Question Time.
View our easy to understand quick guide to see if you qualify for our Standard Installation package.
What is the lifespan of my car battery?
An average electric car battery will last for 200000km. Today’s battery are more intelligent and can protect their lifespan by adjusting to your charging habits. Your car will also last longer as there are less mechanical parts to be serviced and replaced.
Where can I charge?
Most of your charging will take place at home overnight or at a place of work during the day. For longer distance journeys, service stations and towns are expanding their offering of Rapid Chargers to keep you moving.
By also purchasing one of our transportable plug-in chargers, you can now charge at any location which has an accessible standard household plug socket - perfect for overnight visits to friends and family.
How long will it take to charge my car?
With a Type-2 charger installed at your house by ev-pow, it will take between 4 and 6 hours to fully charge. Rapid chargers now installed at intelligent locations across the country can charge your battery to 80% in less than 30 minutes.
How far can I travel on one charge?
Electric vehicles keep improving with longer range and less time to charge. At the start of 2020, the average fully charged battery will allow a range of up to 500km.
This video from CarWow demonstrates the range abilities of a selection of models at the start of 2020.
Is there a map of Rapid Charge points?
Absolutely yes! Apps are developing and mapping the location of all publically accessible charge points throughout the country. Two of our favorites Apps with this in-
formation are ZapMap and CarWow.
Can I use a normal household plug to charge my car?
Yes you can. But it is not advisable to use this method continually due to the electric load required by the charger and the nature of the ring-main to which the plug socket is attributed. It is good as a ‘back-up’ plan to carry a portable charge lead in your car, should you ever find yourself in a location without a fixed charge point. But generally. Type-2 chargers to be used at home on a frequent basis need to have a dedicated electrical supply and be installed by a qualified electrical engineer.
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What type of chargers are there?
Trickle Charge Lead.
This is the unit generally supplied with your car and plugs into a socket. It is more of a trickle charger and will not be able to fully charge the battery overnight. Designed predominantly for the use of PHEV vehicles.
Type-2 Hard-wired EV Charger.
These are what ev-pow supplies, hardwired and plug-in for occasional charge. They operate at between 7kw and 22kw and can fully charge a car battery within 4-6 hours overnight.
Type-3 Rapid Charger.
These units are only really installed commercially at service stations. They can charge a battery to 80% within 20-30 minutes.
Is installing a charge point complicated?
For an ev-pow associate, not really. It is highly advisable that unless you are a qualified electrician you should not instal a Type-2 charger yourself, and legally all Type-2 EV chargers must be installed by a certified Electrician. Once we have an idea of your household electrical capacity, the location of your fuse board and the location of where you generally keep the car overnight; we can easily recommend and instal an appropriate charge point.
Will I have to complete any other works for the installation?
Other than the initial details we require to complete a quotation, no. At ev-pow we pride ourselves on the finish of our instalation. All temporary damages to your building or garden that could be caused by the feeding of electrical cables etc will be remedied prior to signing the work off as complete. You do not need to worry about a thing.
What’s the difference between 7kw and 22kw charging?
A 22kw charger has the ability to charge your EV up to 22kw per hour. This will be 3 times faster than a 7kw charger. However, most households can only maintain a 7kw supply as their electrical supply is single phase, as opposed to most commercial buildings which are three-phase. 7kw is perfectly adequate to fully
charge a current EV overnight.
What socket do I need for my car?
The generic answer for Europe and the UK is a 'Type-2' connector. Although you actually don’t really need to worry about this. All ev-pow chargers are compatible with all manufacturers. Your car will generally be supplied with adapters as well, so that you will never be incompatible with a charge station. Tesla do like to control their charging stations, but again there are adapters available to be able to use a Tesla charge point with a car by an alternative manufacturer
How much can I save with an electric car?
You will save up to 80% charging a car with electricity as opposed to filling a tank with diesel or petrol. An EV car also costs less in servicing, repairs and tax.
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Who makes electric cars?
Every car manufacturer. Indeed, all major car brands are fast developing their ranges of electric cars as they are hugely aware that the majority of governments will no longer allow the sale of a diesel or petrol fueled car in the very near future.
How fast can electric cars go?
Pretty fast. You will actually be quite surprised and certainly will be unlikely to notice a difference between the performance of your existing fossil fueled car.
What does EV, PHEV, BEV, EREV mean?
EV - Electric Vehicle - used to describe all electric vehicles that use battery as a sole source of energy.
PHEV - Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle - an electric vehicle that utilises both electric and diesel / petrol as a power source. The range of the vehicle using the electric charge is generally limited to between 20 and 60 kilometers on a full charge, before the fossil fuel engine kicks in.
BEV - Battery Electric Vehicle - An older term which is generally being replace with just ‘EV’. Basically a 100% battery powered electric vehicle.
EREV - Extended Range Electric Vehicle - again an older term which has been generally replaced with ‘PHEV’. Similar principles of once the battery has expired its charge, the traditional combustion engine kicks in.
Are electric vehicle batteries dangerous?
Li-ion batteries do contain flammable liquid. But they are no more flammable and dangerous than a tank of petrol or diesel, which is highly explosive. Electric car batteries in simple terms are just bigger versions of the battery that is within your mobile phone or laptop. All electric car manufacturers are placing the highest regard to safety and the protection of the battery and passengers within the car. They are using technology that can detect abnormalities with the battery and shut it down, in addition to installing heavy duty protection under the car to minimize any damage to the battery from road debris or the like.
How do I ascertain what power of EV charger my property can support?
Domestic properties in the UK are supplied with a standard 230V on a Single Phase supply. The amount of available power in your home is variable depending on the Amperage. The total amount of power available can be assumed by using the following basic calculation:
230V x Amperage = Total Watts.
(Divide Total Watts by 1000 to obtain kW)
You will require at least 9kW to support a 7kW EV charger.
Below are some quick calculations for your reference.
Supply / Available power
32 Amps / 7.4kW
40 Amps / 9.2kW
50 Amps / 11.5kW
63 Amps / 14.5kW
80 Amps / 18.4kW
How far can I go on how long a charge?
At the time of writing (July 2020), the following approximate rates are applicable:
3.6kW Charger - 25 kilometres / hour.
7.2kW Charger - 50 kilometres / hour.
11kW Charger - 75 kilometres / hour.
22kW Charger - 150 kilometres / hour.
As most domestic households are single phase electric supply and have a 60amp primary fuse, it is likely that the maximum obtainable charge capacity would be 7.2kW. But this still means that a mid-market EV model can be fully charged in 6-8 hours. Basically, whilst you sleep.
Please note. The amount of time it will take to charge your vehicle is also dependant upon the power rating of your EV. Higher powered vehicles will take longer to charge.
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Are electric cars the future?
100% yes. All developed countries have embarked upon strategies to eradicate petrol and diesel cars within the next 10 years. Some cities such as Paris and London have set a target of banning all fossil fueled cars from entering the cities by as soon as 2024.
Are electric vehicles better for the environment?
Yes, they are much better than cars with less emissions and direct reliance upon fossil fuels. There is still work to be done on improving the environment impact of electric cars, as after-all electricity is predominantly generated by the burning of fossil fuels. But as technology advances; the sources of electricity generation will switch to cleaner varieties such as hydro, solar, tide, wind etc. Indeed, it will not be long before your Type-2 charger will be able to be powered by a dedicated small solar energy source located at your house.
Can Electric Vehicles self-charge?
At present, no not really. There are certain functions of current models that utilise technologies that have been pioneered in Formula 1 racing, such as sourcing power from braking. But advancements are being made towards solar panels blended into the car roof or dynamo’s attached to the wheels, that will replenish charge as you drive.
What happens if I breakdown?
It is unlikley that you will breakdown as a result of a mechanical problem, as there are not many mechaniscal parts in an electric car.
If you a breakdown as a result of no battery power - don't worry. Breakdown services are ever-increasing their capacity to offer rapid-charge roadside assistance, with breakdown vehicles now equipped with portable power charge units that can issue an emergency charge. Enabling you to drive to your nearest static rapid charge location.
Is my electric car dangerous to pedestrians?
Because they are quieter electric cars can be more dangerous to pedestrians at present. But as the majority of countries switch to electric cars, it will become more apparent and commonplace to the public to be more cautious and use vision rather than acoustics to ascertain traffic levels.
Any other questions?
Please feel free to email us directly with your enquiry or question at hello@ev-pow.com.
To discuss your perfect Electric Vehicle charging Solution
All major electric vehicles supported
Including Tesla
