We have regular conversations with current and prospective
customers about all aspects of electric vehicle charging. To make things a bit
easier, we thought it may be useful to answer a few of the most common
questions we have received.
Is my chargepoint free?
Many customers think that grants will pay for the entirety
of the chargepoint cost and installation. However, this is not the case. Grants
for domestic installs are currently £300 and costs are reimbursed after the
installation is completed. See our recent blog post on the domestic
installation and grant application process for more information.
How much will my
electricity bill be if I am charging my car at home?
Well, for starters, it will definitely be less than what you currently pay for petrol or diesel. The average EV battery is 60kW. If you charge from empty at a cost of 6p per kW then this is £3.60. Given that most electric vehicles now have ranges over 300 miles and the average UK monthly mileage is 650 miles, the increase in your electricity bill will likely be less than £10 per month.
There is a wide
variety of chargepoints, do they all do different things?
From an electrical point of view, they all do the same
thing: provide electricity to your car in the safest and most efficient manner
possible. The main differences lie in the way you interact with your chosen
chargepoint. Many come with apps or other controls and these offer a variety of
features which make charging your electric vehicle easier and more enjoyable.
Do I need my car before
I install a chargepoint?
No, a chargepoint can be arranged and installed up to 4
months in advance of your car being delivered.
I am buying a
specific brand of car, do I need to buy a chargepoint from the same dealership?
Most manufacturers offer a branded chargepoint but the
difference is usually only in the branding. Almost all chargepoints are
universal and can be used with any electric vehicle provided your cable has the
correct connections. Moreover, most branded chargepoints are not OLEV approved
and so do not qualify for grants.
Can I get a faster
charger?
The industry buzzwords of slow, fast and rapid or level 1, 2 and 3 are very unhelpful. In truth, a UK domestic property can only have a maximum 7kW chargepoint installed. With the exception of Tesla, most electric vehicles are built for this power and we believe charging is sufficiently quick that this should not be a concern.
We hope this has been helpful but if your questions remain
unanswered then please get in touch. A member of our technical team would be
happy to talk to you answer any questions that you have. Call us on 0141 280
8890 or drop us an email at info@britetechnicalservices.co.uk.
We also have a variety of platforms available with extensive
information about electric vehicles (brite-ev.com), EV chargepoints
(evchargepoints.com) and EV accessories (briteaccessories.com).