How do I charge an electric car?
The biggest concern for PCO drivers considering an electric car is charging. But with the rapidly growing infrastructure and charging apps available - it's very easy.
Here's everything you need to know:
Different types of EV chargers.
There are 4 main types of chargers, take a look at each one:
Home 3-pin charging
Plug directly into your house's mains using a 3-pin socket.
This is the slowest way to charge.
Average cost: 23p per kWh (source).
Power: 2 kWh
Time to charge:
up to 24 hours
Public slow charging
These use the type 2 charging cable in your EV's boot.
You get the cheapest rates if you use these overnight.
Average cost: 57p per kWh (source).
Power: 3-22 kWh
Time to charge:
up to 10 hours
Home charging point
If you have a driveway, this is the easiest and cheapest way to charge.
Just contact your electricity provider and get a charging pod fitted.
Average cost: 23p per kWh (source).
Power: 3-22 kWh
Time to charge:
up to 10 hours
Public rapid chargers
This is the fastest way to charge, but also the most expensive.
Don't rapid charge more than 1-2 times a week as it can damage your battery health.
Average cost: 74p per kWh (source).
Power: 22-150+ kWh
Time to charge:
25-45 minutes
How to make your electric range go further.
Take a look at some tips to get the maximum range in your electric car:
Use heated seats when you don’t need to heat your whole car.
Avoid using the heater or air conditioner when you don’t need it.
Use regenerative braking, which re-uses energy that would be wasted.
Go easy on the accelerator.
Drive in ECO mode.
How far can you go on a single charge?
WeFlex only offer electric vehicles with substantial ranges of 250-377 miles. You may only need to charge 2-3 times a week. Take a look at our EVs.
This map shows you just how far you can go from WeFlex HQ on a single charge:
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How much does charging an EV cost?EV charging tariffs differ depending on the speed of the charger, and the company you use. Here's an example of the average cost* to charge an EV using 'PodPoint' chargers: Home charging: £17** (8.08p/mile) Public chargers: £26*** (12.69p/mile) During your on-boarding with us, we take you through everything you need to know about charging. As an Uber driver, you get also get a complimentary bp pulse subscription, which gives you access to exclusive charging rates, starting as low as 27p/kWh on the bp pulse owned network, saving at least £90 per month. * For a typical electric car with a 60kWh battery and ~200 mile range. **Costs calculated at 32p/kWh based on usable battery of ~54kWh (90%). ***Costs calculated at an average rate of 48p/kWh as of May 2023, based on usable battery of ~54kWh (90%).
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How do you charge an EV?There are 3 main ways to charge an EV: Rapid charging: This is the fastest way to charge but is also the most expensive. However, we suggest rapid charging your car no more than once a week as this can damage the battery over time. Home charging: If you have a driveway at home, this is the most economical method. Simply get a PodPoint installed and plug your car in whenever you’re at home. Public slow chargers/lamppost chargers: These are the cheapest form of public charging and the most common. They can be found at most petrol stations, as well on many residential streets. Find one near you.
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How long does it take to charge an EV?It depends on the speed/power of the charger you use, as well as the battery size of your EV (larger size = longer to charge). Look at our breakdown for charging an MG ZS*: Home pod charging: 8 hours Public lamp-post charger: 8 hours Public rapid chargers (20%-80%): 20 minutes *Based on PodPoint estimates, charging time can differ based on the ambient temperature, the state of the battery (e.g. empty or half full) and variation in charging rate. Max charging rate may also be limited by the vehicle.
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Where can I charge my EV?As of the end of January 2024, there were 55,301 EV charging points across the UK, 18,628 of those being in London (source). There are many apps which help you find charging points near you, their availability and their power. These include: ZapMap Octopus Electroverse Instavolt BP Pulse Shell Recharge
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Will my range drop in winter?You can expect your range to drop during colder weather. This is because the cold causes the chemical reactions within the battery to slow down, which makes the battery less efficient and therefore provides fewer miles of range. However, this is only temporary, and will increase again when cold weather passes. You can even expect your range to increase above normal when it is hot!
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How much electric range do I need?In a day, our customers drive on average 87 miles.This means that even with our lowest-range EV at 250 miles, you only need to charge every 2-3 days.
Charging FAQs
If you have any questions, get in touch with our team or come and visit our London Showroom.