en:EV:All about charging GB/EN

Electric Car Charging Guide

How do I charge my e-HYBRID

Whilst you’re driving, the petrol engine and regenerative braking will charge the battery as you drive.  Once you get to a charging point or a suitable location to plug it in to a 3 pin socket, it isn’t that different from refuelling. There’s still a fuel filler cap, but you’ll find a charging socket where you can plug in the connector.

Where can I charge my car?

At home

While it is possible to charge your hybrid car using a domestic three-pin socket, we recommend that you install a wall box charger.

Using a charger, like one from Ohme, allows you to use smart technology and scheduling to charge your car when electricity prices may be lower. Also charging using a wall box can charge your car quicker than a standard three-pin socket.

Out and about

The UK’s network of fast and rapid chargers is getting bigger by the week. There are plenty of ways to pay for them too, from pay-as-you-go schemes to subscription models. Some points are even free. Finding your nearest charging station is simple. Apps like Zap-Map point the way to Type-2 and CCS connectors for Fast and Rapid Charging respectively.

What affects the charging speed of a vehicle?

There are several factors that can affect how long it takes your electric vehicle to charge. Here are the main three.

The vehicle charging capabilities: Your vehicle’s maximum charge rate is set by its battery and the on-board charger which regulates the amount of power drawn from a particular source. On-board chargers usually range in capacity from 3kW to 22kW. Charge time can also be affected by whether AC or DC is being used.

Power from the charging unit: Your vehicle cannot charge faster than the charging unit’s maximum capacity. This means if you’re charging with AC and your car has a capacity of 11kW but is plugged into a 7kW unit, it will charge at 7kW.

The size of the battery: As you might expect, the larger the battery the longer it’ll take to charge. For example an 20 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery will take around 2-3 hours to charge with a 7kW charger, a 40kWh battery would take around twice as long.

If you still have questions, visit our FAQ page.

Moving forward

*Please note that customers would be required to install their own Wi-fi.

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