Did you know that there are three ways to charge your electric vehicle? Fast charging, slow charging, and fast

In this article, we will explain the various kinds speed of charge, including where they are typically found and how long it usually takes to charge your electric vehicle with the various methods and offer you our top tips.

So, let's get started!

Chargers for electric vehicles

slow charging

Slow chargers generally are 2.3kW between 2.3kW and 2.5kW and make use of AC (alternating currents from the grid) to power your electric vehicle. Slow chargers charge using the outlet of your house and generally appear in the form of an EV charger with three pins.

This is the slowest way for charging your EV because a complete charge could take as long as 18 hours, with some times more than 18 hours with a 3-pin plug charger (depending on the kind of battery you own). Let's consider an example of the Renault Zoe as an example using three-pin plug chargers at just 3kW, it will take about 17 hours to fully charge your EV.

It's likely that you'll find slow chargers in your home, or in some rare instances in the workplace when companies don't have specific charging points for electric vehicles.

Although it's a cost-effective method of charging because you don't have to purchase a home charging station or pay for an electric charger that is fast but the disadvantages outweigh the benefits according to our view. One of the main disadvantages is the fact that plugs with 3 pins can cause fires because using a socket that is close to its maximum power of 3kW capacity causes stress to the circuits, cables, and sockets. It is possible to cause serious issues, such as overheating. The worst-case scenario is the possibility of a fire.

If you're living with relatives who don't have an electric vehicle charger with a dedicated plug and there are only a few available chargers in public places, the slow charging option is acceptable. So, we suggest keeping an extra 3-pin plug charger in an alternative in case you require it.

Fast charging

Most often, it is rated at 7kW or 7.3kW If you wish to be precise Fast chargers tend to be the commonly used kind of electric vehicle chargers within the UK. The EV chargers typically come in the form of charging points for homes or public charging points at supermarkets and car parks. Electric cars must be charged directly (direct current) similar to slower chargers, faster chargers utilize the alternating current (alternating current drawn from the grid of the nation) to charge your electric vehicle (the electric car comes with an internal converter which converts it into the form of a DC motor vehicle).

There are instances of fast chargers with 22kW in public areas that you can set up at your home. To install a 22kW electric vehicle charger in your home you need three-phase power, which is a costly and lengthy upgrade. 22kW is the most efficient charge however single-phase electricity is common in the majority of UK households.

Fast chargers can charge up to EV three times quicker than slower chargers, and if you're fortunate enough to find the 22kW charger, you'll be 10 times quicker. For Renault Zoe, Renault Zoe, it takes around seven hours to fully charge using a 7kW fast charger and 2.3 hours using the 22kW charger. But, it is an average of 4-6 minutes to fully charge an electric vehicle using a 7kW fast charger.

A quick charger, particularly with a home-based charging point will provide you with a variety of advantages. There are many benefits, including ease of use, safety, and lower cost charging. To find out more about the advantages of having the use a home charger.

One of the greatest benefits of charging at public locations is that they're widely accessible for free, particularly in retail parks and grocery stores. However, you'll need to take a specific route to the places you are familiar with, or go around looking for the chargers, which isn't an enjoyable experience after an exhausting day at work. There could even be a limit on the charge time for free and you might not be in a position to fully charge your electric vehicle within the allotted timeframe.

Fast charging

Based on the maps, there are 492 fast and ultra-fast electric vehicle chargers across the UK. They are usually located near motorway services They are the fastest method for charging your electric vehicle!

Fast chargers usually range from 43-50kW, and they can charge our particular EV Renault Zoe from 0-80 percent in just 45 minutes. Once you reach 80 percent, the charging process will begin to slow down, which is to safeguard the battery from being damaged. Typically, for you to completely charge your electric vehicle using a fast charger it could take an hour or longer (depending on the model and make). model).

Ultra-fast chargers for electric vehicles use more power, usually between 50kW to 350kW! In the end, your EV charging time can differ greatly based on the manufacturer model, model, and how much power your fast charger can provide.

The most significant benefit of fast charging is that it's fast. As it is the fastest method of charging your electric vehicle, it will reduce the amount of time whenever your EV requires energy. This also makes it convenient for long journeys as you don't need to wait as long to get a charger as opposed to slower and more expensive chargers.

Fast and ultra-fast EV charging stations use direct current for charging your car and even though you may believe that the faster option would be the best, it's not the case for EV charging. In reality, charging fast or ultra-fast could damage the battery of your electric vehicle when used for long periods of time. It is not recommended you utilize a fast charger as your primary charger.