CHARGING

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WHAT CHARGING OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE?

With the nation’s charging infrastructure growing at a rapid rate, and home charging becoming a more popular option, we wanted to explore some of the essential aspects behind charging electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).

METHODS OF CHARGING YOUR EV & PHEV

WOKPLACE CHARGING

For businesses looking to improve their environmental impact and expand their green fleet, workplace-charging schemes are becoming a popular option. This is partly due to the convenience of employee cars being able to charge most of the day but mostly due to the Government’s Workplace Charging Scheme, which provides support towards the initial costs of purchasing and installation.

PUBLIC CHARGING

STATIONS

There are many public charging stations across the UK, divided between companies that offer national or UK-wide coverage. For example, one company may only install charging stations in specific counties, whereas others will install them all over the country.
Most of these public charging stations are free to use, but a small number require payment before you can plug in your vehicle. These tend to be a connection fee, price per time, price per energy used or a combination of them all.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO CHARGE AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE?

Below is a brief summary of types or charging and connectors.
GKL Leasing are pleased to partner with Zap-Map who provide details on charging locations but also useful calculation tools for charging EV and PHEV’s

Where to Charge with Zap-Map

Charging Tools and Calculations

01. SLOW CHARGING

If you or one of your drivers is charging a battery that’s completely “empty”, then a full slow charge will take approximately 6-12 hours to complete, since the slow charging connectors have a rate of 3kW.

02. FAST CHARGING

With a rate between 7kW and 22kW, 7kW charging can take approximately three to five hours to fully charge, whereas 22kW charger, one to two hours. The vast majority of public charging stations offer 7kW (Type 2) rate of charging, but they can also be installed at your business.

03. RAPID CHARGING

Rapid charging is seen as an answer to EV and PHEV charging anxiety. Whilst the most common seen fast charging is the Tesla Model S which you can expect to recharge to 80% of power in as little as 30 minutes using the 43kW to 50kW charger. Other than an Outlander, Plug-in Hybrid vehicles tend not to use Rapid Charges as they do not have so much of an immediate need.

It is important to remember, as with most technology that recharges from electricity, the maximum charge rate will vary according to the manufactures on-board charging capability.

DIFFERENT CONNECTORS FOR DIFFERENT VEHICLES

We all understand from day-to-day usage of electronic technology that different equipment can have different charging connectors, and the same is true for EVs and PHEVs.

01. SLOW CHARGERS

Slow chargers can use either a 3-Pin 3kW AC, a Type 1 (J1772) 3kW AC connector, a Type 2 3kW AC (Mennekes) connector. Type 2 being the trend for most slow and fast AC applications and public charging.

02. FAST CHARGERS

The vast majority of fast charging stations use the Type 2 7-22kW AC charging connectors, but some may still use the Type 1 7kW AC connectors.

03. RAPID CHARGERS

Rapid chargers have been built as either AC or DC currents. DC rapid chargers use a CHAdeMO 50kW DC or a Combined Charging System (CCS) connector at 50kW, whereas the more uncommon AC charging points use the Type 2 connector 43kW AC. Tesla have their own Supercharger Network 120kW DC charging on a Type 2.

DO YOU NEED ADVICE ON CHARGING POINTS?

Then arrange a free call back today to speak to a member of our team to discuss your query in more detail.

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