Category: Car Charger Installation Birmingham
There are lots of benefits that come with driving an vehicle electric (EV), but as we speak to drivers about EVs every day we do understand that many people still have concerns about making the switch from petrol or diesel. Even with well-established car brands such as Mini and Vauxhall now entering the market alongside electric car innovators Tesla.
According to motoring research organisation, the RAC Foundation, around one in five job adverts require the applicant to be able to drive. With more than 15 million people regularly driving to work in England and Wales, and light vans accounting for more than 50 billion vehicle miles each year, there are plenty of people who rely on their car or van for work.
So it’s not surprising that one of the biggest issues on people’s minds usually revolves around how long it takes to charge an electric car. If you are on the road a lot or using your car or van for work you might think that charging times mean electric just isn’t for you. But you may be surprised to learn that charging up might not take anywhere near as long as you think.
How fast can you charge an electric car?
Put simply the time it will take to charge will depend on the size of your car’s battery and the speed of the charger you’re it plugging into. Illustrated in this image, using the Nissan LEAF and a home charger as an example:
There are public and home charging options available to suit your regular commute as well as those occasional long-distance trips. If you knew that you could put more than 30 miles into your car battery in just 10 minutes, (or 70 miles in 10 minutes if you have a Tesla hooked up to a supercharger), would that change your opinion on whether an electric vehicle is suitable for your job or busy life?
Although public rapid charging can be utilised on longer journeys, the majority of EV drivers will find that for their day to day driving it’s enough to plug in overnight at home, so your car charges while you’re sleeping. Car charging is just like plugging in your mobile phone, but the plug is a bit bigger, and the car isn’t on your bedside table!
Battery size
Electric cars are available in a variety of battery sizes to suit different driving needs. In terms of charging; the bigger the battery in your car, the longer it’s going to take to fully charge. The current Nissan LEAF has a 40kWh battery, whereas the Jaguar I-Pace has a larger 90kWh battery, and as a result the I-Pace will take longer to charge to it’s full capacity as it has a bigger battery to fill.
Difference in charge times for the LEAF and I-PACE: