FAQ’s
How does charging work?
EV’s and hybrids are most commonly charged at home, but can also be charged when you’re out at work, at a service station or car park. Not all public locations have them but there are thousands of charge points across the UK, with more being added each year.
There are three main ways that an EV or hybrid can be plugged in. Firstly, they can be plugged in via the mains (this method is the slowest way to charge due to max power output the mains can deliver), secondly is the wall mounted charging point and thirdly is a rapid charger. All draw varying amounts of power resulting in different charging times.
How much does it cost to charge?
Charging your vehicle will depend on your vehicle’s battery size and when/where it’s charged. Some public EV chargers a free to use but many will cost to use. This cost will vary on the charging hub you use but will still be substantially cheaper than running a petrol or diesel car. The average overnight cost of electricity is 13p per kWh, this means that charging the Kia e-Niro from 0% to full charge would cost around £8.30. This figure will vary depending on your supplier and tariff. As for the charger itself, there are government grants available to help cover the costs, bringing the cost to install a unit to as low as £279.
Can I charge my car in public?
There are currently over 20,000 charging points in the UK at 7,000 different locations. This numbers grows each day and before long you can expect to see them where ever you can park. Different locations will have different types of chargers so charging times and costs may vary depending on the type of charge you come across. You can locate charging points in public via apps such as Zapp Maps.
How do I pay for a public charger?
The public charging points which aren’t free to use can be paid for via apps on your smartphone such as Pay Pod. Simply locate the charging point on your app, plug in and go.
What does it cost to run an electric car?
Much cheaper than you might think! The cost of the vehicle itself and the charging station are both subsided by a Government plug-in grant. From there on in its smooth sailing. Starting with the maintenance costs which are far lower than the cost of maintaining a petrol or diesel car. Electric cars have far fewer moving components, which means less wear and failing components.
Then comes the tax benefits. You don’t have to pay any! There is no yearly or first-year tax with an electric car. This could end up saving you around £500 over three years when comparing to a similar sized petrol or diesel equivalent.
Lastly comes the cost of charging. Electricity is far cheaper than petrol or diesel, particularly when you’re at home. When looking at the cost per mile, electricity works out at around one third the cost of an equivalent petrol or diesel car
