We Install EV Charging Points for domestic and commercial customers
The future is electric cars. Electric mobility and the popularity of electric passenger vehicles has been growing rapidly over the last decade and this trend doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. However you measure it—EV sales, EVs on the roads, government EV mandates, EVs as a percentage of all vehicle sales, or simply vehicle manufacturers making electric mobility pledges – it’s undeniable that the future is electric and the age of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles is coming to an end.
Considering the Switch?
Whether you’re in the market for your first electric car or you’re considering upgrading, it’s only logical that you’re comparing your options. One of the major differences between owning an EV and a traditional vehicle with an internal combustion engine (ICE) is how you fill your proverbial tank.
We’re aware that switching from filling your tank to charging a battery can be a daunting transition, but did you know that the majority of current EV drivers don’t encounter any problems at all when it comes to charging their vehicle? In fact, being able to charge your battery is one of the best things about driving an electric car. The biggest difference between driving petrol or diesel and electric is that when you’re driving electric, you can charge anywhere.
EV Benefits
As a society, electric vehicles can help us reduce carbon emissions and build a more sustainable future. But as drivers, EVs provide us far more than the ability to reduce our carbon footprint.
More cost savings, a superior performance and a smaller carbon footprint. For one, EVs offer a superior driving experience; instant torque and smooth handling (thanks to a low centre of gravity). And let’s be honest, the convenience to charge wherever you park is a perk you can get used to faster than your average charging session. Next to this, EVs require a lot less maintenance than conventional ICE vehicles.
EV Charging Locations
It may sound obvious, but with a fossil-fuel powered vehicle, you can pretty much only fill up your tank at a petrol station. With an electric car however, you can charge your vehicle pretty much anywhere: at home, at the office, at a restaurant, whilst doing your shopping, whilst parked on the street, or you can top-off your car’s battery at a (no-longer aptly named) petrol station.
So the decision of getting an electric car and thinking about how to charge it go hand in hand. However, because it works a little differently than what we’re all familiar with, it can get quite confusing, especially because there are many new definitions you have to wrap your head around.
We Install Zappi EV Chargers
The adaptive EV charger that takes power from the grid, solar or wind
Being the first-ever solar EV charger of its kind, our innovative team has carefully designed features and functions to give you complete control of your electric car charging experience. Paired with the myenergi app, you can set timers to utilise economy tariffs with our electricity provider. You can also use the boost function, monitor your devices, and so much more! A future proof, intelligent electric car charger conceived and evolved in the UK. For enquiries and installations, please contact us
EV Charging with a 3 Year Warranty and 3 Charging Modes: Eco, Eco+ and Fast
Zappi provides you with tailor made charging to suit your lifestyle and demands. Whether you need a “fast” charge to get you going in a hurry, or are happy to wait for your charge to take place using 100% renewable energy. zappi gives you the flexibility to charge on your terms.
For Zappi EV Charging Installations…
Set Timers
At certain hours ‘time of use energy tariffs’ are significantly cheaper. With zappi, you can use the ‘boost timer’ option to start charging at times with the lowest rates. It’s a cost-saving charging alarm clock for your EV!
No Earth Rod
Zappi is the only EV charger with built-in PEN fault technology. It’s the safest choice for an electric car charger, eliminating the need to install additional earth rods means no extra costs & an easy install.
PV Charging
Zappi works in harmony with your Solar PV or wind generation, meaning you can charge your car using green energy for free. If you haven’t got a renewable energy source at home, zappi works just like any other charger in ‘fast mode’.
Remote Access
The myenergi app allows you to access and control your devices from anywhere in the world! Visual graphs allow you to monitor your import/export information all in one place.
Pincode Protected
A 5 digit pin code is a security feature integrated into this smart electric car charging point, should you wish to use it. It prevents people from changing your settings or using your solar EV charger without permission or tampering.
The five most-popular car charging locations
The number of publicly available charging points is steadily increasing and will continue to do so to keep pace with the rapidly growing adoption of electric vehicles across the world. So in the future, as charging stations become more common fixtures on streets the world over, there will be charging points everywhere. According to a recent mobility monitor report, where thousands of EV drivers were interviewed (and potential EV drivers) across Europe, these are the five most popular places to charge an electric car in the UK:
1.
Home Electric Car Charging
With 68 percent, charging at home takes the crown of being the most popular compared to other charging locations.
Not surprising, as charging at home conveniently enables electric car drivers to wake up to a fully charged vehicle every day, and ensures that they do not pay a penny more than the electricity they actually consume against the household’s electricity price.
2.
At Motorway Services & Petrol Stations
Charging at home sounds nice, but what if you’re on the road and looking for a quick top-up? Many fuel retailers and service stations are starting to provide fast charging (also known as level 3 or DC charging) services, with just about half of current EV drivers already charging their car up there regularly. Plus, while charging at home is convenient whilst you do other things, it can take hours before the battery is recharged. However, with fast charging stations, you can charge your battery a lot quicker (think in minutes, not hours) and be back on the road in no time.
3.
Retail Locations or Hotels
Just under half of EV drivers also charge their car at retail locations—if the service is available to them. Think of the convenience: imagine watching a film, having dinner, meeting a friend for a coffee, or even doing some shopping and returning to a vehicle with more charge than you left it with.
More and more retail locations are discovering the growing need for this service and are installing charging points to meet the demand and acquire new customers.
4.
EV Charging at Work
In the UK 43 percent of current EV drivers already regularly charge their car at the workplace and many more have stated that they would love to be able to do so, and who wouldn’t? I mean, driving to the office, focusing on your work during business hours, and driving home again after the day is done in a fully charged vehicle sounds super convenient.
As a result, more and more workplaces are starting to install EV charging points as part of a sustainability initiative, employee engagement strategies, and to satisfy their EV-driving visitors and partners.
5.
Public Charging Stations
Each day, more public charging stations are popping up as cities and local councils are investing heavily in charging infrastructure.
Today, 24 percent of EV drivers in the UK already gladly make use of them, and with sales of electric cars rising, so will the number of available public charging points in our cities.
EV charging levels and all types of chargers explained
The most common way to think about EV charging is in terms of charging levels. There are three levels of EV charging: Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 – and generally speaking, the higher the level, the higher the power output and the faster your new vehicle will charge.
Generally speaking, the higher the level, the higher the power output and the faster your new vehicle will charge. However, charging times are always dependent on a combination between the type of battery and charging capacity of the car, and the power output of the charging station.
Electric Vehicle Charging FAQ’s
As the world switches away from internal combustion engines (ICE) cars, Electric vehicles (EVs) are quickly becoming the new norm, both driving and charging them. Compared to the ever so familiar petrol pump, an electric car charging station can seem quite complex and daunting. To help you navigate through all these new developments, this article answers seven of the most frequently asked questions about charging electric cars.
Charging an electric car is a pretty simple process that can differ depending on the type of charger. Generally, every electric car comes with a charging cable and plug suitable for the specific car and country you live in. Most of the time, you will be able to plug the cable directly into a 3-pin home socket and charge your electric car straight off your home’s electrical network.
Charging at home via a home charging station and charging at a charging station on the go works quite differently. Whilst it can differ from station to station, the general process is as follows:
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Identify yourself to the charging station
This may be through a mobile app, an RFID tag or card, or even using contactless credit or debit card.
Plug the charging cable into the vehicle and the station
Some stations come with built-in cables, in which case, you can plug directly into your car.
Begin charging
You should see confirmation that you are charging on your vehicle’s display and the charging stations indicator lights.
End the charging session
Once charged, you can end the charging session via the station or mobile app, depending on how you started it.
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However, this manual authentication process may soon be a thing of the past. A new international standard known as Plug & Charge (ISO 15118) provides a direct communication interface between chargers and EVs, allowing a charging station to automatically recognise and identify your car.
When charging at home, the electricity used by your electric car will simply be added onto your next electricity bill. When using a public charger, payment depends on your mobile service provider. Often, charging costs are added to a monthly bill based on a contract or subscription, or, in some cases, can be paid on the spot by card.
All around the world, electricity grids work on alternating current, known as AC power. As the name suggests, the electrical current alternates, or changes direction, a given number of times per second. In contrast, direct current, known as DC power, flows at a fixed rate. Whilst electric car chargers come in many different shapes and sizes, the main difference is whether they provide AC or DC power.
All batteries, including those in electric cars, store DC power, which means that AC power coming from the grid must be converted. It’s not a question of if, but rather where this conversion happens that highlights the key difference between AC and DC chargers.
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AC Chargers
AC chargers are the most common (and generally slower) type. Without getting too technical, this is because the conversion takes place inside your vehicle and is limited to the power it can process. In most cases, EVs can reach up to 11 kW or 22 kW of AC charging power.
DC Charging
With DC charging, the electricity is converted from AC to DC by the charging station before it reaches your car. This allows it to bypass the car’s slower onboard converter and achieve much higher outputs, up to 350 kW as it feeds power ‘directly’ to the battery. As a result, charging an electric car with a DC charger takes mere minutes rather than hours. However, DC charging infrastructure is much more expensive and bulky, making it unsuitable for most residential, commercial, and municipal environments.
If you’d like to learn more about the difference between AC and DC charging, please contact Wright Renewable Heating
Another common question that many prospective EV drivers have is about the time it takes to charge an electric car. The charging speed for any given car and situation depends on a variety of factors such as the battery size, the car and chargers’ charging capacity, and even the weather.
One of the main determinants of charging time is an electric car’s battery size. Just as a large fuel tank takes more time to fill up, the larger the battery, the longer it takes to charge.
Another important factor that will affect an EV’s charging time is the battery’s state of charge (SoC). Because of their chemistry, batteries can accept more power at lower charge levels. As they get closer to 100% SoC, the charging power, and thus charging speed, slows down considerably. So, whilst charging an electric car from 20% to 70% might only take a few minutes, charging from 70% to 100% will take substantially longer.
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Beyond battery capacity and SoC, another element influencing charging time is the car’s charging capacity. Not all electric cars accept the same charging power: while some may be able to take up to 350 kW fast charging, many are limited to much lower power inputs, often between 100 kW and 150 kW. The same applies to slower AC charging. Whilst the theoretical maximum charging power is 22 kW, many cars can only receive 7.4 kW or 11 kW.
Linked to the car’s charging capacity is the charger’s charging capacity—in other words, how much power it can provide.
Broadly speaking, there are 3 types of charging stations
Level 1
These chargers are the slowest and most common type. They can be connected to wall sockets at home and deliver up to 2.3 kW.
Level 2
These chargers provide higher speeds but require professional installation. They are the most common type found in residential, commercial, and municipal settings. Most level 2 chargers deliver at least 7.4 kW or 11 kW, with some capable of 22 kW.
Level 3
These chargers, also known as DC or fast chargers, deliver the most power and the highest charging speeds. They do, however, require bulky transformers and are not cost-effective for residential and most municipal uses. The highest-rated level 3 chargers can deliver 350 kW, although lower outputs such as 50 kW, 125 kW, and 150 kW are more common. At those rates, most electric cars can charge up to 80% in less than an hour, sometimes even as little as a few minutes.
Finally, weather conditions, in particular, temperature, can have an impact on the charging speed. Indeed, batteries have a narrow optional operating range of around 21°C. If temperatures are significantly higher or lower, the battery will use some energy to heat or cool itself, increasing the time it takes to charge it.
Charging times are not the only new concept to get to grips with as a new EV driver. Another important consideration is cost. As with charging times, costs vary greatly depending on your location, electricity provider, and tariff, just to name a few. However, the two key determinants of charging costs are the price per kWh of electricity, and the size of your vehicle’s battery.
Whilst electricity prices vary from country to country, in the UK the average price per kWh is currently £0.28. Based on these prices, an electric car with a 50 kWh battery, such as the standard range Tesla Model 3, would cost around £14.00 to charge from 0% to 100% at home. Public charging stations, and especially DC fast charging stations, often markup the price of electricity, so a full charge using them will cost more.
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Regardless of your location, charging your electric car at home will likely increase your electricity bill—unless you generate your own electricity using solar panels, for example. Still, the cost of the electricity to power your electric car is far less than what petrol or diesel would cost.
Compared to a petrol or diesel car, which only needs a refill every few days or weeks, a question many new EV drivers have is how often they will need to charge their electric car. As with the previous questions, the answer depends greatly on your driving habits and electric car range.
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Should I charge my electric car every night?
The answer to this question depends, but looking at the average driving behaviour and the growing range capacity of electric cars, the answer is no.
Whilst the range of an electric car varies greatly, the current average is around 203 miles on a full charge. The average daily car mileage of drivers is 20 miles in the UK. Taking these average numbers, you would only need to charge your electric car fully approximately once a week. Of course, if you drive more or your car’s range is significantly lower, you’ll need to plug in more often. Even then, an electric car will typically last multiple days before needing a recharge.
Driving an electric car can be very different from driving a fossil fuel-powered vehicle, and one of the ways it stands apart is in terms of the possible charging locations. Unlike petrol or diesel, electricity is available almost anywhere, meaning there are nearly endless possibilities to charge your electric car.
Of course, a key benefit of owning an electric car is waking up in the morning and starting the day with a full charge. According to our Mobility Monitor report, home charging is the most popular method of charging amongst EV drivers in the UK, with 65% regularly charging at home. Supermarkets are the second most popular charging location, with 44% saying they regularly charge there, and another 40% charging regularly at their workplace. The workplace is closely followed by service and petrol stations with 38%, and shopping centres at 27%, and finally 25% regularly charging in public and commercial car parks.
As the above data shows, the benefit of electric cars lies in their versatility – charging locations adapt to your needs, lifestyle, and vehicle usage.
If you’re thinking of investing in an electric car charger, you may be wondering: how much maintenance does a charger need? In most cases, the answer is very little.
For level 1 and level 2 chargers, the most maintenance you’ll typically need is an occasional quick check for any damage to the cables and plugs to ensure they’re in good working order. With everyday use, these chargers are designed to last for years before they require servicing. If you experience any problems with your charging station, we recommend you to contact your supplier.
For publicly accessible level 2 or level 3 chargers, the required maintenance depends on their use and location. Cables, plugs, and the charger itself should be inspected regularly to check for any damage and ensure good operation. Touch screens, card or RFID readers, and software systems also need to be checked and updated regularly.
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Generally, electric car charger manufacturers offer extended warranties and service plans for a yearly fee, which include preventative maintenance and quick repairs if something goes wrong. However, with new connectivity and modularity features built into modern chargers, problems can often be diagnosed remotely.
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Switching to electric mobility
The decision to get an electric car is a consequential decision that requires some habit changes compared to owning a petrol or diesel car. Charging an electric car, in particular, is an entirely different process compared to re-fueling, but one that can offer increased flexibility and adapt to your lifestyle. We hope the above questions have helped answer some of your doubts about electric car charging. If you want to know more, or have any unanswered questions, please contact Wright Renewable Heating.