New Charging Electric Vehicles guidance

Public and home charging information, advice on maximising savings, and more

In 2018, one in every 12 cars purchased was an electric vehicle, with an estimated 206,000 plug-in cars now on the roads in the UK. The growth in charging infrastructure has reflected this, steadily increasing to 17,000 public charge points across the UK by April 2019.

Electric vehicle charging is not the same as adding fuel to a petrol or diesel vehicle. Charging strategically can save you money and there’s more to know about charging etiquette too.

Our new Charging Electric Vehicles guide, details how to get the best out of electric vehicle batteries, home and public chargepoints, and maximise savings. Chapters include information on home charging and the options you have, public charging and how to best use these chargepoints, as well as case studies from plug-in vehicle owners and their experiences.

Download the guide now or read on for more tips about charging your electric vehicles.

Home charging

The majority of vehicle charging takes place at home, as this is generally cheaper and more convenient. It’s important to keep up to date with the latest advice and information around charging, as this could save you money and time. We explain terminology that may be unfamiliar, such as ‘tethered cables’ or ‘rapid charging’ in our guide, so you can charge your vehicle safely and efficiently.

Our guide covers the options for charging with a driveway or garage, parking on-street, shared car parks and some advice for those who want to charge their vehicle and live in a rental property. It also advises on EV-friendly electricity tariffs, as charging an electric car at home will increase household electricity usage.

Public charging

If you don’t have a chargepoint near home, you can rely on the expanding network of public chargepoints. With the number of public charging locations now surpassing the number of petrol stations in the UK, public charging is becoming a more accessible and easy solution to keep your EV on the move.

This section of the guide covers charging at work, finding a chargepoint, paying for a charge, charging etiquette and more. The way you charge your vehicle will depend on how much time you have and how much you are willing to pay, so you can understand what your best charging options are.

Maximising savings

Different EVs are capable of different charging speeds and will cost different amounts to fully charge due to different battery sizes. This section of the guide includes helpful comparisons between different battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, as well as example fuel cost savings depending on how and where you charge your EV.

The chapter also includes helpful tips about fuel-efficient driving, which can extend the range of your car or van to reduce the need for recharging.

Case studies

We spoke to two experienced EV drivers about their experiences of buying, charging and using a Kia Soul, a battery electric vehicle, and a VW Passat GTE Estate, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.

Details of their experiences include the cost of the vehicle and monthly fuel cost, battery range, charging details and more. Pros and cons listed by the two drivers include more experiential comments relating to the use and ease of the vehicle.

For those who are still fairly new to EVs, these case studies are a great starting point for understanding how a plug-in vehicle can fit into your life and lower your exhaust emissions and fuel costs.

Government policy: Clean Air Zones, Ultra Low Emission Zone, and more

Transport is currently the main source of local air pollution in the UK. The introduction of clean air zones, including the Ultra Low Emission Zone in central London, is just one of the ways government is trying to reduce emissions.

This section covers government acts and initiatives that are helping improve air quality and reduce emissions. By going electric you can not only reduce the impact of your car on local air quality, but also avoid extra costs and charges incurred by Clean Air Zones across the country.

Download the Charging Electric Vehicles guide now.

Source: energysavingtrust.org.uk