Charging an EV
An EV can be charged either by plugging it into a socket or by plugging into a charging unit. There are three types of charging cables:
- Three-pin plug - a standard three-pin plug that you can connect to any 13-amp socket
- Socketed - a charge point where you can connect a Type 2 cable
- Tethered - a charge point with a cable attached with aType 2 connector
Time it takes to charge an electric car
At present there are four categories of EV charging speeds12:
- low speed - less than 3.7kW
- often used to charge overnight
- charging time: 12 to 17 hours
- standard - 3.7kW to 8kW
- fast - typically rated at either 8kW or 50kW
- tend to be installed in car parks, supermarkets, leisure centres and houses with off-street parking
- charging time: 6 to 8 hours
- Rapid - typically rated from 50 kW to 150kW
- only compatible with EVs that have rapid charging capability
- charging time: 30 to 60 minutes
- Ultra-rapid - above 150kW
- increasingly being installed in charging hubs
- charging time 10 to 20mins
- at present the number of EVs that can charge at this speed are limited but technology is expected to catch up fast