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For many people, concerns over being able to keep an electric vehicle fully charged are among the major reasons for avoiding making the switch. However, the UK-wide network of public charging points continues to grow at a rapid rate, with nearly 19,000 locations providing more than 50,000 connectors. In addition to these public settings, there’s also home charging solutions that will help replenish the battery in an affordable and efficient manner, with government grants also available to make the cost of installation even better value. You can learn more about charging and the benefits of choosing an electric vehicle with Birchwood today.
With the popularity of electric vehicles growing at a rapid pace, and the ongoing fluctuations in price of petrol and diesel, more and more motorists are embracing the innovative technology available. To support such growth, UK energy suppliers are creating a UK-wide infrastructure of compatible charging points, enabling everyone to enjoy access to suitable solutions no matter where their adventures take them.
Found in locations such as supermarket car parks, petrol and service stations, public charging points offer fast - and, in some cases, ultra fast - charging, meaning you can reach a high level of charge in just a few minutes. What’s more, the cost of using these is a fraction of the cost of petrol or diesel, meaning you will be able to secure exceptional value for money.
The variety of charging networks ranges from the likes of Ionity to Tesla, Osprey to E.ON. What’s more, you can access details of the closest charging point for you via suitable smartphone apps or using the in-car functionality (where available).
Most electric vehicles come equipped with a standard charging cable and adaptor that will let you connect to a traditional electrical outlet. However, this is often not the most practical solution, so having a high-quality dedicated charging point installed at home is ideal. Since most vehicles are parked at home overnight, these points are most efficient when running through the night when electricity charges are lower, enabling you to top up the battery in the most affordable way possible.
All charging points should be installed by an OLEV authorised professional, such as CDS Electrical, who are local experts in the fit of wall boxes and charge points. In order to keep the cost related to installation as minimal as possible, the government-funded Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) provides grants up to the value of 75% of the charge point and installation cost, with a maximum limit of £350. With many chargers costing between £250 and £800, such a grant will prove a welcome source of funding.
Most home charging points come in one of two power rating options - 3kW or 7kW. The larger of the two units is the quickest to achieve a full charge, providing a model such as the Nissan LEAF with full capacity in approximately six hours.
Spending eight hours per day at work means that your vehicle sits idle for a long time. As such, being able to use this time to charge your vehicle is ideal, which is why the government introduced the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS). Similar to the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS), this initiative provides funding for the installation of charging points at the workplace, with grants of up to £350 per socket at 75% of the total cost of installation available.
A maximum of 20 charging points can be installed at a workplace, enabling employees and clients to take advantage of suitable solutions. All charging points need to be installed by authorised OLEV installers, and should have a need declared for them on application, such as an incentive to increase the uptake of electric vehicles among employees.
Various charging solutions are available for workplaces, with the need to offer a versatile option to suit as many needs as possible vital. Among the most popular, therefore, is a wall-mounted Type 2 7kW charger which is compatible with most electric models and can charge a vehicle fully in less than seven hours.
Deciding to make the switch from petrol and diesel power to electric is one that requires careful consideration, with a number of factors impacting the decision. From purchase prices to savings on running costs, better environmental performance to improved maintenance fees, there’s a number of reasons to change from combustion engine power to electric.
It’s hoped that over the course of the next few years, all motorists will make the switch from traditional fuel power to electric, thereby helping reduce the dependency on fossil fuels and limiting the harmful CO2 emissions being released into the atmosphere. As such, there’s more and more choice among the vehicles that are available, driving purchase prices down and giving you more control over the models you select. There’s also plenty of other benefits available including the following.
