their citizens.
If you’re thinking of buying an electric car, then you may be wondering how, when and where you’ll charge it. Even though there are many electric charging stations popping up all over the UK, there are still rural areas that don’t have one nearby – or at least near enough to justify driving there to charge your car.
More and more people are choosing to install car charging stations at home to charge their electric cars to solve this issue. Around 80% of all electric car charging takes place at home, so making sure you have the right technology to make charging as easy, fast, and affordable as possible is important. To make the process as easy as possible, we’ve put together this overview that will address all of your questions about the various charging methods for electric cars.
How To Install A Car Charging Station At Home
Electric cars often charge throughout the night. This is due to the fact that many EV owners charge their cars at home when they sleep. While you can charge your car with a standard 3-pin plug, most EV owners prefer to use a home charging unit because it is much quicker.
Installing a car charging station at your home isn’t something any regular joe can do. You will need a qualified electrician to fit your car charging station to ensure it’s safe for not only you, but everyone and everything in close contact.
You won’t have to rely on public charging stations as much if you have your own charger, and it’ll save you money. So, how long does it take to charge an electric car battery with a proper charging point, how much do they cost, and how do you fit them?
It’s important to remember that you can only have an electric vehicle charging point installed if you:
- Own the property, or you have permission from your landlord
- Have your own off-street parking
- Have a WiFi connection at home
Here at EV Solutions, we are an independent installer therefore we can offer a wide range of charge points to suit your specific needs. All of our charge points are smart connected giving you full control over your charger. We are OZEV Authorised installers so you could receive £350 off the cost of the Charger and installation. You can read more here about the grants available for electric vehicle owners wanting to install car charging ports at home.
You can charge your electric car as much as you want at home. It can be charged similarly to a mobile phone, with a full charge overnight and a top-up during the day if necessary. Although most drivers do not need to charge every day, many do so out of habit, giving them full versatility should they need to make an unexpected journey. Also, charging your car overnight allows you to take advantage of lower electricity tariffs, meaning you could be driving for as little as 2 pence per mile.
In addition, overnight charging ensures that the car’s battery is fully charged each morning for the day ahead. With a dedicated home charger, you don’t need to unplug until the battery is full; charging will stop automatically.
How To Charge A Car Battery At Home
Installing a Charge Point at your home allows you to charge your electric vehicle quickly and easily. You should have a home charging point built where you park your electric car to charge it at home. A dedicated home charging point is commonly preferred by drivers because it is quicker and has built-in safety features. A home charger is a small weatherproof device with a charging cable or a socket for plugging in a portable charging cable that mounts to a wall. Trained specialist installers, such as EV Solutions,will come to your home and install dedicated home charging points. Once the car charging point is installed, you simply plug in and let the charger do all of the work.
How Long Does It Take To Charge An Electric Car
All electric cars will come with a standard three-pin charger to charge your car. However, these chargers are very slow and can take up to and above 24 hours to charge your electric car – depending on the size of the battery.
With a fitted home car charging station, you would have a 7KW Mode 3 charger at your home which can fully charge your vehicle in around 6 hours at a rate of up to 30miles/hour of charge. Your vehicle’s onboard charger can have a maximum charging speed limit. Using a 7kW charger on a car that supports up to 3.6kW charging would not damage your car. Since the time it will take to charge your electric car will vary because of its model and size, here’s some information to help you gain a better understanding of what to expect.
It can take as little as 30 minutes or as long as 12 hours to charge an electric car. This is dependent on the battery’s size and the charging station’s speed.
- With a 7kW charging point, a standard electric car (60kWh battery) takes just under 8 hours to charge from empty to full.
- Most drivers prefer to top up their battery rather than wait for it to recharge from empty to full.
- With a 50kW rapid charger, you can add up to 100 miles of range to several electric cars in under 35 minutes.
- The bigger your car’s battery and the slower the charging point, the longer it takes to charge from empty to full.
Is there anything else that could affect how long it takes to charge my car battery?
There are a few factors to take into consideration when thinking about how long your car battery will take to charge, such as:
1. Battery capacity: The larger the battery capacity (measured in kWh) of your car, the longer it will take to charge.
2. Battery level (empty vs. full): If you’re starting from scratch, it’ll take longer to charge than if you’re starting from 50%.
3. Vehicle charging rate maximum: You can only charge a vehicle’s battery at the highest charge rate it supports. If your vehicle’s maximum charge rate is 7kW, using a 22kW chargepoint won’t make it any quicker.
4. Chargepoint maximum charging rate: The maximum charging rate of the chargepoint you’re using would also restrict the amount of time it takes to charge. On a 7kW chargepoint, for example, even though your vehicle could charge at 11kW, it will only charge at 7kW.
5. Environmental factors: When using a quick charger, a colder ambient temperature will make charging take a little longer. Since cars are less effective in colder climates, less miles are added per time charging.
So, while there are environmental factors that could come into play, you’d typically be looking at between 6 and 12 hours of charging from your home car charging station – assuming the battery was completely empty.
How Much Does It Cost To Charge An Electric Car
Charging an electric car at home is the most convenient and cost-effective way to keep your car completely charged, costing on average (for the UK) just £9.20 for a complete charge. The majority of drivers choose to charge their electric car overnight, waking up to a fully charged battery. As mentioned earlier, those that choose to charge their cars overnight will also take advantage of cheaper electricity tariffs, giving them prices as little as 2 pence per mile.
In the UK, the average domestic electricity rate is about 17p per kWh. A 60kWh electric car can be fully charged for between £9.00 and £9.90 (depending on where you live) and has a range of around 200 miles.
Of course, these prices may vary slightly depending on where you live in the UK, but the price point won’t be far off these estimates. And, compared to the price of petrol and diesel, it’s a complete no-brainer!
Contact EV Solutions For Home Car Charging Stations
As you can see, there are many advantages to installing a home car charging station in your home. For more information on installation pricing, or for any other general enquiries, contact EV Solutions on 0191 5976780 or email us at info@EVSolutions.uk. Our experienced and dedicated team will be more than happy to help assist you with any home car charging needs you have.
