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How to charge your electric car

It may seem like a daunting prospect but charging an electric vehicle couldn’t be easier; just plug it into a power source to charge the battery before you drive. We’ll go through everything you need to know about electric vehicle charging both in your own home and out in our comprehensive electric car charging guide. 

Electric car charging at home 

Electric vehicles can be charged at home using a dedicated Wall Box charger or with a domestic wall socket, using an accessory cable. There are different options available to you dependent on your budget, usage and location. 

Domestic Socket

You can top up your Electric vehicle using a three-pin plug in a domestic socket. PEUGEOT vehicles are not supplied with this type of cable although one can be purchased separately. PEUGEOT does not recommend this as an every day charging solution.

Using a standard wall socket is the most time-consuming option when compared to a dedicated charging point. It can take 24+ hours for a full charge with a three-pin 2.4kW domestic socket, depending on the battery capacity of your vehicle and the level of charge when you begin.

Dedicated electric car charging point - Wall box

A dedicated wall box charger allows you to quickly charge up your vehicle. The Peugeot range uses a Type 2 (Mode 3) cable which is designed for this usage.

You can choose from several home charging points for electric cars which use different charging rates. The higher the kW, the faster your car will charge but as the power increases, the price may as well.

If you drive your car often and need to charge up quickly, choose a high kW which is compatible with your electric vehicle. If you’re a less frequent user, a lower charger should be sufficient and may save you money on installation.

Peugeot has partnered with Pod Point for quick, safe and reliable electric vehicle charging installation.

Tethered or untethered charger 

You will also need to choose whether you install a tethered or untethered home charging point for an electric car.

A tethered charger comes with a built-in cable, so you will have to choose your charging cable type at the point of purchase, and this cannot be swapped or changed in the future for a different type.

An untethered charger simply has a socket (similar to most public chargers) where you will need to plug your own charging cable in to. PEUGEOT supply all electric vehicles with suitable cables for this type of charger. 

A tethered charger is more convenient to use as you don’t have to plug in a cable each time, however, you are limited to that specific cable. An untethered wall charger can be used with any electric vehicle, making them a more flexible choice.

 

Installing electric car charging points

You can have a dedicated charger installed at your home to increase the charging speed.

An electric car charging point typically cost around £1,000 but there’s a UK government grant that will contribute to the cost of a charger for people who own or lease electric vehicles. Scottish residents are also eligible for an additional discount.

To be eligible for the grant, you should meet the below criteria:

  • Choose an approved installer 

  • Have off-street parking 

  • Install an approved charger 

  • Have an approved vehicle
     

The installation involves mounting a charge point on a wall, usually on an exterior wall or garage. It typically takes a few hours for the installation to be completed where the charge will be connected to your fuse box or a secondary unit in some cases.

Charging an electric car in public 

Charging your electric vehicle whilst out is a convenient way to top up the battery. With electric vehicle charging stations available at workplaces, in car parks, service stations, supermarkets and on the street, you can access a vast network of charging facilities.

Download Zap Map to explore public chargers across the UK, you can even select your vehicle to ensure you are only shown compatible chargers.

Charging an electric vehicle at work 

Like charging your electric vehicle at home, charging at work is the perfect solution for topping up your vehicle as you’ll likely be stopped for extended periods and a lot of employers are now installing charging points for their workers.

Most commonly, workplaces will fit Type 2 chargers with a similar capacity to those in your home, but some could have rapid chargers too. You’ll need to take your charging cable when using these chargers, which are supplied as standard with all PEUGEOT electric cars and vans. Chargers may be free of charge or may require payment depending on what your employer offers.

If your place of work doesn’t have EV charging points available to you, you can request one be installed. Employers can get help with the cost of installation through the government Workplace Charging Scheme.

Public charging

The UK public charging ecosystem is constantly expanding. Chargers are available in supermarkets, car parks, gyms, service stations, cinemas and pretty much anywhere else you’ll be travelling, meaning you can top up your battery whilst out.

Chargers are owned by private companies, government bodies and charities and will vary in charging speed and cost depending on their location.

Some public electric car charging stations are free of charge and others may require payment, usually with a contactless card payment or an app. Many companies offer free charging as an incentive for visiting their business, especially supermarkets.

With public chargers, you’ll find slow, fast and rapid chargers available. Check the kilowatt on the charger, especially with rapid chargers, as some EVs (Electric Vehicles) aren’t compatible with these charging levels.

You’ll often have to use your own charging cable and may have to download a smartphone app and create an account - depending on how the company operates. Some chargers may require a specific card; however, this is increasingly less common.

 

Charging your electric vehicle on longer journeys

If you’re taking a longer trip in your electric vehicle, it’s wise to do some quick pre-planning of where you’ll charge up your vehicle on your journey.

It’s best to start your trip with a full battery and schedule stops to charge your EV along the way giving yourself some leeway to remove range anxiety.

If compatible with your vehicle, plan to stop at places with rapid chargers. These are often found in service stations and dedicated charging stations.

Plan how you’ll charge your vehicle when you get to your destination for your return journey. Like with other public charging, make sure you carry your charging cable with you on the journey. Using the Zap Map mobile app, you can plan your journeys according to the above using chargers compatible with your vehicle.

Electric vehicle charging etiquette

There are several rules you should follow when charging your electric vehicle in public to be courteous of other drivers. Follow the below advice when charging:

  • Don’t park in a charging point spot if you don’t have an Electric Vehicle 

  • Don’t park in a charging point spot if you don’t need to charge your vehicle 

  • Once you’ve charged your vehicle, move to a regular spot - you can use the MyPeugeot app to keep an eye on your charge remotely, just activate e-Remote in the app 

  • Tidy up after yourself and leave the charging area as you found it 


All the charging etiquette rules come down to being considerate of other electric vehicle users.

How long does it take to charge an electric car? 

Your charge time will depend on the size of your battery and the type of charger you use. Using a three-pin plug will take you the longest and isn’t recommended as a long-term solution. For example, it can take 24 hours to charge the battery in a ​​Peugeot e-208 using this method.

Using a Wall Box charger (7.4 kWh speed) will take around 7.5 hours to fully charge a Peugeot e-208.

Rapid chargers will supply the fastest charging for your vehicle. For example, 0-80% charge for a Peugeot e-208 will take you around 30 minutes when using a 100-kWh charger.

Use our charging calculator to calculate the expected charging time for all Peugeot vehicles.

How much does it cost to charge an electric vehicle? 

Charging an electric vehicle at home or in public is significantly cheaper than filling up at a petrol station - it’s estimated the price will be a quarter of that of petrol and diesel. Charging your EV at home will result in an increase in your energy bills but completely cut out the fuel purchases in stations.

How much does it cost to run an electric vehicle day to day? 

Independent research has shown that the cost per mile of running an electric vehicle can be significantly cheaper than a petrol or diesel vehicle, depending on the price you pay per kW for your electricity and various other factors such as your mileage and maintenance costs.

Zap Map estimate that the cost per mile of a PEUGEOT e-208 for example is between 4-6p. In comparison, according to UK Government data in December 2021, a petrol or diesel vehicle can cost anywhere from 11p to 22p per mile to run.

Charging or fuel for 10,000 miles of driving would costCost are indicative based on the data referenced and are for comparison purposes only. Real life costs may vary dependent on several factors. :

  • £400 - £600 for the all-electric e-208 

  • £1,100 - £2,200 for a petrol or diesel vehicle

 

Can I reduce my charging costs?

Charging your vehicle at night can help to reduce your costs if your energy provider has a lower tariff at certain times during the night when pressure on the power grid is lower. 

You can programme specific charging times for PEUGEOT vehicles via the My Peugeot mobile application to take advantage of any lower tariff you have by pre-scheduling charge at off-peak times.

When you’re out, look for free electric car charging points - these are available in supermarkets, car parks and some service stations.

​​How often should you charge an electric car at home

How often you charge your vehicle depends on how much you use your vehicle. If you drive a lot, you may need to charge every day or night. People who don’t drive as often can charge up as they need.

Your PEUGEOT electric vehicle will automatically stop taking power once it is fully charged, so you don’t need to worry about leaving it plugged in once it has reached 100% charge. If you have a Wall Box installed at your home, you may be able to access other charging settings depending on the charger you have.

Making the most of your electric driving range 

Once you’ve charged up your electric vehicle, there are several ways you can maximise the charge to give you the best driving range.

Try the following tips to make to most of your charge:

 

  • Check your speed - the faster you go, the faster your charge will go down. Keep to the speed limit and reduce your speed where possible and safe. 

  • Reduce your acceleration - fast acceleration and erratic driving will use a greater level of charge from your battery. Build up speed smoothly rather than putting your foot down. 

  • Reduce your aircon and heating use - You can use climate pre-conditioning whilst charging your vehicle through the My Peugeot app, which will pre-heat/cool your PEUGEOT to 21 degrees ready for your journey. When driving long distances, using ‘ECO’ driving mode will limit the air con and heating to balance out driving range and comfort. 

  • Use regenerative braking – PEUGEOT electric vehicles use regenerative braking, using the kinetic energy used by slowing down to recharge the battery whilst you’re on the move. In your PEUGEOT electric vehicle, you can activate this by selecting ‘B’ mode on the gear selector. 

  • Choose the shortest route possible - this might be an obvious one but choosing the shortest route possible will help to maximise your charge. 

  • Avoid travel in extreme weather - cold and hot weather will affect your battery. Try to avoid travelling in extreme weather conditions, when possible, but if you need to ensure you pre-condition your vehicle temperature before you set off if it’s charging.  

  • Cut down the load - don’t travel with unnecessary items in your car. Keep your boot clear of things you don’t need. 

  • Maintain your EV - things like the tyre pressure will affect your driving range. Make sure you follow the manufacturer guidelines to get the most out of your EV.
     

Following these tips will help improve your driving range but you should always ensure to drive in a way that’s right for you. Use climate controls and other features as you need them - just make sure you keep an eye on your charge.

Interested in making a switch to an electric vehicle? Browse our range of electric vehicles to choose your perfect eco-friendly vehicle.

TAGS: ELECTRIC, El och Plug-in hybrid, Allmänt, Electric