Ready to charge your Electric Vehicle at Home?
F.A.Q.
Frequent Questions
Can I Charge my car with a standard 3 pin plug?
Charging an electric car requires a high and consistent electric current over a long period of time. It is generally considered that a standard electrical socket is not suitable for such a prolonged period
of use and overheating of the socket may occur.
Will an electric vehicle increase my electricity bill?
In short, the answer is YES, but not by much and will still save money compared to the cost of fuel. In addition, there are a few specialist electric car energy tariffs which can save you even more money.
What does ‘Socket-only charger’ and ‘Untethered Charger’ mean?
A socket-only charger means there is no charging lead included/attached. This means you can use both Type 1 and Type 2 connection leads, but you will need to purchase these leads
separately if they did not come with the vehicle. These types of chargers are described as untethered and sometimes as a “Universal” charger. Some people prefer the flexibility an
untethered charger offers, while other like the convenience of the cable already being attached when they get home.
Is it safe to charge my electric car in the rain?
Short answer – yes! It is perfectly safe to charge an electric car in the rain. Most of us know that water and electricity don’t mix. Luckily so do car manufacturers and EV charge point makers. Car manufacturers waterproof the charging ports in their vehicles to ensure that users don’t get a shock when plugging in.
EV charge points, unlike conventional electrical sockets, don’t start emitting an electrical current until both the vehicle and the charge point have established a firm connection with each other after which it locks the cable on both ends forming an insulated barrier between
you and the current.
Do I need to have off road parking to be able to have a charge point, I live in a mid-terraced property, can I run a cable across the pavement?
As it currently stands, there is no law prohibiting this, but currently it is at the discretion of your local council. Some will state explicitly that it is not allowed, others will say it is ‘not recommended’. Check with your local council to be on the safe side. Many councils will not
give a direct answer but will point you in the direction of Section 162 of the highways act 1980, which states that: ‘A person who for any purpose places any rope, wire or apparatus across a highway in such a manner as to likely cause danger to persons using the highway is,
unless they prove that he had taken all necessary means to give adequate warning of the danger, guilty of an offence and liable to a fine’ Loose cables can be a trip hazard so it is a good idea to use a cable protector and ensure that the cable runs flush with the pavement as you could be liable for any accidents. There are accessories available on the market by companies like ‘Stormguard’ which provide cable channels, however, this will mean alterations to the pavement which will need to be applied for to your local council.
How long does it take to charge my electric car on a 3-pin plug vs a dedicated wall charger?
Generally speaking, the higher the power output of the charger, the faster the car will charge. For example, a 2.3kW 3 pin plug typically takes more than 20 hours to fully charge an electric vehicle,
while a typical 7.4kW dedicated wall charging device will comfortably charge the average electric vehicle overnight (usually within eight hours) Charging times do vary depending on conditions, the
current battery level of the vehicle and the vehicle type itself.
What is the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 chargers?
For charging at home, Type 1 and Type 2 are the most used connections between the charger and the vehicle. The charging type you will need will be determined by your EV. Type 1 connectors are currently favoured by the Asian car manufacturers such as Nissan and
Mitsubishi, while most American and European manufacturers such as Audi, BMW, Renault, Mercedes, VW and Volvo, use Type 2 connectors. Type 2 is rapidly becoming the most popular charging connection, though. Type 1 connectors have a five-pin plug and Type 2
connectors have a seven-pin plug.
Are there enough chargers available in the UK to allow me to charge my car?
The UK has an extensive network of public charging locations, with more than 22,000 places to fast or rapid charge. The network still needs to grow and improve, but with large companies like Shell and BP pledging to install chargers at their petrol station forecourts, the
infrastructure is constantly being evolving and growing.
To find public chargers near you, or on your route, try using Zap Map this is a useful tool and app to show the location of chargers, their speed, availability and if they are operational or not.
Do I need planning permission to install a charge point at my property?
In most cases, no. You may need to apply for permission if you live in a listed building, a
conservation area or your charger will be within two metres of a highway.
Will I be able to charge my car using my solar panels?
Some chargers are set up to enable you to divert unused electricity from your solar panels to your EV instead of exporting it back to the grid. Chargers that allow solar charging are flexible enough to allow you to charge at a lower power rate when your solar panels are
generating, and a higher power rate at other times, such as overnight.
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If you are curious to know how much it will cost to install an electric charging point at your house then please fill out the form below and one of our account managers will be in touch with you as soon as possible.
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