Back in 2019, the UK Government first announced their commitment to ban the sale of all new petrol and diesel cars by 2030. As a result, today, there are over half a million low emission vehicles on UK roads, indicating that our country is well on its way to achieving our goal of being a carbon-neutral country by 2050.
While electric vehicle sales continue to increase, many drivers yet to make the switch have some practical concerns about charging electric vehicles (EV). After all, if you run out of juice, it’s not like you can walk to your nearest petrol station and fill up a fuel container to take back to your abandoned car.
However, the truth is that there are loads of charging options for EV owners. Better still, they are growing in number every single day. So let’s take a quick look at how you can charge your vehicle when at home, work, or on the move.
Workplace EV Charge Points
If your car spends most of the day parked in your office car park, you could benefit from workplace EV charging. More businesses are using the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) grant to install charging stations for their staff and visitors. The Workplace Chargepoint Scheme (WCS) allows qualifying businesses to claim up to £10,000 for a maximum of 40 workplace charge points.
Generally, the charge point at your workplace will have the same charging speed as a standard home EV charger and will use the ‘Type 2’ EV charge point connector. Depending on the unit installed, your workplace charging can start by plugging in your vehicle. Other workplaces might ask you to swipe a RFID card or start the charge using an app on your mobile phone.
Workplace charging is ideal to top-up your battery, but you should not rely on it as your primary EV charging method. Some companies limit their employee’s charging time to ensure that all employees can enjoy the EV charge points provided. If your battery is flat, you could need up to eight hours to fully charge your battery, which might not be possible if there are several EV drivers at your workplace.
Destination and Public EV Charge Points
More businesses, such as supermarkets, are providing free EV charging to encourage customers to visit their premises. The government and local authorities are also helping public EV charge points across the UK, some of which offer high speed charging.
The charge points at public locations generally offer 7kW charging, which allows for about 20-30 miles of driving per hour. When you visit a public charge point, you might have to book your charge using an app downloaded on your smartphone. You should also remember to bring your own charging cable.
If you’re taking a long-distance trip and your battery is running low, you could use a high power rapid charger to get the range you need to complete your journey. You can find rapid chargers at motorway service stations across the UK, but they tend to be expensive.
The rapid EV chargers allow for 43-350kW charges using a cable tethered to 43kW per unit or more. When you visit a rapid EV charge point, you won’t have to bring your own cable as the motorway service unit will have one that fits your vehicle.
Home EV Charge Point
A Home EV charge point is the most convenient way to charge your electric vehicle. You can install your home charger on your drive, or you can get a wall-mounted charger box installed instead.
Some EV drivers choose to charge their vehicles using a standard 3-pin plug. However, charging using your socket and a 3-pin plug has safety risks and takes a lot longer to charge your car.
Home EV charging units, on the other hand, allow for charging speeds up to 30 miles per hour driving range. Your smart EV charger will also allow you to control when your vehicle charges and for how long. The charger can be controlled using a smartphone app and will even allow you to monitor your energy consumption.
Most home chargers come with a ‘Type 2’ connector or have a cable attached, which lets you plug in your car conveniently for overnight charges.
Why Choose Applegarth for EV Charge Point Installation?
At Applegarth, we understand that making the switch to electric vehicles can be both exciting and daunting. There’s a lot to learn, and changing your everyday habits, such as how you drive, does come with questions.
We have been helping our customers navigate renewable energy solutions for nearly 15 years. As an Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) approved installer, we can provide high-quality workplace, public, and home EV charge point installation. We can even assist with your OLEV grant application.
Get in touch with us today, and one of our experienced team members will walk you through the EV charge point installation process.
