Can I charge in the rain?
Yes EVs can definitely be charged in the rain as proper covering shields and protective layers are applied to the charging plugs and charging stations. That prevents any kind of sparks, current loss, water mixing or short circuits.
Where can I find information about public charging infrastructure?
ZAP MAP offer a comprehensive overview of charging infrastructure across the country showing all ChargePoint Operators, regardless of provider or you can use We Charge or Etron Charging Services App to see which chargepoints are included in those vehicles.
Which home wallbox to choose – Tethered or Socket and why?
Many electric-car and plug-in hybrid owners choose to have the tethered option on their wallbox, which has a built in charging cable that is permanently attached to the charger. This means they can leave their car’s charging cable in the boot and simply park up and plug in. It’s the convenient choice.
Tethered chargers come with some potential drawbacks:
Firstly, there’s the issue of potential obsolescence, since the plug on your charger needs to match the socket on your car. The potential for this to be an issue has reduced in recent times as the market is generally moving towards a standard of ‘Type 2’ connectors. There are, however, some EV’s and wallboxes with ‘Type 1’ connectors and so there is still the potential for incompatibility.
Secondly, unless the unit has a handy way of coiling the cable, you could end up with it trailing across the ground. And even if it does, you’ll still have to coil the cable up neatly each time. It’s also worth noting that tethered chargers have cables of a fixed length, meaning you can’t usually purchase a longer cable if you need one.
In contrast, socketed chargers require you to use your car’s charging cable and this means getting the cable out of your car each time you want to charge at home.
It’s personal choice whether you choose a tethered or socket wallbox based on your setup at home and what you will find most convenient.
How often should I charge - Should I run the battery right down and charge it back up?
If you can, it makes sense to regularly top up your battery rather than running it down to low charge and fully charging it up. It’s also best for battery life longevity to maintain the battery between 20- 80% of charge. Charging past 80% state of charge is significantly slower than charging up to 80%.
Can I use any public charger to charge my EV? – e.g. CHAdeMO, CCS, Tesla chargers?
Volkswagen EVs are compatible with all CCS chargers. CHAdeMO have a different connector and therefore cannot be used (These are usually used by Nissan primarily). Tesla do have compatible connectors but the vehicle needs to be part of the tesla charging network, which Volkswagen vehicles are not. ZAP MAP and other charging applications will state which type of connector is available at each chargepoint so you can determine if it will be suitable for your vehicle.
What is the approximate equivalent cost per mile in an EV compared to an ICE?
Making some assumptions, the pence per mile in an EV is about a third of that of an ICE vehicle. (That’s assuming for an ICE vehicle - £1.25p per litre of fuel, and 4.5litres/gallon. So £5.62 per gallon of fuel. Assuming 40 mpg so £14.06p per mile. In an EV assume 1kWH is 17p, and average of 3 miles per kWH, so £5.66p per mile in an EV.)
How can I reduce costs for charging my EV?
Charging at home is usually the cheapest place to charge. You can reduce your home charging costs even further by switching your home energy to an EV focussed energy tariff, such as Octopus Go from Octopus Energy. These tariffs often feature off-peak periods with cheaper energy rates and so you reduce your charging costs even further by scheduling your car to charge during these periods. Many cars apps or wallbox apps offer the facility to schedule charging.
Is there a place I can find information about national charging prices?
There is no central place to access information about national charging prices. However ZAP MAP provide information on the cost of charging at each chargepoint at a local level.
What affects range and how can I maximise it?
There are many factors both driving and environment related.
Driving factors include: Starting charge of the battery, driving style and speed, use of air con and heating (potential impact up to 30%), use of features such as stereo, heated seats, heated rear windows, vehicle load weight, accessories, recuperation performance, the type of road (e.g. driving in cities or on a motorway). Motorway driving is likely to return the worst range performance.
Environment factors include: Outside temperature and weather. Hot and cold weather has a significant effect (more pronounced during winter periods or in colder regions)
Here are some simple tips to improve your range:
- Select Efficiency mode if your car has this – it puts the systems e.g. drivertrain, transmission, air-con in a more efficient basic setting to help improve range performance.
- Limit climate control: Full EV’s rely on energy from the vehicle battery to power electric heaters, so the impact on range can be quite significant particularly in colder temperatures.
- Pre-condition or heat your vehicle while it is still charging; In many EV’s you can do this from the comfort of your home in the vehicle app.
I’m going on holiday for a week, can I leave my EV on charge while I’m away?
Technically yes. Once the battery has charged, it will stop charging and shouldn’t affect the battery life. It’s not advisable to do this regularly, as the cable is subject to weathering if the conditions are bad while you’re away. It’s best to fully charge it before you go away and it won’t lose its charge while you’re on holiday.
Can I take my EV through the car wash?
This is a surprisingly common worry. In fact, one government survey discovered 42% of people thought taking an electric vehicle through the car wash could be dangerous. Of course it is perfectly safe, thanks to the 'soak test' which vehicles go through as part of their production. This replicates the heaviest rain and flooding conditions, to ensure the car is fully watertight.
Can I tow a caravan using an EV?
You can - but you'll be limited to choosing certain models, if this is important to you. This is not because electric cars aren't well suited to towing, it's because manufacturers don't usually certify them for towing. It's all to do with the combined weight of the vehicle and whatever is being towed. Electric cars tend to be heavier than conventional models, because of their large batteries, so the combined weight of the car and a caravan would affect braking efficiency. But it's a different story for plug-in hybrid cars and towing is possible using these vehicles.
What happens if my EV breaks down?
When an electric vehicle ceases to function, it stops; it does not coast in the way that an ICE vehicle does. They also cannot be towed; they have to be put on a low-loader, which is a much more complex and longer process that will put rescue teams in greater danger.
Does my range differ from Summer to Winter?
Yes, batteries are less effective in colder temperatures and so you’ll find that your range is less in winter compared to summer.
What is the approximate equivalent cost per mile in an EV compared to an ICE?
Making some assumptions, the pence per mile in an EV is about a third of that of an ICE vehicle. (That’s assuming for an ICE vehicle - £1.25p per litre of fuel, and 4.5litres/gallon. So £5.62 per gallon of fuel. Assuming 40 mpg so £14.06p per mile. In an EV assume 1kWH is 17p, and average of 3 miles per kWH, so £5.66p per mile in an EV.)