Electric Vehicle charging for beginners

[Oricococo]

Hi,

I test drove an electric car today and was quite impressed, but I've got some really basic questions about charging that I can't find the answers to on Google -

a) if you're a member of, say BP Pulse, can you only use their charging stations? Or can you use the others if you pay?

b) if there's a charging point in for example a pub car park, is it ok to use if you're not using the pub?

c) if it's a pay car park I presume you still need to pay and pay for your electricity?

d) is there a time limit on how long you leave your car there?

Is there anything else I need to know?

Thank you

So, I don't know very much about electric cars but I do know the Westgate carpark in Oxford (big city centre multi story) does not charge for electric car charging.

I was gobsmacked when I went with my friend in her electric car. It's totally free to charge there because they are trying to encourage electric vehicles. I believe most places do charge but not all.

Hello, welcome to the EV revolution!

A)You can use almost any charger, but they usually ask you to sign up. It can be really convoluted and needs a lot of improvement. Ive got about 6 different cards and accounts. More are starting to offer plain contactless payment which is great but be prepared to download a lot of apps to start with IF you think you will be using public chargers a lot. We don't very often.

B) you can, but it can be considered bad manners. It depends. I would use a fast charger at a chain restaurant but probably not a normal charger at a little hotel. You've also got to watch our for carparks with the cameras as if you aren't using the pub they could claim you're not a paying customer.

C) yes in Pay and Display carparks you pay for a ticket as normal and your charging

D) it's very bad manners to leave your car charging longing than it needs to be there. As a general rule, up to 80% (the last 20% if inefficient and slow) but obviously you can if necessary. You wouldnt connect to a fast charger (that could have you fully charged in 20mins) and disappear on a 2 hour shopping trip. But if it's a regular charger, which would take 4 hours to full it's more acceptable.

Generally, treat them how you'd want someone else to treat them!

You are so going to love driving an EV, I made the switch two years ago and have never ever regretted it. I have a charger at home and do 90% of my charging overnight using cheap rate electricity, so I'm definitely not an expert on public chargers, but I'll have a go at answering your questions.

a) if you're a member of, say BP Pulse, can you only use their charging stations? Or can you use the others if you pay? - you can use any charger if you pay, most now have contactless payment as an option so you don't need to have a subscription, however if you regularly use a particular charger it can be cheaper to take out a subscription.

b) if there's a charging point in for example a pub car park, is it ok to use if you're not using the pub? Yes absolutely, not necessarily the same with hotels as sometimes the chargers are for guests.

c) if it's a pay car park I presume you still need to pay and pay for your electricity? That depends on the car park, some councils offer free parking for EVs regardless if they are charging or not, some expect you pay to park and pay for charging. Check the rules on the signs every car park is different. Some supermarkets offer free charging and free parking.

d) is there a time limit on how long you leave your car there? There's a lot of discussion about this, there are no rules but some consider it bad form to leave your car charging for the last 10-20% as this is when the charge slows down. You would be very unpopular if you left your car on the charger after it had reached 100%, they aren't meant to be used as parking spaces.

Is there anything else I need to know?* It's cheapest to charge at home so if you can get a charger installed. I pay 5p a unit for night time electric, my EV costs be under £10 per month to charge. If you are regular user of public chargers you will pay a lot more.
*
Download some apps of where chargers are situated, Zap-Map and WattsUp are good and really help with planning longer journeys.

Final piece of advice is just enjoy the feeling of electric driving you'll never want to drive and ICE again.

Your questions have been answered well by previous poster but just to add that I found ‘Maddie Goes Electric’ on You Tube really helpful as an electric car novice, before we got ours (which I now love!).

This is episode two. There are six if I remember correctly.