Petrol and diesel have long been the main sources of power for vehicles, but as the growth of electric and hybrid vehicles continues, that could be set to change in the future. In fact, it’s very likely that the future of car power lies in electricity.
There are more than 100,000 electric vehicles in the UK, with this number expected to rise in the upcoming years. To combat this growth, we have seen an increase in electric charge points, which are a necessary component of powering EVs.
Let’s take a closer look at how electric vehicle charging is the future of car power:
How EV Charing Works
EV charging is currently available in three forms - slow, fast, and rapid.
The main difference between these is the total power output, which also affects the overall charge speed of the EV.
For slow EV charging, the charge points have a 3.7kW power outlet, taking anywhere between 6 and 12 hours to fully charge the vehicle. For this reason, slow EV charging is best saved for overnight charging.
Fast charging is a much faster type of EV charging point, available in both 7kW and 22kW power outlets. These provide a charge time of around 3-4 hours for most EVs, making them a great option for home outlets and public charge stations.
Finally, rapid chargers offer the quickest charge rates for EVs. Available in both AC and DC variations, a rapid AC comes with a 43kW rating while rapid DC offers a 50wK outlet in most instances. Unquestionably the best type of EV charging available, either one can charge as much as 80 percent in just 30 minutes.
How Do You Charge an EV in Public?
To be truly equipped to replace traditional fuel sources, electric charging must be available out in public. One big issue is that petrol stations greatly outnumber EV public charging networks here in the UK, although that is quickly changing.
Not only are the more public charging points than ever before, there are also fewer petrol stations. For example, there was around 8,500 UK petrol stations, a drop of over 34 percent since 2000.
In contrast, there are now close to 5,000 public charging locations throughout the country, totalling around 14,000 connectors on 8,000 charging devices. These figures look set to increase too, with a government proposal to increase the number of EV charging points at motorway service areas having been recently announced.
As the infrastructure of EV charging continues to grow, it will become even more apparent where the future of car power lies.
How Do You Charge an EV at Home?
Even as more public charging stations become available throughout the country, it’s impossible to deny the convenience of home charging. Charing an EV at home doesn’t need to be an expensive investment either, as home charging stations are available for increasingly affordable prices, while government grants are also available to subsidise installation fees.
Most home charging stations are slow or fast charging, with the latter costing more to get installed due to its higher power output.
The benefit of paying more is that you enjoy faster charge times, so it may make sense for many EV owners, although overnight charging is still possible with slow charging points, so it’s all down to the needs of the vehicle owner.
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