A Beginner's Guide to Charging Your Electric Vehicle
Making the switch to an electric car through a salary sacrifice car scheme represents an exciting but sometimes intimidating change. One of the most significant differences from traditional vehicles is how you "refuel" your new EV. This comprehensive guide walks you through everything you need to know about charging your electric vehicle - from setting up at home to navigating public networks and understanding the costs involved.
Getting Started with EV Charging
If you've just received your electric car through The Electric Car Scheme, congratulations! Here's how to get started with charging:
First Steps After Getting Your Electric Vehicle
Read your vehicle manual - Each electric car has specific charging requirements and features
Identify your connector type - Different EVs use different charging connectors
Register with charging networks - Download relevant apps and create accounts with major providers - or sign up with The Charge Scheme to use a single app and card - while saving 20-50% on the cost of charging your EV.
Plan your regular charging routine - Consider when and where you'll charge most frequently
Quick Charging Tips for Beginners
Charge overnight whenever possible to take advantage of lower electricity rates
Keep your battery level between 20% and 80% for optimal battery health
Avoid letting your battery drain completely before recharging
For longer journeys, plan charging stops before you depart - apps like ABRP, our your car’s in-built GPS will direct you to chargers along your route to ensure that your EV stays topped up
Setting Up a Convenient Charging Routine
Most electric car owners quickly develop a routine that works for their lifestyle. If you have home charging, you'll likely plug in overnight several times per week. Without home charging, you might use workplace chargers during the day or visit rapid chargers less frequently but for longer sessions. On-street charging may also be available - for overnight charging without a driveway.
Practical Advice for Your First Charging Experiences
Before taking your new electric car on longer journeys, practice charging near home. Familiarise yourself with: how to open your car's charging port, how to connect and disconnect the charging cable correctly, how to initiate charging at different types of chargers, and how to monitor charging progress through your car's dashboard or smartphone app.
This information should be readily available in your car’s manual - and should give you a clear explanation of the charging process.
Where Can You Charge Your Electric Car?
Home Charging: The Most Convenient Option
Home charging is the backbone of the EV ownership experience for most drivers who get an electric car - with most households in the UK having access to a driveway. It offers unmatched convenience and typically costs less than public charging.
Installation Process and Considerations
Installing a dedicated home charger typically involves:
Survey - An electrician checks your property's electrical capacity
Installation - Usually takes 2-4 hours
Commissioning - Testing the charger and showing you how to use it
Important considerations include: whether you have off-street parking, your home's electrical capacity, and the distance from your fusebox to your parking space. With The Electric Car Scheme - EV charger installation can be bundled into your salary sacrifice lease - saving you money, and making installation a breeze.
Types of Home Chargers
Tethered chargers have a permanently attached cable
Untethered chargers require you to plug in your own cable
Smart chargers connect to the internet for remote control and scheduling
Solar-compatible chargers can prioritise solar power when available
Fast Chargers can provide a superior charging speed at home, but are less common
Typical Costs and Potential Savings
A home charger typically costs between £800-£1,500 installed. Through salary sacrifice car schemes, some providers include installation as part of the package. The Charge Scheme can also help reduce installation costs for businesses and individuals.
By charging at home rather than using public charging, drivers typically save 20-50% on charging costs, enhancing the overall savings from your salary sacrifice electric car scheme.
Public Charging Network
The UK has over 75,000 public charging points, with new ones being added daily. These broadly fall into three categories:
En-route Charging for Longer Journeys
Rapid and ultra-rapid chargers (50kW-350kW) located along major routes are designed for quick top-ups during longer journeys. They typically charge an EV from 20% to 80% in 20-40 minutes, depending on your vehicle and the charger's power output.
These chargers are primarily found at:
Motorway service stations
Major trunk roads
Some petrol stations
Dedicated charging hubs
Destination Charging While Shopping or Dining
Medium-speed chargers (7kW-22kW) are perfect for topping up while you're doing something else, such as:
Shopping centres
Supermarkets
Leisure centres
Hotels and restaurants
Car parks
These typically add around 20-30 miles of range per hour of charging.
On-street Charging for Those Without Home Charging
If you don't have access to off-street parking, you might rely on:
Lamppost chargers
Dedicated on-street charging posts
Nearby rapid charging hubs
Local councils are increasingly installing on-street charging options to support electric car owners without off-street parking.
Workplace Charging
Many companies are installing charging points for employees as part of their sustainability initiatives or to complement company electric car scheme offerings.
Benefits for Employers and Employees
For employers:
Supports corporate sustainability goals
Attracts and retains environmentally conscious talent
Complements salary sacrifice electric car schemes
For employees:
Convenient charging while at work
Often subsidised or free charging
Extends EV usability for those without home charging
Supports the decision to choose an electric car through salary sacrifice
How Workplace Charging Complements Home Charging
Workplace charging can effectively double your charging opportunities, making EV ownership even more convenient. For example, if you charge at both home and work, you might only need to plug in at each location 2-3 times per week.
Understanding Charging Speeds and Power Ratings
What the Numbers Mean: kW and kWh Explained
kW (kilowatt) refers to the power of the charger - how quickly it can deliver electricity
kWh (kilowatt-hour) refers to the capacity of your car's battery - how much electricity it can store
For example:
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 has a 77kWh battery, so when charging on a 50kW rapid charger, it receives 50kW of power per hour.
This means it would theoretically take about 1.5 hours to fully charge (in reality, charging speeds taper as the battery fills) - and the Ioniq 5 can tolerate much higher charging speeds - giving it a 18 minute rapid charging time when plugged into an appropriate charger.
Charging Speed Examples
Let's look at three popular models available through The Electric Car Scheme:
Battery capacity: 111kWh
Maximum charging speed: 250kW
Charging time (10-80%) on ultra-rapid charger: approximately 30 minutes
Battery capacity: 52kWh
Maximum charging speed: 100kW
Charging time (10-80%) on rapid charger: approximately 30 minutes
Battery capacity: 77kWh
Maximum charging speed: 220kW
Charging time (10-80%) on ultra-rapid charger: approximately 18 minutes
Rapid and Ultra-rapid Charging Explained
When to Use Them
Rapid and ultra-rapid chargers are best used during long journeys when you need to charge quickly, or when you need a significant amount of range in a short time. Alternatively, you may need an occasional top-up if you don't have regular access to slower charging.
Typical Locations for High-power Chargers
You'll find these chargers at:
Motorway service areas
Major A-roads
Dedicated charging hubs
Some retail parks and shopping centres
Home and Destination Charging
Overnight Charging Benefits
Charging your electric car overnight offers several advantages, as it can use cheaper off-peak electricity rates, ensuring your car is fully charged each morning. Overnight charging places less strain on both the electricity grid and your vehicle's battery, and typically costs significantly less than public charging.
Where You'll Find These Chargers
Slower 7-22kW chargers are typically found at:
Homes (usually 7kW)
Workplaces
Car parks
Shopping centres
Hotels and B&Bs
Leisure facilities
Common EV Connector Types Explained
Type 2 and CCS Connectors
Type 2 is the standard AC charging connector in Europe and the UK. It's used for charging at rates up to 22kW and is found on most home and public AC chargers.
CCS (Combined Charging System) is the most common DC rapid charging standard in Europe. It adds two additional power pins below the Type 2 connector to enable DC fast charging at rates of 50kW to 350kW.
CHAdeMO and Other Alternatives
CHAdeMO is a DC charging standard primarily used by Japanese manufacturers like Nissan. It supports charging at rates up to 100kW.
Tesla Superchargers were previously only available for Tesla vehicles, but many are now opening up to other EVs. They use a modified Type 2 connector for older Tesla models in Europe, and CCS for newer models.
Which Vehicles Use Which Connectors
Most European and American EVs use Type 2 for AC charging and CCS for DC rapid charging
Some Japanese vehicles like the Nissan Leaf use Type 2 for AC charging and CHAdeMO for DC rapid charging
Older Tesla models have a proprietary connector, but newer models use Type 2/CCS in Europe
Adapters and Cross-compatibility
Some adapters are available to increase charging flexibility:
Type 2 to domestic 3-pin (useful in emergencies but charges very slowly)
CHAdeMO to CCS (rare and expensive)
Tesla to CCS (available for Tesla owners to use non-Tesla chargers)
However, not all combinations are possible due to communication protocols and safety features.
Finding and Accessing Charging Points
Finding charging points has become increasingly simple with dedicated apps and in-car navigation systems. The best EV charging apps in the UK include Zap-Map, PlugShare, and manufacturer-specific apps that help you locate nearby chargers, filter by connector type and charging speed, check charger availability in real-time, and plan routes with charging stops. Many apps have integrated payment systems for ease of use.
How to Pay for Charging Your Electric Car
Different Payment Systems Explained
Public charging networks offer various payment methods:
Smartphone apps
RFID cards and key fobs
Contactless credit/debit cards
QR code scanning
Many networks require you to download their specific app or order an RFID card before you can use their chargers. Some newer chargers offer contactless payment options for a more streamlined experience.
In instances where contactless is available - you can take advantage of The Charge Scheme - saving 20-50% on all EV charging through salary sacrifice, without the need for having many different charging apps.
RFID Cards, Apps, and Contactless Payments
EV charging cards are physical cards that you tap against a charger to begin a session. While convenient, they require signing up with each network individually. Apps offer more functionality, including finding chargers, checking availability, and monitoring your charging session remotely.
Contactless payment is becoming more common but isn't yet universal across all networks.
Subscription vs. Pay-as-you-go Models
Most charging networks offer two payment models:
Subscription plans:
Monthly fee plus reduced per-kWh rates
Better value for frequent users
Often include additional benefits like reserved charging slots
Pay-as-you-go:
No monthly commitment
Slightly higher per-kWh rates
Good for occasional users
Comparing Costs: Home vs. Public Charging
Home charging typically costs around 15-20p per kWh on a standard tariff, or as low as 7.5p per kWh on special EV tariffs.
Public charging costs vary significantly:
Slow/fast charging (7-22kW): 25-45p per kWh
Rapid charging (50kW): 45-65p per kWh
Ultra-rapid charging (150kW+): 55-85p per kWh
This means that for a typical 60kWh electric car:
Home charging: £9-12 for a full charge (200+ miles)
Public rapid charging: £27-39 for a full charge
Using Cross-network Payment Services
Some services allow you to use multiple charging networks with a single account:
Shell Recharge
Zap-Pay through the Zap-Map app
These aggregator services can simplify the charging experience but sometimes charge a small premium. When it comes to The Charge Scheme - it is free to use, and drivers can save 20-50% on all charging costs through salary sacrifice charging.
Understanding Your Charging Costs
Typical Charging Costs for Popular Models
For a home charge on a standard electricity tariff (20p per kWh):
Battery size: 55kWh
Cost for full charge: £11.00
Approximate range: 250 miles
Cost per mile: 4.4p
Battery size: 62kWh
Cost for full charge: £12.40
Approximate range: 260 miles
Cost per mile: 4.8p
Battery size: 64kWh
Cost for full charge: £12.80
Approximate range: 280 miles
Cost per mile: 4.6p
Home vs. Public Charging Cost Comparison
For a 60kWh car needing a full charge:
Home charging:
Standard tariff (20p/kWh): £12
EV-specific off-peak tariff (7.5p/kWh): £4.50
Public charging:
Fast charger (35p/kWh): £21
Rapid charger (55p/kWh): £33
Ultra-rapid charger (70p/kWh): £42
This illustrates why home charging is a major benefit for those with access to it, especially when combined with the savings from a salary sacrifice electric car scheme.
Off-peak Electricity Tariffs Explained
Many energy suppliers offer special EV tariffs with significantly reduced rates during off-peak hours (typically midnight to 5am). These can reduce charging costs by 50-70% compared to standard tariffs.
Some smart home chargers can automatically schedule charging during these off-peak periods, maximising your savings without requiring you to plug in at specific times.
Understanding Rapid Charging Premiums
Rapid charging costs more than slower charging for several reasons:
Higher equipment costs for the charging provider
Additional grid connection costs
Higher electricity demand charges
Convenience premium
The price differential reflects both the higher costs to provide rapid charging and the value of time saved.
Total Cost of Ownership Calculations
When calculating the total cost of owning an electric car through the electric car scheme UK, consider:
Monthly salary sacrifice amount (typically 20-50% less than leasing directly)
Home charging costs (typically £30-50 per month for average drivers)
Occasional public charging costs
Benefit-in-Kind tax (just 3% for 2025/26)
Road tax (£0 for fully electric vehicles)
Maintenance (typically lower than for petrol/diesel vehicles)
For most drivers, the combination of salary sacrifice savings, low BiK rate, and cheaper fuelling through home charging makes an electric car significantly less expensive than a comparable petrol or diesel vehicle.
Making the Most out of EV Charging
Charging an electric car might seem complex at first, but most drivers quickly adapt to the new routine. With home charging, the convenience of "refuelling" at home while you sleep often outweighs the occasional need to plan for longer journeys.
As the UK's charging infrastructure continues to expand rapidly and with the significant savings available through the electric car scheme, there's never been a better time to make the switch to an electric car.
By understanding the basics of EV charging covered in this guide, you'll be well-prepared to enjoy all the benefits of electric vehicle ownership through the electric car scheme UK — from environmental advantages to substantial cost savings through salary sacrifice.
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