An electric vehicle is a vehicle that uses one or more electric motors or traction motors for propulsion. Electric vehicles get power either from a collector system that draws electricity from off-vehicle sources, or it’s self-contained with a battery, solar panels, or an electric generator that converts fuel to electricity.
Here’s the confusing part, there are BEVs, PHEVs, and HEVs. You’ll notice all 3 acronyms have ‘EV’ in them. This stands for ‘Electric Vehicle’.
BEV = Battery Electric Vehicle
BEVs are pure electric and only powered by a battery that needs plugging in to charge it.
PHEV = Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle.
The ‘plug-in’ bit just means you need to plug the car into a charging point to charge its battery. ‘Hybrid’ means the car has both a battery and conventional petrol or diesel engine.
A PHEV will typically go about 30 miles on battery only, and then the petrol/diesel engine will take over.
HEV = Hybrid Electric Vehicle.
Being a hybrid, it has both a petrol/diesel engine and a battery. But you can’t plug the car in to charge the battery. HEVs are predominately normal petrol/diesel cars. Their very small battery typically either helps the car go further and/or improves its performance (such as acceleration). The car will often run on the battery alone at low speeds. As soon as the car needs to go faster, the petrol/diesel engine kicks in. The battery itself charges partly via ‘regenerative braking’. When you press the brake pedal, it switches the electric motor into reverse to act as a generator that can charge the battery.
This varies and really depends on the vehicle you’re driving, how you drive it and the conditions you’re driving it in – just like a petrol or diesel vehicle.
The distance a single charge can cover is increasing with every new model, as battery technology improves. Today, most electric cars will have a range of over 200 miles. Tesla models can go well over 300 miles on a single charge.
Charge at home, at your workplace, on your journey – wherever you can find a suitable charger for your EV.
More and more companies are installing EV chargers in their car parks, and although not as commonplace as fuel pumps, the number of EV charging stations is rapidly increasing across the UK. That said, home charging is more convenient and cost effective. A car is stationary for 90% of its lifetime and over 70% of that time is at home. Charging analysis on energy transfer shows that 60% of charging is done at home, 30% at the workplace, 7% publicly and 3% rapid charging.
Research has shown that electric cars are better for the environment. They emit fewer greenhouse gases and air pollutants over their life than a petrol or diesel car. This is even after the production of the vehicle and the generation of the electricity required to fuel them is considered. Fundamentally, EV travel shouldn’t damage the earth and by building a network of electric points it will have a significant effect on decarbonizing transport.
This varies depending on the vehicle you drive, but in simple terms, the size of the battery (kWh) x electricity cost of your supplier (pence per kilowatt-hour) = cost to charge an electric car from empty to full.
Let’s take a look at some examples based on electricity of cost of 14p per kilowatt-hour :
| Battery size | Approximate range | Cost to fully charge | Cost per mile | |
| Nissan LEAF (2018) | 40 kWh | 150 | £5.60 | 3.7p |
| Tesla Model S 100 D | 100 kWh | 320 | £14.00 | 4.4p |
| Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (2019 | 13.8 kWh | 23 | £1.93 | 8.40 (electric mode) |
Yes, it’s completely safe to leave an electric vehicle charging (or plugged-in) overnight. In fact, charging at night means you can take advantage of off-peak tariffs, making it cheaper.
Many chargers also let you schedule when to charge, so you can plug your car in once you’re home and leave the unit to start charging when the electricity tariff is at its lowest
That’s completely up to you. However, we would recommend that your EV has at least 20% battery charge at all times in case of an urgent journey.
Most lithium-ion batteries perform at their best when they’re between 50% and 80% charged. We’d recommend keeping your vehicle charged to 80% most of the time though.
As counter-intuitive as it might sound, keeping your electric car fully charged can actually damage its battery. This is due to the heat that recharging generates.
If you are planning a long journey, then do charge your EV to its maximum capacity. However, because most lithium-ion batteries perform best when they’re between 50% and 80% full, we’d advise keeping your EV’s charge somewhere in this range, whenever possible.
For more information on how to look after your electric vehicle battery, please read our blog here.
Charging an EV is a simple process: just plug your car into a charger that’s connected to the electric grid.
EV chargers typically fall under one of three main categories: Level 1 charging stations, Level 2 charging stations, and DC Fast Chargers (also referred to as Level 3 charging stations).
Level 1 EV charging stations
These use a 120V AC plug and can be plugged into a standard outlet. Unlike other chargers, Level 1 chargers don’t require the installation of any additional equipment. These chargers typically deliver two to five miles of range per hour of charging and are most often used at home.
Level 2 EV charging stations
These are used for both residential and commercial charging stations. They use a 240V (for residential) or 208V (for commercial) plug, and unlike Level 1 chargers, they can’t be plugged into a standard wall outlet. Instead, they are installed by a professional electrical engineer. They can also be installed as part of a solar panel system.
Level 2 electric car chargers deliver 10 to 60 miles of range per hour of charging. They can fully charge an electric car battery in as little as two hours, making them an ideal option for homeowners who need fast charging. They are also safer and more convenient than charging through a standard plug outlet.
DC Fast Chargers (also known as Level 3 or CHAdeMO EV charging stations)
You can get 60 to 100 miles of range in as little as 20 minutes of charging with these. However, they’re typically only used in commercial and industrial environments – they require specialized, high-powered equipment to install and maintain.
Not all-electric cars can be charged with DC Fast Chargers. Most plug-in hybrid EVs and some all-electric vehicles are not compatible.
The cost of a charger (and installation) varies, depending on the unit’s features and where the charger’s installed. At We Power Your Car, we give you a competitive fixed price for this.
When it comes to running costs, the typical electricity rate in the UK is about 14p per kWh. With Economy 7 tariffs, the typical overnight electricity rate in the UK drops to 8p per kWh. With most chargers letting you schedule your charge times, it’s easy to take advantage of these cheaper electricity tariffs at night.
The technical nature and risk involved with installing a 240V Level 2 EV charger mean it’s best to hire a professional electrician to install your charger. Plus, to be able to claim your OLEV grant, you have to use an OLEV-approved charge point installer. Doing it yourself could be doubly costly – endangering your life, as well as your grant.
NOTE: You must use an OLEV-approved charge point installer to claim the grant towards the cost, so doing it yourself means that you would miss out on that, as well as being potentially dangerous.
A home charger tends to require relatively little, if any, maintenance over its lifetime.
Charging at home is perfectly fine for your electric vehicle. However, frequent use of rapid charging outside the home can reduce battery performance and durability, so charging at home is not only the most convenient but also the best thing to do to look after your EV in the long term.
All Level 2 home chargers have the same functionality, but some are more advanced than others. For example, the Ohme Intelligent charger lets you set charge schedules and notifies you when your energy supplier’s tariff drops (it can help you get paid to charge when there’s negative grid capacity).
In most cases, no. Chargers are mounted high enough on a wall to prevent vehicles bumping into them. We recommend that pedestal chargers have some form of protection, such as a barrier or tyre stoppers.
It is possible to use the same charging unit for more than one car. Unfortunately, we don’t currently offer 2-way units. If you want to charge more than one car, you can use the same charger, just not at the same time.
If you do need to charge more than one car, you’ll have to decide between a tethered or socketed charger, depending on what type of connector your vehicles use. A socketed unit is more flexible – can be used with different connectors. A tethered unit has a fixed connector.
Ultimately, if you have two EVs, it might be better to have two charging units installed, so you can use both at the same time without any issues, compromises or inconvenience.
Smart charging is a system that enables electric vehicles, charging stations and charging operators to share data. This connection means your charger can monitor, manage, and adjust the use of charging devices to optimise energy consumption. Unlike uncontrolled charging, smart charging flattens your peak electricity usage, shifting vehicle charging away from other high consumption times.
Yes. A solar installation will charge your electric car just as effectively as it provides energy for the rest of your home appliances. Even a small solar panel array with only ten solar panels can provide enough power to charge your vehicle’s battery.
Looking beyond the sun for renewable charging, the myenergi Zappi we offer can direct wind energy, as well as solar to power your car.
To understand solar in more detail, please read our blog here.
Whilst it is possible to steal charge from a home EV charger, the chances of this happening are remote. (Any perpetrator would have to have to park up and leave their car on your drive to do so.)
In our time working in this industry, EV charger and charge theft is not something we’ve encountered. However, some chargers do have built-in locking mechanisms if this is something you’re concerned about.
Charging cables are not cheap, so if your charge point is easily accessible, then store the cable securely when it’s not in use.
To read more about EV chargers and theft, please read our blog here.
A standard installation typically takes around 2-3 hours to complete. However, the actual length of time will depend upon where you are having your charge point installed and whether any time-consuming work is required to route the cabling (for example, underground) if you have a detached garage.
Yes. You must be at home at the time of installation to ensure all relevant documentation can be signed*. As part of the installation process, the electrical engineer will demonstrate how the charger works, including setting up any mobile apps available with the charger.
During your application process, you will choose the location of your charger. Most units are wall-mounted close to where the EV is parked (on the driveway or in the garage). The charging units are fully weather and waterproof, so they can be located outside without fear of being damaged.
When choosing a location, you need to be mindful of causing a trip hazard when the charging cable is plugged into the car. Therefore try to avoid the cable trailing across paths or doorways.
You can bring your home EV charger with you when you move house, but you will need to have it removed and then reinstalled at your new property. The price to do so is similar to purchasing a new unit, so you may be better of investing in a new home EV charger.
There are a number of factors to consider, though, which we discuss in our blog here.
The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS), sometimes referred to as the OZEV Grant, was introduced back in September 2019 to help encourage the transition from petrol and diesel cars to electric vehicles. Previously, the grant provided a 75% contribution to the cost of an EV home charger and its installation. This grant was capped at £350 (including VAT) per installation and was only available for homeowners that had dedicated off-street parking, such as a garage or a driveway.
However, this version of the OZEV grant ended on 31st March 2022.
From 1st April 2022, people living in flats and rental accommodation will be eligible for the grant. Landlords and social housing providers will also be able to apply for the electric vehicle charging grant.
Please click here to read about the new EV Chargepoint Grant.
An electric vehicle is a vehicle that uses one or more electric motors or traction motors for propulsion. Electric vehicles get power either from a collector system that draws electricity from off-vehicle sources, or it’s self-contained with a battery, solar panels, or an electric generator that converts fuel to electricity.
Here’s the confusing part, there are BEVs, PHEVs, and HEVs. You’ll notice all 3 acronyms have ‘EV’ in them. This stands for ‘Electric Vehicle’.
BEV = Battery Electric Vehicle
BEVs are pure electric and only powered by a battery that needs plugging in to charge it.
PHEV = Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle.
The ‘plug-in’ bit just means you need to plug the car into a charging point to charge its battery. ‘Hybrid’ means the car has both a battery and conventional petrol or diesel engine.
A PHEV will typically go about 30 miles on battery only, and then the petrol/diesel engine will take over.
HEV = Hybrid Electric Vehicle.
Being a hybrid, it has both a petrol/diesel engine and a battery. But you can’t plug the car in to charge the battery. HEVs are predominately normal petrol/diesel cars. Their very small battery typically either helps the car go further and/or improves its performance (such as acceleration). The car will often run on the battery alone at low speeds. As soon as the car needs to go faster, the petrol/diesel engine kicks in. The battery itself charges partly via ‘regenerative braking’. When you press the brake pedal, it switches the electric motor into reverse to act as a generator that can charge the battery.
This varies and really depends on the vehicle you’re driving, how you drive it and the conditions you’re driving it in – just like a petrol or diesel vehicle.
The distance a single charge can cover is increasing with every new model, as battery technology improves. Today, most electric cars will have a range of over 200 miles. Tesla models can go well over 300 miles on a single charge.
Charge at home, at your workplace, on your journey – wherever you can find a suitable charger for your EV.
More and more companies are installing EV chargers in their car parks, and although not as commonplace as fuel pumps, the number of EV charging stations is rapidly increasing across the UK. That said, home charging is more convenient and cost effective. A car is stationary for 90% of its lifetime and over 70% of that time is at home. Charging analysis on energy transfer shows that 60% of charging is done at home, 30% at the workplace, 7% publicly and 3% rapid charging.
Research has shown that electric cars are better for the environment. They emit fewer greenhouse gases and air pollutants over their life than a petrol or diesel car. This is even after the production of the vehicle and the generation of the electricity required to fuel them is considered. Fundamentally, EV travel shouldn’t damage the earth and by building a network of electric points it will have a significant effect on decarbonizing transport.
This varies depending on the vehicle you drive, but in simple terms, the size of the battery (kWh) x electricity cost of your supplier (pence per kilowatt-hour) = cost to charge an electric car from empty to full.
Let’s take a look at some examples based on electricity of cost of 14p per kilowatt-hour :
| Battery size | Approximate range | Cost to fully charge | Cost per mile | |
| Nissan LEAF (2018) | 40 kWh | 150 | £5.60 | 3.7p |
| Tesla Model S 100 D | 100 kWh | 320 | £14.00 | 4.4p |
| Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (2019 | 13.8 kWh | 23 | £1.93 | 8.40 (electric mode) |
Yes, it’s completely safe to leave an electric vehicle charging (or plugged-in) overnight. In fact, charging at night means you can take advantage of off-peak tariffs, making it cheaper.
Many chargers also let you schedule when to charge, so you can plug your car in once you’re home and leave the unit to start charging when the electricity tariff is at its lowest
That’s completely up to you. However, we would recommend that your EV has at least 20% battery charge at all times in case of an urgent journey.
Most lithium-ion batteries perform at their best when they’re between 50% and 80% charged. We’d recommend keeping your vehicle charged to 80% most of the time though.
As counter-intuitive as it might sound, keeping your electric car fully charged can actually damage its battery. This is due to the heat that recharging generates.
If you are planning a long journey, then do charge your EV to its maximum capacity. However, because most lithium-ion batteries perform best when they’re between 50% and 80% full, we’d advise keeping your EV’s charge somewhere in this range, whenever possible.
For more information on how to look after your electric vehicle battery, please read our blog here.
Charging an EV is a simple process: just plug your car into a charger that’s connected to the electric grid.
EV chargers typically fall under one of three main categories: Level 1 charging stations, Level 2 charging stations, and DC Fast Chargers (also referred to as Level 3 charging stations).
Level 1 EV charging stations
These use a 120V AC plug and can be plugged into a standard outlet. Unlike other chargers, Level 1 chargers don’t require the installation of any additional equipment. These chargers typically deliver two to five miles of range per hour of charging and are most often used at home.
Level 2 EV charging stations
These are used for both residential and commercial charging stations. They use a 240V (for residential) or 208V (for commercial) plug, and unlike Level 1 chargers, they can’t be plugged into a standard wall outlet. Instead, they are installed by a professional electrical engineer. They can also be installed as part of a solar panel system.
Level 2 electric car chargers deliver 10 to 60 miles of range per hour of charging. They can fully charge an electric car battery in as little as two hours, making them an ideal option for homeowners who need fast charging. They are also safer and more convenient than charging through a standard plug outlet.
DC Fast Chargers (also known as Level 3 or CHAdeMO EV charging stations)
You can get 60 to 100 miles of range in as little as 20 minutes of charging with these. However, they’re typically only used in commercial and industrial environments – they require specialized, high-powered equipment to install and maintain.
Not all-electric cars can be charged with DC Fast Chargers. Most plug-in hybrid EVs and some all-electric vehicles are not compatible.
The cost of a charger (and installation) varies, depending on the unit’s features and where the charger’s installed. At We Power Your Car, we give you a competitive fixed price for this.
When it comes to running costs, the typical electricity rate in the UK is about 14p per kWh. With Economy 7 tariffs, the typical overnight electricity rate in the UK drops to 8p per kWh. With most chargers letting you schedule your charge times, it’s easy to take advantage of these cheaper electricity tariffs at night.
The technical nature and risk involved with installing a 240V Level 2 EV charger mean it’s best to hire a professional electrician to install your charger. Plus, to be able to claim your OLEV grant, you have to use an OLEV-approved charge point installer. Doing it yourself could be doubly costly – endangering your life, as well as your grant.
NOTE: You must use an OLEV-approved charge point installer to claim the grant towards the cost, so doing it yourself means that you would miss out on that, as well as being potentially dangerous.
A home charger tends to require relatively little, if any, maintenance over its lifetime.
Charging at home is perfectly fine for your electric vehicle. However, frequent use of rapid charging outside the home can reduce battery performance and durability, so charging at home is not only the most convenient but also the best thing to do to look after your EV in the long term.
All Level 2 home chargers have the same functionality, but some are more advanced than others. For example, the Ohme Intelligent charger lets you set charge schedules and notifies you when your energy supplier’s tariff drops (it can help you get paid to charge when there’s negative grid capacity).
In most cases, no. Chargers are mounted high enough on a wall to prevent vehicles bumping into them. We recommend that pedestal chargers have some form of protection, such as a barrier or tyre stoppers.
It is possible to use the same charging unit for more than one car. Unfortunately, we don’t currently offer 2-way units. If you want to charge more than one car, you can use the same charger, just not at the same time.
If you do need to charge more than one car, you’ll have to decide between a tethered or socketed charger, depending on what type of connector your vehicles use. A socketed unit is more flexible – can be used with different connectors. A tethered unit has a fixed connector.
Ultimately, if you have two EVs, it might be better to have two charging units installed, so you can use both at the same time without any issues, compromises or inconvenience.
Smart charging is a system that enables electric vehicles, charging stations and charging operators to share data. This connection means your charger can monitor, manage, and adjust the use of charging devices to optimise energy consumption. Unlike uncontrolled charging, smart charging flattens your peak electricity usage, shifting vehicle charging away from other high consumption times.
Yes. A solar installation will charge your electric car just as effectively as it provides energy for the rest of your home appliances. Even a small solar panel array with only ten solar panels can provide enough power to charge your vehicle’s battery.
Looking beyond the sun for renewable charging, the myenergi Zappi we offer can direct wind energy, as well as solar to power your car.
To understand solar in more detail, please read our blog here.
Whilst it is possible to steal charge from a home EV charger, the chances of this happening are remote. (Any perpetrator would have to have to park up and leave their car on your drive to do so.)
In our time working in this industry, EV charger and charge theft is not something we’ve encountered. However, some chargers do have built-in locking mechanisms if this is something you’re concerned about.
Charging cables are not cheap, so if your charge point is easily accessible, then store the cable securely when it’s not in use.
To read more about EV chargers and theft, please read our blog here.
A standard installation typically takes around 2-3 hours to complete. However, the actual length of time will depend upon where you are having your charge point installed and whether any time-consuming work is required to route the cabling (for example, underground) if you have a detached garage.
Yes. You must be at home at the time of installation to ensure all relevant documentation can be signed*. As part of the installation process, the electrical engineer will demonstrate how the charger works, including setting up any mobile apps available with the charger.
During your application process, you will choose the location of your charger. Most units are wall-mounted close to where the EV is parked (on the driveway or in the garage). The charging units are fully weather and waterproof, so they can be located outside without fear of being damaged.
When choosing a location, you need to be mindful of causing a trip hazard when the charging cable is plugged into the car. Therefore try to avoid the cable trailing across paths or doorways.
You can bring your home EV charger with you when you move house, but you will need to have it removed and then reinstalled at your new property. The price to do so is similar to purchasing a new unit, so you may be better of investing in a new home EV charger.
There are a number of factors to consider, though, which we discuss in our blog here.
The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS), sometimes referred to as the OZEV Grant, was introduced back in September 2019 to help encourage the transition from petrol and diesel cars to electric vehicles. Previously, the grant provided a 75% contribution to the cost of an EV home charger and its installation. This grant was capped at £350 (including VAT) per installation and was only available for homeowners that had dedicated off-street parking, such as a garage or a driveway.
However, this version of the OZEV grant ended on 31st March 2022.
From 1st April 2022, people living in flats and rental accommodation will be eligible for the grant. Landlords and social housing providers will also be able to apply for the electric vehicle charging grant.
Please click here to read about the new EV Chargepoint Grant.
This type of electric charger has it's own cable to charge your car.
This type of electric charger requires a seperate cable to charge your car.
Spread over a 60 month period.
Also available over 24, 36 and 48 month periods.
We will contact you to process the credit application. Approval is subject to application, financial circumstances and borrowing history. 12.9% APR representative. T&Cs apply.
Your order is not confirmed until your application has been approved.
We lay SWA cable laid at 600mm deep, with a protective cable warning tape laid 150mm above the cable. These are laid on a sand or sifted sand soil bed then backfilled.
We position overhead cables at a minimum height of 3.5m and are run along a catenary wire. The cable run should not be accessible to vehicles.
Standard Installation
Our instant price is fixed if it falls within our standard installation package plus any additions that you have selected (extra cabling for example). This package covers the majority of homes in the UK. Before we undertake your installation we will carry out a digital survey to check that nothing has been missed. After reviewing the survey results some additional work may be required in order to complete your installation safely and to the required standards. If this is the case, we will contact you well before the installation date and advise the cost of any required work. You can then continue with your installation, or alternatively we will refund you in full if you do not want to proceed.
Included in our standard installation is :
• Fitting of a single phase charge point to a brick or plaster wall or other suitable permanent structure
• Up to 10 metres of cable, run and neatly clipped to the wall between the electricity supply meter / distribution board and the charge point.
• Routing of the cable through a drilled hole in a wall up to 500mm (20 inches) thick if this is needed.
• The fitting and testing of electrical connections and protections required for the charge point.
• An additional three way consumer unit, if required
• Installation of a Type A RCBO in an RCBO enclosure
• Up to 3 metres of plastic trunking to conceal interior wiring.
• An O-pen earth protection device if the charge point requires it. (This is NOT an earth rod)
• Up to 4 hours of labour from your installer to complete the work.
• Electrical testing of the whole installation.
• Handover and setup of the charge point and any app that may be needed.
Not included in our standard installation (additional work) :
• Where the installation requires additional cabling over and above the amount you have told us about.
• Upgrade/replacement of the main incoming supply fuse where the local DNO (eg Northern Powergrid) would need to attend site.
• If the charge point is to be mounted on a post/pedestal rather than an existing wall and where you have not selected a post as an extra cost option in your order.
• Installation of a charge point to a three phase supply.
• Where gas and water mains bonding (earthing) is not in place at your property. If this is not in place, additional work would be required before installation of the charge point.
• Any groundwork that has not been selected during the order process.
What else you need to know :
• On the day of installation, please ensure that the area around your consumer unit (fuse box), incoming electricity supply meter and proposed charge point location (including where the cable is expected to be run) is clear and free of obstructions.
• We will need your WiFi password as part of the installation process in order to connect your charge point to the internet. Please have this available for the installer. Details will not be kept.
• The charge point must be on your own designated off road parking.
• The charger will be fixed in line with current guidelines at a height where it cannot be hit by a vehicle.
• Our installers are not able to enter loft spaces; lift floorboards or flooring; take apart any furniture of work above a height of 2m. If you anticipate that any of this may be required, then please contact us and we can discuss in more detail and provide you with a quotation.
• Should there be extreme weather conditions our installers may not be able to continue with you installation if it is not safe to do so (for example flooding). They will always do their best to complete the work where they can.
If you have any questions then please contact our customer service team who will be happy to help. Please also read our terms and conditions.
