Whether you are the proud owner of a new electric vehicle or you are thinking about making the switch to electric, one question that is bound to be at the top of your list is –“how do I know if I need an electric home car charger for my electric vehicle?”

Did you know that when you buy an electric vehicle, the only piece of home charging equipment provided is a trickle charger which works off your standard 3-pin plug? Will this be enough, or do you need an electric home car charger?  

Lifestyle

How does your EV fit into your daily routines? Are your journeys likely to be local or do you travel further afield? The average car journey is just 7.9 miles and, if this sounds like your average journey, you might be able to forgo a home charging point. However, electric vehicle ranges can vary hugely, from 70 miles to 350 miles depending upon the make/model of the vehicle. All too often, a vehicle’s range is less than the manufacturers’ publicised figures. How many miles a vehicle will travel on a single charge is a key factor in deciding whether to buy an electric home car charger.

What is the landscape like where you live? Is it hilly or flat? This can have an impact on the amount of charge that your EV will use.

Thinking about your individual driving style can help you to understand what your charging needs might be.

Be warned! Charging an electric vehicle via a 3-pin plug at home is not only very time consuming, but also only creates around 7-8 miles per hour of charge. This means that to charge your car ready for 200 miles of driving, charging would take around 25 hours.

Unless your driving distances are very limited, we would always recommend purchasing a home charger, as it offers the flexibility and confidence that your car can be fully charged when you need it to be.

I’ve decided that I need a home charge point – how do I decide which one is right for me? 

Deciding on the charging speed that I need.

In our experience, the number one question that we are asked when advising customers on the right home charge point for them and their lifestyle is: “What charging speed do I need?” We are commonly asked for home charging points with a charging speed of 3.6kW, as this seems to satisfy what some of our customers need at this point.

However, our most common chargers are 7kW as we always explain that whilst the car they currently have may only accept 3.6kW of charge, their next EV is likely to demand a higher charging speed to ensure it can be fully charged overnight when required. Not only that, but a 7kW charger will self-regulate to only provide 3.6kW where required. This also means that when you replace your EV you won’t need to replace your home charging point! For a nominal increase (usually £50), you will also be making a wise investment for the future.

In reality, a 3.6kW chargepoint will create approximately 12-13 miles per hour of charge, whereas a 7.2kW charger is twice as fast and can create 24-26 miles per hour of charge when needed.

Thinking about buying a home charging point?

Contact our knowledgable, friendly sales advisers today for a free, no obligation quote on 0330 135 9990

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