EVs have become increasingly popular in recent years, but many people may not be familiar with the process of preconditioning their car. preconditioning is a feature that allows you to set the temperature and charging level of your EV before you even get in, so that it is comfortable and has enough power to get you to your destination.
In this article, we'll take a closer look at what EV preconditioning is and the benefits it can provide.
One of the main advantages of preconditioning your EV is that it can help to save energy. By setting the temperature of the car before you get in, you can ensure that it is at a comfortable level without having to use as much energy to get there. Additionally, you can set the car to charge at a specific time, so that it is fully charged and ready to go when you need it. This can help to save time and money on charging costs. It can also be advantageous to keep your EV plugged into your EV Charger to avoid any battery drain prior to setting off on your journey.
Another benefit of preconditioning your EV is that it can improve the range of the car. This is because preconditioning can help to reduce the amount of energy the car needs to use to reach a comfortable temperature. Additionally, by setting the charging level and planning your route using charging stations, you can ensure that your EV has enough power to reach your destination.
preconditioning can be done via car's infotainment system or a mobile app, and it allows you to set the temperature, charging level, and other settings of the car so you can get into your car and hit the road without having to fiddle with settings and controls.
In conclusion, EV preconditioning is a feature that allows you to set the temperature and charging level of your car before you even get in, so that it is comfortable and has enough power to get you to your destination. It can save energy, time and money on charging costs and improve the range of the car. With the right tools and planning, you can make sure your EV is always ready to go when you need it.
Are you an electric vehicle driver in the United Kingdom looking for fast and convenient EV charging network options? If so, you may want to consider using the Ionity Charging Network.
Ionity is a pan-European network of high-power charging (HPC) stations, with over 400 locations currently operating in 19 countries, including the UK. The company was founded in 2017 as a joint venture between several major automakers, including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Ford, with the goal of establishing a network of HPC stations that could support the growing number of EVs on the road.
One of the main benefits of the Ionity Charging Network is the speed of its chargers. The stations are equipped with 350 kW chargers, which are among the fastest in the world. This means that you can charge your vehicle's battery to 80% in as little as 30 minutes, depending on the make and model of your EV. Compare that to the hours it can take to charge on a standard home charger, and it's clear that Ionity can save you a lot of time on long journeys.
Another advantage of the Ionity Charging Network is its coverage. The company currently has over 40 locations in the UK, with more being added all the time. This means that you should be able to find a charging station relatively easily, no matter where you are in the country. Additionally, Ionity has partnerships with several other charging networks in the UK, such as Polar and Pod Point, which gives you even more options for charging your vehicle.
Using the Ionity Charging Network is easy and convenient. To access the chargers, you'll need to sign up for an Ionity account and obtain a charging card. You can then use the card to pay for charging at any of the company's stations. Ionity also offers a mobile app, which allows you to locate nearby charging stations, start and stop charging sessions, and view your charging history.
One potential downside of the Ionity Charging Network is the cost. While the company offers competitive pricing compared to other HPC networks, the cost of charging your vehicle can still add up quickly if you use the service frequently. However, Ionity does offer several pricing options to suit different needs and budgets. For example, you can choose a pay-as-you-go plan, or sign up for a monthly subscription that includes a set number of charging sessions.
Overall, the Ionity Charging Network is an excellent choice for EV drivers in the UK who need fast and convenient charging options. With its fast chargers and wide coverage, the company makes it easy to keep your vehicle charged and ready to go, no matter where you are in the country. If you're an EV driver, be sure to check out the Ionity Charging Network and see how it can work for you.
Using and Ionity Charging Point - A Step-by-Step Guide
Ready to start using the Ionity Charging Network to charge your electric vehicle? Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use an Ionity Charging Station:
Using the Ionity Charging Network is a fast and convenient way to charge your EV here in the UK. With its wide coverage and fast chargers, the company makes it easy to keep your vehicle charged and ready to go, no matter where you are in the country. So, if you're an EV driver, be sure to give the Ionity Charging Network a try and see how it can work for you. We've also reviewed the Instavolt charging network too check out our review.
The UK Government already introduced grants for electric vehicles (EVs) more than a decade ago, but as more and more people are turning away from gas-guzzlers towards low-emission vehicles and electric cars, the government changed their grant scheme to be more incentivising.
If you are hoping to switch to an EV and are wondering about the costs and grants available for EV chargers, then read on.
With several grants available for 2023, it can be overwhelming to understand them all. Read on to learn about the different EV charger grants for 2023 and how you can apply.
The EV Chargepoint Grant Scheme replaced the previous Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS), which was shut down in March 2022 (more on that in a bit).
The main goal of the EV ChargePoint Grant is to make it more affordable to purchase an electric vehicle and charge it at home instead of having to seek out costly public chargers.
With this grant, you can receive up to 75% of the cost of the purchase price and installation of an EV charge point at home. The grant is capped at £350 for each installation.
There are some eligibility criteria for this grant:
A qualified EVHS installer will go through all the details of your application to ensure you are meeting all the eligibility criteria, and the installer will then apply for the grant on your behalf. You will receive an invoice for the installation minus the grant amount that you applied for.
When the grant is approved, the qualified EVHS installer will receive the funds, and you will be responsible for paying the rest.
All grant claims are processed by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) in a period of 30 working days.
You can learn more about the EV ChargePoint Grant on the government's website.
The Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) is another grant scheme offered by OZEV.
This scheme is aimed at charities, businesses as well as the public sector for the installation of EV chargers at their premises, should the eligibility criteria be met.
The WCS grant allows workplaces to reduce the cost of purchasing and installing charge points by up to £14,000. Similar to the EV ChargePoint Grant, individual chargepoint installation is capped at £350, and the WCS is a voucher-based scheme.
Not only is the WCS a great incentive for companies to switch to electric vehicles, but there are additional tax incentives as well. Drivers using an EV can save up to £2,000 annually thanks to tax reductions.
Here is how the WCS works:
There are certain eligibility criteria that must be met:
You can apply for the OZEV Workplace Charging Scheme and find out more on the government's website.
Although the EVHS has been replaced by the EV ChargePoint Scheme, you do not have to stress if you have already applied for the EVHS. Electric vehicle grants applied for under the EVHS that are under review do not have to submit a new application, and the EVHS remains open to resubmissions of applications until the end of March 2023.
Here are the main criteria for eligibility for the OZEV grants:
All fully electric vehicles are eligible, but hybrids must have CO2 emissions lower than 50g/km to be eligible.
The hardware costs £500 to £1,000, and installation can cost another £350.
Installing an EV charger can be expensive, but fortunately, the government has plenty of grant funding available for residential, commercial and public authorities to ease the financial burden.
If you are ready to get your EV charger installed at home, make sure to contact EV Domestic for all your installation requirements.
Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly popular. Alongside that, the accompanying technology is becoming more advanced. This includes the ways in which you're able to pay for the electricity that you use.
EV charge cards are very convenient and can be used at most public charging stations in the UK.
We'll take a look at the different EV charge cards and how to use them. We'll then compare the best EV charge cards currently available.
RFID Electric car charging cards are one of the ways that you can pay to charge your electric car. Many electric car charging points allow you to pay by credit or debit card. Some of them also accept Google Pay and Apple Pay.
This is the case for fast chargers, rapid chargers, and ultra-rapid chargers.
Some charge points use a combined charging system, and some only use electric vehicle charging cards.
EV charge cards can be tapped on a reader like a contactless card. However, the way in which charges are taken is not the same as a contactless card.
Generally, you need to set up an account online that's linked to your charge card. Depending on the charge point operator, you may also have access to subscription services. Operators like BP Pulse offer discounted rates to subscribers.
Personal cards and access apps are used to pay for an individual's charging costs. Many EV charging networks require you to have a pre-registered RFID card or an app. Usually, you need to have a different card or app for each charge point network.
Unfortunately, this means you might end up with a lot of different apps and cards. Still, it's a small price to pay to reduce your carbon footprint!
Fleet cards are used by fleet operators. Charge cards are an efficient way for their drivers to top up their vehicles when they're out on the road.
There are fleet cards which are linked to certain charging point brands. There are also fleet cards that work across several networks.
One example of a fleet card is the Shell Recharge card. This gives fleet operators access to 250,000 EV charge points within Europe. This service is also available via the Shell Recharge app.
The Allstar One Electric card works across multiple networks, such as Genie Point, Osprey, ESB Energy, and Source London.
Business owners can issue workplace RFID cards to their employees so that they can charge their electric cars on-site. This also allows business owners to determine how much their employees are charged.
This can be used to incentivise the use of EVs and reward employees for good work.
The frustrating thing about charge cards and apps is that you need so many different ones. Currently, some operators are developing universal cards. These cards can be used across several networks.
There are few options at the moment, but this looks likely to change in the near future.
Like most people, you probably associate Shell with oil rather than EV charging solutions. However, in 2017, Shell acquired Newmotion. This is one of its biggest acquisitions within the EV charging world so far.
Shell Recharge Solutions now gives customers access to more than 300 charging points across Europe and the UK.
The Shell Recharge app is very handy and has lots of useful features. These include charge point profiles and charge point maps. You can also use it to control charging sessions from your phone.
The charge points profile feature is particularly convenient. It allows you to view details such as status updates and charging speeds. So, you can make sure those ultra-rapid chargers are still as rapid as they should be!
The Shell Recharge app is great, but it does take some time to learn how to use it. Alternatively, you can use a card or keyfob, which simplifies the process.
The main downside of Shell Recharge is that it charges a transaction fee of 35p. However, this is capped at £20.
Electric Juice is a unique EV charging card. It can be used to pay for charging sessions over numerous charging networks. This means you can use it at charge points run by several of the biggest operators in the UK.
Instead of paying each time you charge your electric car, you pay for your charge sessions monthly. This is done via direct debit. If Octopus Energy also supplies energy to your home, you can combine the two monthly bills into one payment.
The Electric Juice app is one of the best smartphone apps for EV charging. It allows you to modify your account, see the locations of charge points, and view previous charge sessions.
However, you're unable to start and stop charge sessions remotely. This is a useful feature that's included in many competing apps.
Still, even without this feature, Electric Juice is the easiest card to use in this list. Payments are automatic, and there's no need to alter your account once it's set up. The fact it's a universal card also gives it an edge over most of its competitors.
You may have already used Zap-Map to find charge points across the UK. Now, you can also use Zap-Pay to pay for sessions at various charging points. Unlike Shell Recharge and Electric Juice, Zap-Pay doesn't feature a physical card. To use it, you need to download the Zap-Map app.
This app has many of the same features as the Shell Recharge and Electric Juice apps. It also has a route planner, which is a really useful tool.
The big downside of Zap-Pay is that its access to charging networks is pretty limited. Currently, it's not even close to competing with Shell Recharge or Electric Juice in this area.
So, it's unwise to rely on Zap-Pay as your sole charge card.
Signing up for Zap-Pay is really easy. Once you have a Zap-Map account, you just need to add a bank card, and you can start paying via the app.
Bonnet has only been operating in the UK since 2021. It's also only available as a smartphone app. Like the other apps in this list, it has a profile viewer and a charge station locator. It also has an innovative CO2 tracker.
Bonnet is the only service on this list that charges a flat rate of 35p per kWh. However, it does offer refill packages. This allows you to buy refills on a monthly basis which makes it less expensive to use public charge points.
If you don't use up the energy you paid for by the end of the month, then it rolls onto the next month.
A monthly BP Pulse subscription costs £7.85. This gives you discounted rates when you charge your vehicle at a BP Pulse charging station. BP Pulse currently has over 9,000 public stations across the UK.
Yes, there are several ways in which you can be courteous when using public charging stations. They include:
Yes, it's very safe to sit in your EV whilst it charges. The risk of electrocution is really low as EVs are designed to ensure your safety. Chargers are also designed to safely transfer high levels of electricity to your vehicle whilst you're inside it.
When it comes to a winner, it's hard to separate Shell Recharge and Electric Juice. The former gives users access to more charging stations than any of the other cards in this list. However, Electric Juice allows customers to pay at charging stations across different networks.
Overall, we think that Shell Recharge just about comes out on top. Still, as more suppliers sign up to Electric Juice, it will probably start challenging for the top spot soon enough.
Zap-Pay and Bonnet are both handy apps, but they're also fairly limited. For now, we'd recommend getting a variety of EV charge cards. That way, you'll have access to as many public charging points as possible.
The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) was replaced by the Electric Vehicle Chargepoint grant on 1, April 2022. Understandably, this has led to some confusion as to who is still eligible for funding.
The grants previously offered to landlords, and business owners have also now changed.
Fortunately, many of the requirements are still the same, and if you've already applied to the EVHS scheme, then you don't need to apply to the new scheme.
In this guide, we'll take a close look at who is eligible for the new grants and exactly what you'll get if you apply. The OZEV grant is still easy to apply for and will go a long way to helping you install one or more EV chargers.
If you own or rent a flat, then you can get OZEV grant funding of either £350 or 75% of what it costs to purchase and install your charger. You'll be given whichever works out as the lowest amount. Check out our post on current EV charger grants in 2023
In order to be eligible for the Electric Vehicle Chargepoint grant, there are certain criteria that must be met. There are different requirements relating to the owner, the vehicle, and the property.
If you've already applied to the scheme, the Domestic Recharge Scheme, or the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme, then you can't claim again. However, if you own two electric vehicles then you can claim from the scheme in order to install a second home charger.
You can't apply for the grant if:
If you move to a new property that has an old charger and you want to upgrade it, you can claim the EV charge point grant as long as you haven't claimed it before.
In Scotland, the Energy Saving Trust can offer extra funding to people looking to install electric vehicle charge points.
To receive the government grant, one of the following vehicle requirements must also be met:
To be eligible for the Electric Vehicle Chargepoint grant, your property must also fulfil some requirements:
To be eligible for the grant, you do need to have dedicated off-street parking. This includes private off-street parking that is co-located with the property or located separately from it.
If your parking space is separate from your property, then you'll need to be able to prove that you're legally allowed access to it at all times.
Your installer will also need to carry out an inspection to make sure that your parking space is suitable for an EV charger.
If you own one or more properties other than a flat, then there are two different types of OZEV grant that you can apply for. You can apply for the EV Chargepoint grant and the EV Infrastructure grant. You can apply for both grants for the same property.
The EV Chargepoint grant gives you either £350 or 75% of the full cost of buying and installing a charger. You can apply for up to 100 grants for commercial properties and 200 grants for residential properties within a financial year.
If you need funding for the infrastructure required for installing multiple chargers, then you can apply for the EV Infrastructure grant. This will cover 75% of the costs or up to £30,000.
You can apply for 30 of these grants during a financial year.
If you own a small or medium-sized business, then you can also apply for an EV Infrastructure grant. This grant covers 75% of the costs of installing charge points, installing charge point infrastructure, and installing the infrastructure needed for future charge points.
Each grant has a maximum limit of £15,000. For each charge point that's installed, you can claim up to £350. For each parking space that's fitted with charge point infrastructure, you can receive up to £500. You're able to apply for 30 different infrastructure grants in a financial year.
To be able to apply for the grant, your business can have no more than 249 employees. Your business must also be either a public sector organisation, charity, or a UK-registered company.
OZEV stands for the Office For Zero Emission Vehicles. They're a dedicated team that works across government and are tasked with supporting the UK's transition to zero-emission vehicles.
This means supporting the adoption of electric vehicles and providing funding through grants for EV charge points.
The type of documents you need to provide to get the grant varies depending on which grant you're applying for. Some examples of the documents you'll need include the following:
A lot of progress has been made in bringing down the costs of buying and installing EV chargers. However, it can still be fairly expensive. Luckily, the various OZEV grants can support you to install one or more chargers in your home, properties, or business.
As the requirements for each grant are fairly extensive, we recommend visiting the UK Government's site so you can get the full details before applying. But, don't worry; applying is straightforward and doesn't take long to do.
Switching to an electric car from a petrol or diesel car is one of the best ways to reduce your carbon footprint. It's also a great way to save money. Charging an electric car costs less than re-filling a diesel or petrol car, and in many cases charging an electric car is free.
In this guide, we're going to take a look at where you can charge your EV for free in the UK. This'll give you all the information you need to reduce the costs of charging your electric car.
Scotland currently leads the way when it comes to free electric car charging in the UK. Electric car owners in Scotland have access to the ChargePlace Scotland network operated by Transport for Scotland.
This vast network includes many free charging points, making it fairly easy for electric vehicle owners to charge their vehicles for free.
Rural areas in places like the Channel Islands and Wales have the least free charging points in the UK. This is due to lower levels of population density when compared to cities like London.
However, local authorities in places like Yorkshire and Greater Manchester are planning to increase the number of EV charging points. This is to encourage the use of electric cars.
Cities with high population densities such as London and Manchester have far more free charging points than rural areas.
Although it's becoming easier to find a free charging point anywhere in the UK, you still shouldn't completely rely on them. The majority of electric car charging stations in the UK still cost money to use. Free charging points will also usually be in high demand so you may have to wait a while to use them.
If you're staying at a B&B or a hotel then it's quite common for them to have a free charge point. These free charging points are reserved for guests. There's also a charity called ZeroNet which supplies the leisure and hospitality sector with free electric car chargers.
Many visitor attractions in the UK also have free EV charging points. Some examples of attractions that often have free-charge points are leisure centres, garden centres, zoos, theatres, museums, and National Trust properties.
The most likely locations where you'll find free chargers are public car parks. This also includes workplace and retail car parks. Many companies have started to install free charging points in their car parks to encourage their employees to use electric cars.
There are some supermarkets in the UK with free EV chargers. Aldi, Lidl, and Sainsbury's all offer free charge points to their customers. However, supermarkets such as Asda, Morrisons, and Waitrose don't have free chargers.
Tesco used to offer free charging at its fast charging points but from November 2022 customers will now have to pay to use them. Tesco's rapid charging points have never been free to use.
The two different types of charging for electric vehicles are DC and AC. DC is the type of charging that's used by rapid chargers. AC is used in destination charging as it's slower than DC charging.
There are four main types of EV charging points that are used in the UK. So, let's take a look at each one.
Ultra-rapid charge points charge at 100kW or above. They're the fastest type of charging points and can fully charge an electric car in about 20 to 30 minutes. They're usually found in charging hubs or on motorways. As they're the fastest EV charging points, they're usually not free.
A rapid charging point uses DC and can charge an electric car to 80% battery capacity within 20 to 40 minutes. Although these chargers don't tend to be free it is possible to find free rapid charging points. Currently, it's easier to find a free rapid charge point in Scotland than in other areas of the UK.
Fast charge points are often found in public car parks and supermarkets. Depending on the capabilities of the specific charging point it can take between one to six hours to charge an electric vehicle. Fast chargers are often free to use making them an economical choice.
Slow chargers are usually used as home chargers as they take a long time to charge a vehicle. It can take between six to twelve hours to charge an EV to full when using a slow charger.
Destination charging points are often free to use and are typically fast charging points. Depending on the type of vehicle you have, a destination charging point will add between six to thirty miles of range for each hour that you charge your vehicle.
Tesla has a network of destination charging points around the UK. You'll find them in places such as car parks, hotels, and restaurants. As long as you have a Tesla and are a customer of the business then these chargers are free to use.
However, you may still be charged for parking at the business whilst you top up your vehicle. So, always make sure that you check this first.
One of the biggest free charging networks in the UK is operated by Pod Point. None of its public EV chargers has connection charges or subscription fees. The locations where you'll find Pod Point's free chargers include Mcdonald's, Tesco, Lidl, and Premier Inn.
The vast majority of car dealerships have rapid chargers on-site. These are used for charging their own vehicles and customer vehicles. Generally, customers will be allowed to use these chargers for free.
Dealers will also often allow customers who bought vehicles from them to charge their vehicles for free.
The Scottish government runs ChargePlace Scotland and the network now includes over 2,168 EV charging points. Most of these chargers are free to use for network members.
The easiest way to find the locations of these free charging stations is to visit the ChargePlace Scotland website. Here, you can view the numerous locations and find the ones that are most convenient for you.
If you bought a Tesla Model S before 2017 then you will have unlimited, free access to the Tesla supercharger network. This means that you can use any of Tesla's rapid charging stations in the UK for free.
Other Tesla owners have access to the Tesla supercharger network at discounted rates. You may also be able to use their rapid chargers for free for a certain number of miles. This depends on the type of deal you received when you bought your Tesla.
A lot of ChargePoint EV chargers are free to use in the UK. Still, there are many that you need to pay to use. The best way to check this is to download the ChargePoint app which allows you to check which chargers are free to use. You can also do this on the ChargePoint online map.
How long it takes to fully charge your electric car depends on the battery size and the type of charger you use. Most electric cars have a 60kWh battery which takes about eight hours to fully charge when using a 7kW charger.
If you're using a 50kW rapid charger then it usually takes around 35 minutes to add 100 miles of range to your car's battery.
Morrisons charges a standard rate of 35-39p per kW hour to charge an EV. Unlike some charger networks, there is no monthly subscription fee.
One of the biggest advantages of owning an electric car is the amount of money you save on fuel. EVs are far more cost-efficient than vehicles with combustion engines and by using free charging points you can save yourself even more money.
They may still not be too common in rural areas but free charging points are steadily becoming more accessible to all areas of the UK. This is a trend that is certain to continue and is great news for EV owners all over the country.
Are you considering installing an EV charger in your home?
Are you thinking about upgrading your current one?
If so, you'll most likely be wondering which type of charger you can have installed. A 22kW three-phase charger is the most powerful charger that you can install at home. However, there are certain factors that will determine whether you can have one installed.
In this guide, we're going to take a look at all you need to know about 22kW three-phase home chargers. You'll be able to decide if this type of charger is right for you and work out if you can have one installed.
In terms of speed, a 22kW charging point is better than a 7kW EV charger. A 7kW home EV charger charges your electric car at a maximum rate of 7.4kW. This is the most common type of home charger, and a single-phase electricity supply is needed for one to be installed.
A single-phase electricity supply is the most common type of electrical supply found in residential properties in the UK. So, as long as your existing electrical supply is sufficient then you can have a 7kW charger installed at your home. If your existing supply is not suitable then this can be upgraded by your DNO or you can have a charge point with G100 Active Load Management installed to ensure you do not exceed your house supply capacity when charging.
A 22kW home EV charger is able to charge your electric vehicle at a rate that's three times faster than a 7kW charger. This massive charging capability saves a lot of time, but you do need to have a three-phase electrical supply at your home to have one installed. Having a fast car charger like this will certainly make charging a breeze.
A three-phase electricity supply has a far greater power rating than a single-phase electricity supply, but it's not usually found in residential buildings. A three-phase supply is more commonly found in big commercial buildings.
Electric cars can be charged at home using a number of different chargers. The speed at which your electric vehicle is charged depends on the charger output, the power source, and the charging capacity of your electric car.
The most common types of home charging points are:
In order to have a 22kW EV charger installed in your home, you need to have a three-phase electricity supply. These are rarely found in residential properties in the UK. They're usually only found in commercial or industrial properties.
This is why the majority of EV drivers charge their electric vehicles with a 7kW home charger.
If you want to upgrade your power supply to a three-phase power supply, then you can apply to do so through your Distribution Network Operator. However, this can be costly, and the price to upgrade ranges from £3,000 to £15,000.
If you're planning to have a 22kW EV charger installed at home, then you'll need to check that you have a three-phase power supply. Fortunately, this is an easy thing to check.
First, locate your fuse box or meter. Open it up and look inside. If you have a single-phase power supply, then the power will enter your home or meter through a single fuse. This means you should only see one wire.
If you have a three-phase power supply, then the power will enter your home or meter through three fuses. This means that you'll be able to see three wires. If you have this type of power supply, then you're all set to have a 22kW EV charger installed in your home.
Another factor you'll need to consider is whether your electric vehicle can actually be charged with a 22kW 3 phase EV charger. Most electric cars are still unable to be charged at a maximum rate of 22kW.
For example, the Tesla Model 3 can be charged using a 22kW charger, but it will not charge at a rate that's higher than 11kW. This is because 11kW is the vehicle's maximum charging capability.
Some examples of electric cars that can take full advantage of a 22kW 3 phase car charger include the Renault Zoe and the Audi E-Tron 55.
To be able to use a 22kW three-phase charger, you'll need a Type 2 charging cable. This is the standard format of cable for most models of electric cars.
You can tell if your cable is a Type 2 cable by checking how many pins the connector has. There should be seven holes in total, with five at the top and two at the bottom. If the holes at the bottom don't contain pins, then the cable can only be used for single-phase charging.
To be able to use a cable with a three-phase power supply, there will need to be pins in all seven holes.
Auto power balancing is used by home EV chargers to reduce the rate of charge at times when your home is using a high amount of energy. This is to prevent the electrical supply to your home from becoming overloaded.
Once more power becomes available, your home charger automatically returns to the fastest rate of charging.
There are several different types of public charging points which include slow, fast, rapid, and ultra-rapid chargers. The power ratings of these chargers range from 7kW to over 100kW. Ultra-rapid chargers are usually found at charging hubs or motorway service stations.
Rapid chargers, which charge at 22Kw, are fairly common and can be found at many locations across the UK.
How quickly a 22kW three-phase charger will charge your electric car depends on the type of electric car you have. The Renault Zoe is one of the most popular electric vehicles in the UK and is often used as a guide.
When using a 22kW three-phase home charger, the Renault Zoe can be charged in less than two hours.
Your electric car must be able to accept AC charging in order to use a 22kW charger to its full capabilities. If your EV can't accept AC, then there's no point in installing a 22kW charger at home.
Most EV owners want to be able to charge their vehicles at home as quickly as possible. The best way to achieve this is to use a 22kW three-phase home charger.
However, most homes in the UK use single-phase electricity supplies. Upgrading your home to a three-phase power supply is expensive, but it might be worth it to achieve the fastest charging rates possible.
The rise of Electric Vehicle (EV) sales has been well reported and Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) now account for over 20% of new car sales in the U.K. However, knowing how and when to charge up remains a common worry for most. Unlike petrol or diesel powered cars, EVs require a little more planning to guarantee you have enough juice to get to your destination.
An EV charger helps keep your battery full. Both electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid units use a charger to recharge their on board battery, like in most electronic devices. Here are some things EV owners should know about how an EV charger works.
An EV charger delivers electricity to the vehicle's battery from the grid (or your own generation if you’re lucky enough to have it). Your car then stores the electricity to power its electric motor in a large battery pack.
A home EV charger is a relatively straightforward piece of kit. It is connected up to the main electrical supply in your home and can deliver up to 7.4kW AC in most homes. The charger makes sure that it is safely connected to a vehicle and responds to the vehicle's request(s) for charge.
The EV charger delivers the power to the car as AC and the car then uses it’s own on-board charger to convert this AC electricity to DC electricity in order for it to be stored in the battery.
Unless you choose to rely solely on the public charging network then you will need some method of charging your car at home. But that doesn’t mean you have to have a dedicated home charger. There are ‘00s of EV owners up and down the country that just use the 3-pin plug or ‘granny charger’ at home and are really happy with it, indeed many of our customers use the granny charger for a short period of time before having a dedicated EV charge point installed. The main things to be aware of if you want to just use a 3-pin plug are:
99% of domestic home charge points can deliver 7.4kW of power to your EV. This equates to approximately 25-30 miles of driving range equivalent per hour of charge. In short, if you plug in an empty EV at night it will be fully charged before you wake up.
Some homes have what is called a Three Phase supply which means they can have a 22kw charge point installed (3x the power of a 7.4kW charge point).
One of the factors affecting the charging speed of your electric vehicle is the size of its battery. The bigger your battery capacity, the longer your car will take to charge.
Your battery's state also determines how much time your EV takes to charge. If empty, your electric vehicle will take longer than when topping up from 60%.
A maximum charging rate for all EVs limits the speed you can charge your car. It means charging a 7Kw max charge rate battery on a 22Kw will not charge any faster.
Electric vehicle charge points also have a maximum charging rate. It affects the time your EV takes to charge by limiting the charging speed, even if your vehicle supports a higher voltage.
Extreme changes to the environment also affect your EV charging speed. Your car might take longer to charge at a colder ambient temperature, especially when using a rapid charger. Electric vehicles are less efficient during colder temperatures, adding fewer miles as you charge.
You can charge your electric vehicle, provided you install a compatible home charger. A home charger allows you to enjoy EV ownership while eliminating all the charging-related stress. It is also safer, cheaper, and more convenient than public chargers.
The only challenging part of charging your electric vehicle at home is the charger installation, which may require professionals. After installation, you must plug the connector into your car's inlet and give it time to charge. Overnight charging is the best since it allows you to take advantage of off-peak demand pricing.
An EV charger is necessary to establish a safe, fast and cheap electric vehicle charge, and EV domestic has you covered. We are a company specialising in EV charger installation in homes around the country. Contact us today about an effortless electric vehicle charger installation.
The Myenergi Zappi home charger may have many features that make it appealing, but is it really worth the investment? One of its most appealing factors to us Brits is that it is manufactured right here in the UK. Above that, some of its key features are solar integration, an LCD control panel, and the ability to choose between tethered or untethered. Plus, no earth rod is required for use.
Zappi is one of the most popular smart home chargers in the UK. Homeowners and electricians alike love it for its reliability.
Being EV Charger Installers we've commisioned many of these devices. In this review, we'll take an objective look at the Zappi charger to help you determine if it's the right electric vehicle charger to suit your needs.
The Zappi surprised us. Function sometimes triumphs over appearance, as the Zappi demonstrates beautifully. It is strong in most areas and surpasses expectations.
You can set up your own charging schedules, which can be set to suit your own preferences. You also have the option to charge with 100 percent solar power or a mixture of grid and solar energy.
The app can be a little tricky to get used to and it’s important that the CT Clamps are set up correctly in order for it to work properly. Your Zappi will need an internet connection to its built in ‘Hub’ which can be a little tricky to set up and get connected but we’re on hand to help with this.
Not only is the build quality exceptional, but because of its design, you can wrap the charge cable around the outside of the Zappi to store it, making a neat solution to cables left draped across the floor after use.
The Zappi is quite a straightforward charge point to install. It normally needs a space about the size of an A3 piece of paper but due to the clever fixing points it can also be installed on something as narrow as a fence post if needed. It’s important that the Zappi is connected to at least one CT Clamp (set to ‘Grid’) which will be either hard-wired into the Zappi or set up wirelessly using a Harvi.
The electrical installation is relatively simple as the Zappi has most of the required electrical protection built into it including internal protection against the loss of the protective neutral and earth (PEN) conductor and a built-in 30mA Type A RCD and 6mA DC RCD protector.
Installation of this product is easy and only requires 3-4 hours, including time for drilling holes, testing and cleaning up.
The Zappi charger is a classic British designed and manufactured electronic device produced by Myenergi and is something of a national treasure in the EV world.
The functional design is robust and long-lasting rather than flashy or attracting attention. It's available in white with a light grey body, or black with a light grey body.
Both colour palettes appear nice and are pleasant and inoffensive to the eye. The form is really quite unique. Its smart design allows for simple stowage of the cable, which has been a challenge for other charging points.
The Zappi measures 439 x 282 x 122mm which is quite a size for a home charger.
The Zappi’s large form factor means it doesn’t blend in with its surroundings, but truth be told most people won’t care because the Zappi is a breeze to use.
The front panel hosts an LCD display (backlight activated by tapping on the charger) and four control buttons, which let you control charging and view charger information at the charger. The Ohme Home Pro does this as well, and we wish more chargers did.
The display is easy to read in direct sunlight and dims itself when not in use. The only sign the charger is on, ready to charge, or charging is an RGB LED indicator on the front of the charger. It's simple but effective.
The case is made from acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA), which is fully recyclable, so I have no concerns about the unit being repurposed in the future. The enclosure is IP65 rated, so it is considered weatherproof and suitable for almost all installations.
The Zappi is available tethered or untethered. There are reasons you may choose one over the other.
I've opted for a tethered solution and can have my EV charging in less than 90 seconds.
The tethered Zappi is less obtrusive than the untethered, but the latter has a cleaner design. The tethered's smart cable tidy hides the charging end by wrapping it around the unit and plugging it into the body - locking it in place.
The Zappi can be charged using either single-phase or three-phase power, with charge speeds of up to 7kW single-phase and 22kW three-phase.
The 7kwZappi will add 25 miles of range per hour, most electric cars with batteries under 60 kWh can be fully charged in as little as 9 hours while larger battery packs may take up to 12 hours to completely recharge. My little Honda E takes just over 4 hours to charge from zero to 100%.
The Zappi is known for harvesting solar power to charge up your EV, and it does not disappoint. With 100% solar power generated from roof-top solar panels (or a combination of solar and mains), you can easily go greener than ever before.
The Zappi has two ECO charging modes to automatically adjust the charging current in response to on-site generation and household power consumption, making sure that you are always using the most efficient method possible.
With 100% solar, the Zappi will charge your car with whenever your solar panels produce excess solar power that your home can't use. For example, after running the house and heating the hot water, My Zappi tops up my EV which varies but is often 2 to 5KW (depending on the weather).
The Zappi charger is a cinch to use. You can set up charge schedules to make power available when you need it and lock the charger from the unit or the App.The lock feature requires a PIN number to be entered before the unit can be operated).
The charger has three charge modes (ECO, ECO+, and FAST) with the ability to utilize fast charging for the ECO and ECO+ modes. You can either control the charger with your smartphone through the Zappi app or do it all directly from the charger itself. The LCD display readout on the charger has a clear menu system that you can toggle between using four buttons.
The charger features three charge modes (ECO, ECO+, and FAST), allowing you to use fast charging for both the ECO and ECO+ modes. You can manage the charger with your smartphone via the Zappi app or do it all from the charger itself. The LCD readout on the charger has a straightforward menu system that four buttons lets you toggle between easily.
The Myenergi app is hit-or-miss. It's pretty simple to understand, fast and easy to use, but it doesn't contain all of the settings available on the charger display panel.
For example, you can't lock and unlock the charger from the app, and there are no profile options.
Another challenge is that you can't go lower into minutes or hours on charging graphs; as a result, face value information is all you get.
However, it does provide a glance at charging data, set timers, utilise boost functions, and prioritise your myenergi devices. The app is attractive to the eye; we just wish it had all of the information and features that we require.
Myenergi's customer support is amazing, quickly resolving complaints and responding to queries often on the same day. You can request a return or report faults online, as well as submit warranty claims. They also have a published phone number (0333 300 1303) that you can call for help.
The Zappi is a fantastic smart home charger. It's British made, has a long lifespan, is solar, wind, and micro-hydro integrated, and is available tethered or untethered. It fulfills all of my requirements for an EV charger.
Buying a new EV is an exciting experience. However, it doesn’t come without its stresses. With all the different options on the market, it’s no wonder that you’re left thinking, ‘which EV home charger is right for me?’. Don’t worry though, because you’re not alone. This is probably the question we get asked most by our customers, so we’ve put together a comprehensive EV home charger buyer’s guide. By the end of this post, you will be confident in deciding which EV home charger is right for you. If you have any more questions, please do get in touch and we’ll be happy to help you in any way we can.
Before going through what you do need to consider when you choose your charger, there are a couple of things you don’t need to consider.
The first is the home chargers’ rate of charging. It’s important to remember that all home chargers will charge your car at the same rate. While there are one or two exceptions to this, over 95% of our installations are for 7kW chargers using 32amps of current. This equates to roughly 30 miles of charge added to your car’s battery for each hour of charge. This will comfortably give you a full battery in the morning if you’re charging overnight. You might see some chargers advertised as 3.6kW or 22kW, but these are very rarely installed. In fact, less than 1% of domestic properties in the UK can support 22kW chargers.
The second thing to remember is that almost all home chargers work for almost all makes and models of electric vehicles. Except for the pre-2018 Nissan Leaf, every widely available EV uses a Type 2 charging cable. Every EV home charger either has a Type 2 charging cable permanently attached (‘tethered’) or has a Type 2 socket which your vehicle’s charging cable plugs into (‘untethered’).
So, there’s no need to worry about the charging rates or the cable types of your EV home charger. That makes life easier! But what do you need to consider? Our customers focus on six main factors:
Let’s take a look at each of these, in turn, to help you decide which EV home charger is right for you.
The price of the charger can make or break your decision. That’s why we are as transparent as possible with our pricing and will match equivalent quotes on any of our chargers. Take a look at the starting prices for each of the chargers we stock, from least to most expensive:
OHME Intelligent Wall Charger (Tethered) - £590.00
EO Mini-Pro v2 (Untethered) - £645.00
MyEnergi Zappi v2 (Untethered) - £790.00
Andersen A2 (Untethered) - £1045.00
This is a simple overview to give you an idea of the price points for each charger. It should be kept in mind that extra expenses will arise whether you decide to upgrade to a tethered version of the charger or remain with the untethered version. The prices above (for all except the OHME) refer to the untethered versions of the charger. If you want to upgrade to a tethered version, it will cost between £40 and £80 more depending on the charger. While the untethered option might seem more attractive because of its lower starting price, it’s important to remember that you will need to buy a separate cable to attach to your untethered charger. These usually cost around £120, making the tethered chargers the more economical choice in most cases. Keep this in mind when making your decision. For a more comprehensive breakdown of what each charger can cost, click here.
When choosing your charger, you’ll (obviously) want to make sure that the cable can reach your car. It’s important to think about where you want your charger to live and how far away your car’s charging port will be from that location. Take a look at the lengths of each charger’s cable to get an idea of what will work for you.
OHME Intelligent Wall Charger – 5.5m
EO Mini-Pro v2 – 5.5m
MyEnergi Zappi v2 – 6.5m
Andersen A2 – 6.5m-8.5mIf at closest, your car’s charging port will be 6m away from the charger, then you might struggle with the OHME or EO’s shorter cable lengths. The Andersen offers the flexibility of different cable lengths and an impressive 8.5m reach, which might seal the deal for some people.
Most properties in the UK have either a 60 Amp or 100 Amp main fuse. When having a new EV home charger fitted, the maximum amount of electricity that the property is likely to use at once (the ‘Maximum Demand’), increases by 32 Amps. We, therefore, recommend that customers who have a 60 Amp main fuse have this upgraded before getting their charger installed. This is usually done free of charge by your electricity network operator. If you don’t want to/can’t upgrade your main fuse before getting your charger installed, then don’t fret! You’re not all out of options. All chargers now have the ability to limit the load capacity, albeit this will cost you extra on the EO Mini and the Andersen. This will ensure that your charging rate slows down to below the Amp threshold when it needs to. To find out more about the suitability of your property, get in touch today.
When considering which charger is right for you, you’ll also want to pay attention to compatible electricity tariffs. Every EV home charger that we install comes with the ability to schedule charging to suit your needs. This is usually done through an iOS or Android App. This means that if you’re on a tariff that gives you better rates at certain times, then you can schedule your charging to coincide with this.
The exception to this is if you wanted to move to the Octopus Agile tariff. This tariff requires your charger to be able to choose the cheapest 30-minute segments that are available for charging. Needless to say, having this smart ability will save you money in the long run while still leaving you with a full charge the next morning. If you’re after one of these tariffs, then the OHME Intelligent Wall charger is for you.
If you’re lucky enough to have a Solar PV on your roof, then you’ll be wanting to use this to charge up your car. It’s a great feeling driving around on free power! Technically, all chargers will run off a solar PV system (just like your kettle), but the myenergi Zappi is definitely the best charger for solar integration. It will let you prioritise solar charging when the sun is shining and will let you ‘trickle’ charge when it’s a little more overcast. If solar charging is high on your list of priorities, the Zappi might be the charger for you.
With all the technical aspects and special features offered by these chargers, it’s easy to forget to consider their looks! Are you looking for a small, neat, and unobtrusive charger? If so, then the EO Mini-Pro might be right for you. It’s the smallest charger available, at 17cm x 13cm x10cm (about the size of a bag of pasta). Or are you looking for a sleek, aesthetically pleasing charger? The Andersen A2 (we think) is the best-looking charger on the market, coming in several different finishes to match your property. To find which charger is right for you, take a look at the pictures on our charger pages here. Alternatively, check out our Instagram here where we post pictures of our latest installs regularly. Also having an app to help maange the charging of your EV when it comes to last minute EV preconditioning or a quick top-up - from the comfort of your own home.
So, how do you choose an EV home charger? Which charger is right for you? First, you need to ask yourself what your priorities are. If price is your main concern, or you’re set on having an intelligent charger, the OHME might your best bet. If you have a larger budget and want a charger with a beautiful design, the Andersen A2 will stand on top. In practice, no one charger will be right for everyone. If you understand your priorities and use the information provided in this post, we are confident that you will find the charger that is right for you. If there’s anything else you’re concerned about, or if you have questions about our charging solutions, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
