When manufacturers launch an electric car, they often praise their new model’s charging speed and how quickly it can replenish its battery.
For example, Volkswagen says the new ID.7 Tourer “can be recharged from 10 to 80 per cent in significantly less than 30 minutes”.
The vital word here is “can”, as charging at this speed is achieved by plugging into a so-called ‘ultra-rapid’ charger which can deliver 200kW. If you used a domestic plug, the same charge on its biggest 86kWh battery would take around 17 hours.
When opting for electric vehicles, it is important to consider how they might be charged to obtain a clear view of charging times.
EV charging speeds – slow, fast, rapid and ultra-rapid
Charging speeds are normally split into four categories. These are:
- Slow (3-7kW) – ranging from a domestic plug socket to a simple waSlow (3-7kW) ranging from a domestic plug socket to a simple wall
- Fast (8-49kW) some homes have upgraded power supply to 22kW, but mostly this is supplied from public chargers
- Rapid (50-149kW) from single sites to banks of chargers, these are becoming a more common site on UK roads and are the fastest growing part of the network
- Ultra-rapid (150kW+) you need the right car to get the best from the new generation of charging points. Tesla is the most extensive network, with global coveragell
Increasingly, you will be able to access a range of chargers in one place. For example, PodPoint is now rolling out a nationwide charging network with Tesco and its options range from 7kW slow chargers to 75kW rapids.
There is a quick calculation to work out roughly how long it might take to charge an EV, which is battery capacity needed (kWh) divided by charging speed (kW). So, if you need to add 60kWh to the battery using a 50kW charger, it will take roughly 1.2 hours. A 100kW charger would take half an hour.
Bear in mind that many chargers and vehicles restrict speeds once the charge is above 80% to protect the vehicle’s battery.
Source: Zapmap, 28 February 2024
EV charging – why you may not get what you pay for
When it comes to EV charging, there is a cost to convenience, so when you visit a fast charger, it typically costs a bit more per kWh than a slow charger.
However, there is no guarantee behind the promise of a faster fill-up. Firstly, the amount your car accepts will rise and fall as the vehicle protects the battery by managing the flow of energy.
Secondly, a charger may not be delivering the maximum speed at that point because of demand. If everyone is charging at once, you might find power is limited as the load is managed between cars.
Finally, not all the energy flowing may reach the car. Pumping energy into electric vehicle batteries incurs so-called charging losses, as power is lost in cables, heat and other factors, with analysis suggesting the reduction is 10-15% on a typical charge.
In reality this means consumers and fleets may pay for more ‘fuel’ than they receive, with a 75kWh battery taking around 83kWh of energy to replenish.
Expert fleet management for EVs
Just as with petrol or diesel vehicles, it is vital to have systems in place to accurately monitor the running costs of EVs. This ensures they are being used efficiently and following the most economical charging patterns to keep running costs down.
For example, to minimise downtime during working hours, drivers could be trained to just add the miles they need, instead of filling their battery completely. This could cut charging time to a few minutes, compared to an hour, and reduce the use of expensive public charging networks.
Using a variety of tools, from fuel cards and vehicle tracking to advice and guides, companies can ensure they maintain a focus on effective fleet management throughout the switch from fossil fuels to electric vehicles.
Would your fleet benefit from advice on switching to an electric fleet?
Contact our EV specialists at CBVC Vehicle Management on 01283 351200.
