FAQ - General EV Questions

• What’s the difference between slow, fast and rapid charging?

  A slow charge is your domestic three-pin plug. It can take overnight to charge a fully electric vehicle or between 2-4 hours for a hybrid.

  Fast charge units are the most common domestic chargepoints, charging an electric vehicle in around 3-6 hours.

  As the name suggests, rapid chargers are the speediest and can charge an electric vehicle to 80% in under an hour.

• How long does it take to charge an electric vehicle?

  The time it takes to charge an electric vehicle will depend on the size of your car’s battery and the speed of your charger. As a general rule, battery size divided by charging speed = time to charge.
  E.g., if your car has a 40kWh battery and you have a 7kw charger installed at your home, a full charge would take around 5 hours.

• What’s the difference between a Type 1 and Type 2 charger?

  Type 1 is a single phase cable used by early electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles which offers a slower charge of up to 22kW. Type 2 allows for faster charging of up to 43kW.

• What’s the difference between a tethered and an untethered charge point?

  A tethered charger has a cable that’s permanently attached - the best choice if you only have one vehicle to charge. An untethered charger is a more flexible option if you need to charge different models of vehicle as it allows you to swap between different cables.

• Why should I purchase an EV charger from you instead of the vehicle manufacturer?

  Vehicle manufacturers’ lead times are traditionally long and branded units can be expensive. For a compatible EV charger supplied and fitted in no time at, you are better off using an approved installer like 247EV.

• What’s the difference between a three-pin plug and a wall-mounted charging system?

  Most electric vehicles are supplied with a three-pin plug as standard. This is the same as a domestic appliance plug. The problem with a three-pin plug is the speed of charge is very slow - a normal three-pin plug is limited to 3kW, whereas most wall-mounted charge points deliver up to 7.4kW of alternating current direct from your home’s electricity supply.

• How long is the warranty on your electric vehicle chargers?

  Most EV chargers come with an on-site 3-year warranty on parts and installation as standard.

• How much does it cost to charge an electric vehicle?

  Charging an electric car at home costs on average £8.40 for a full charge, but this varies depending on battery size, mileage and electricity tariff.

FAQ - Commercial EV Grants

• How many chargepoints can I get vouchers for?

  A single organisation can claim grant funding for up to a maximum of 40 sockets. These don’t have to all be located on the same site.

• Can I claim after installation or for historic EV chargepoints?

  No, all Workplace Charging Scheme voucher claims must be made prior to installation and are valid for 6 months. Organisations may not claim for chargepoints that have previously been installed.

• What’s the maximum funding available?

  The Workplace Charging Scheme offers eligible businesses a £350 grant per socket. If you were to install the maximum of sockets (40), the total voucher funding would be £14,000.

• Is my organisation eligible for a grant?

  Grant funding is available under the Workplace Charging Scheme to registered businesses, charities and public sector organisations across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

  To be eligible for the grant you must:

  • own the property where the chargepoint/s will be installed or have consent from your landlord, and
  • have dedicated off-street parking for staff and/or fleet vehicles.