What is a hybrid car? Find out everything you need to know, including how they work, how much they cost, and more here.

<p>The technology of cars is ever-evolving, and hybrid technology is becoming increasingly popular. Hybrid cars have emerged as a solution to the challenges we're all facing, such as climate change and our carbon footprints.</p>
<p>But what is a hybrid car? And how do they differ from conventional cars with petrol engines or diesel engines?</p>
<p>In this guide, we'll cut through the jargon and dive into the mechanics, benefits, and prices of hybrid cars so you know what a hybrid car is and can decide whether they&rsquo;re right for you.</p>
<h2>What is a hybrid car?</h2>
<p>A hybrid car is a combination of two different types of vehicles: a petrol or diesel car and an electric car. The majority of hybrids have petrol engines (but some can be diesel), just like the cars most of us are used to, but they also have electric motors and big batteries.</p>
<p>Here's the best part: the cars can switch between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor or even use both simultaneously. This means a hybrid car uses less petrol or diesel, making it more fuel-efficient and better for the environment.</p>
<p>So, in simple terms, a hybrid car is a smart mix of fuel and electricity that saves you money on petrol while being kinder to the planet.</p>
<h2>How do hybrid cars work?</h2>
<p>As we mentioned above, hybrid vehicles have a combination of two power sources: a petrol engine and an electric motor.</p>
<p>The petrol engine works just like any regular car engine, and it kicks in when you need more power, like when you're accelerating on the motorway.</p>
<p>The electric motor, on the other hand, is powered by a battery and is great for slow driving or idling. It saves energy by turning off when the car is at a stop or travelling at low speeds.</p>
<p>Hybrid cars actually choose which power source to use and when. They can switch between them or even use both at the same time, all to make your car super fuel-efficient, meaning you use less petrol getting from A to B.</p>
<p>So, in short, a hybrid car knows when to use electricity and when to use fuel to save energy and reduce emissions.</p>
<h2>How much are hybrid cars?</h2>
<p>The price of a hybrid car can vary widely depending on its make, model, size, and features. On average, hybrid cars tend to be slightly more expensive than conventional petrol or diesel cars due to the added cost of the hybrid technology.</p>
<p>You can find smaller hybrid models starting at around &pound;15,000 to &pound;25,000. Larger and more advanced hybrid vehicles, especially SUVs and luxury models, can cost significantly more, ranging from &pound;30,000 to well over &pound;50,000 or even more for premium options.</p>
<p>According to the experts at car review site Carwow, the <a href="https://www.carwow.co.uk/hybrid-cars" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">UK's favourite hybrid cars</a> are:</p>
<div align="left">
<table><colgroup><col style="width: 178px;"><col style="width: 217px;"></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
<p><strong>Model</strong></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>Approximate price (new)</strong></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>Honda Civic</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>&pound;34,371</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>Ford Kuga</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>&pound;30,093</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>Kia Niro Hybrid</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>&pound;28,223</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>Lexus NX Hybrid</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>&pound;44,745</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>Toyota Corolla</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>&pound;27,225</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>Lexus LC</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>&pound;92,167</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>Toyota Yaris</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>&pound;20,068</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>Renault Clio</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>&pound;15,614</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>Honda HR-V</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>&pound;27,979</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>Toyota RAV-4 Hybrid</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>&pound;36,380</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<h3>Are hybrid cars cheaper than petrol cars?</h3>
<p>Hybrid cars tend to be slightly more expensive upfront when compared to traditional petrol cars due to the added cost of hybrid technology. For example, a pure-petrol Clio TCe 90 starts at &pound;17,795, whereas the full-hybrid Clio E-Tech will cost you at least &pound;20,795.</p>
<p>However, they can be cheaper to operate in the long run due to their higher fuel efficiency and potentially lower maintenance costs.</p>
<p>The cost-effectiveness of a hybrid depends on factors such as your driving habits and fuel prices, so it's essential to consider both upfront and long-term expenses when making a decision.</p>
<h3>Are hybrid cars cheaper than electric cars?</h3>
<p>Yes, hybrid cars are generally cheaper upfront than electric cars. That's because hybrids have a smaller battery and can use petrol or diesel. For example, if you&rsquo;re after a mid-size SUV, the hybrid Hyundai Tuscon can start at around &pound;30,500, whereas the fully-electric Kia EV6 starts at around &pound;43,000.</p>
<p>Electric cars tend to cost more because they rely solely on electricity, have bigger batteries, and have more advanced features such as adaptive cruise control, one-pedal driving, and remote starting. However, electric cars can be cheaper to run over time due to lower fuel and maintenance costs.</p>
<p>So, if you want something more affordable upfront, a hybrid may be a better choice, but <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/ev-chargers/guides/electric-cars-how-much-could-you-save-in-the-uk" rel="follow">electric cars can save you money</a> on fuel in the long run if you can afford the higher initial price.</p>
<h3>Do you have to pay car tax and congestion charges if you own a hybrid car?</h3>
<p>All cars in the UK must be taxed, including hybrids and plug-in hybrids. However, the amount of road tax you&rsquo;ll have to pay is calculated on the emissions your car produces and when it was registered.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The older a car is and the higher the emissions, the more you have to pay. Hybrid cars have lower CO2 emissions, so they can save you money on road tax that way.</p>
<p>As for congestion charges, hybrid car drivers are now liable to pay the same flat fee as drivers of petrol or diesel-powered vehicles.</p>
<h2>Are hybrid cars worth the investment?</h2>
<p>Whether a hybrid car is worth the investment depends on your individual circumstances, priorities, and driving habits. Here are some factors to consider:</p>
<h3>Fuel efficiency&nbsp;</h3>
<p>Hybrids are known for their superior fuel efficiency, which can help you save on fuel costs, especially if you do a lot of city or stop-and-go driving.</p>
<h3>Environmental impact</h3>
<p>Hybrids produce fewer emissions than traditional cars, making them a more eco-friendly option. <a href="https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/electric-cars/choosing/what-is-a-hybrid/#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20main%20benefits,per%20mile%20than%20conventional%20vehicles" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">RAC</a> reports that hybrid cars use up to 30% less fuel per mile than conventional vehicles.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Maintenance costs</h3>
<p>Hybrids often have lower maintenance costs because they rely more on electric power, which puts less strain on the engine and brakes.</p>
<h3>Resale value</h3>
<p>Hybrids tend to have a better resale value compared to regular diesel and petrol cars due to their reputation for efficiency and environmental benefits.</p>
<h3>Driving habits</h3>
<p>Consider your typical driving patterns. A hybrid's electric mode may be advantageous if you primarily drive short distances or in traffic. However, if you frequently drive long distances, a hybrid might not have the same level of benefits for you.</p>
<h3>Charging point availability</h3>
<p>If you're considering plug-in hybrid cars, consider the availability of charging stations in your area. <br><br>Plug-in hybrids are very similar to hybrid cars, but unlike hybrids, which can be used like conventional cars, plug-in hybrids need regular charging. They&rsquo;re designed to run solely off electricity until the battery power runs out, which is when the petrol engine takes over.<br><br>Alternatively, you can have an <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/ev-chargers/guides/electric-cars-how-much-could-you-save-in-the-uk" rel="follow">EV charger installed at home</a>. ​Having an EV home charger is by far the most convenient way to charge your electric car. There&rsquo;s no need to wait at a public charging point for hours or queue to use an electric car charger.</p>
<h3>Budget</h3>
<p>Evaluate your budget and compare the upfront cost of a hybrid with potential long-term savings in fuel and maintenance.<br><br>Hybrid cars make a lot of financial sense if you're a driver who wants to prioritise fuel efficiency and reduce your carbon footprint. However, the exact value of the investment depends on your specific needs and preferences.<br><br>The automotive services specialist, <a href="https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/electric-cars/choosing/what-is-a-hybrid/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">RAC</a>, advises buyers to research and compare different models and whether they&rsquo;re likely to retain their value and assess their driving habits to see whether a hybrid car is right for them.</p>
<h2>Choose EV charger installation from BOXT</h2>
<p>If you take the leap on a plug-in hybrid car or electric vehicle, you shouldn't have to drive around looking for an available public EV charging point any time your charge is running low. With a <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/ev-chargers" rel="follow">fast charger installed at home</a>, you'll always be ready to go.</p>
<p>Here at BOXT, we provide top-of-the-range EV chargers with our professional installation included at no extra cost. Simply answer a few questions, and <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/find-an-ev-charger/" rel="follow">we'll recommend EV chargers</a> so you can choose the most suitable one for you.</p>
<p>All of our <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/ev-chargers" rel="follow">home EV chargers</a> come with a 3-year guarantee to give you total peace of mind.</p>

Get your fixed price on home EV charger installation today

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What is a hybrid car? Everything you need to know

Similar to our mobile phones, the lithium ion batteries in Electric Vehicles have a limited lifespan, but how limited? Find out more here.

<p>If you&rsquo;re considering taking the leap towards a more eco-conscious future, then you&rsquo;ll most probably have thought about purchasing an electric car. With the sale of new petrol and diesel cars set to be banned in the UK by 2035, <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/electric-car-charging/guides/how-much-does-it-cost-to-charge-an-electric-car" rel="follow">making the switch to electric</a> earlier might save you money when demand rises.&nbsp;</p>
<p>What&rsquo;s more, you&rsquo;ll be making a lifestyle choice that not only benefits you by diminishing your fuel bill, but a choice that helps to tackle the rise in greenhouse gases, too.&nbsp;</p>
<p>However, before purchasing an electric car, it&rsquo;s good to do a bit of research to not only determine which one is best for your requirements, but also how your investment might pay off.&nbsp;</p>
<p>This guide aims to break down the lifespan of an electric car, discussing the pros and cons, battery health and best practices, all whilst helping you make an informed decision.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>How long does an electric car last?</h2>
<p>Typically, an electric car will have a lifespan of roughly 100,000 to 200,000 miles or about 8 &nbsp;to 15 years for the average road user. Of course, this number varies massively on how you use your car. Whether it&rsquo;s everyday use, long commutes or weekend trips - the amount of mileage you rack up each year will determine the lifespan of an electric car. &nbsp;</p>
<p>Another factor to consider that determines the lifespan of an electric car is the battery quality and usage. There are a number of best practices to bear in mind when using the specific type of battery that powers an electric vehicle (we&rsquo;ll touch on this later).&nbsp;</p>
<p>But first, let&rsquo;s look under the bonnet.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>What are electric car batteries made of?</h2>
<p>Similar to mobile phones, electric car batteries are made from lithium ion. Also known as a Li-ion battery, this type of rechargeable battery stores energy through the reversible reduction of lithium ions.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Phone manufacturers place single lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries in their products, meaning they last only a few years (so you buy the next top model), whereas the batteries in electric cars are built to last longer.&nbsp;</p>
<p>These scaled up versions are a lot more durable due to how they are constructed, whilst the battery in your phone is a single battery, electric car batteries are a built up pack which is comprised of thousands of individual Li-ion cells working together.</p>
<h3>How do batteries power an electric car?</h3>
<p>Electricity is used to alter the batteries' chemical composition while the car is charging. These modifications are then reversed while the car is on the road to create electricity and power the vehicle. To reverse this, you plug it in. And so on.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>How many years do electric car batteries last?</h2>
<p>As previously stated, the length of time your electric car is on the road is heavily determined by how you use it, how big the battery output is and how well you look after it. Typically, you can expect to get a lifespan of anything from 8 years to 15 years out of an electric car, provided you look after it and maintain steps towards a healthy battery.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Rather than litres of fuel, an electric car&rsquo;s capacity is measured in kilowatt hours (kWh), and similar to conventional petrol and diesel cars, electric cars vary in size. So depending on the size of car you opt for, whether it&rsquo;s a standard 40kWh battery, or a 100kWh, this will determine the lifespan of your electric car, too.</p>
<h3>How do electric car batteries work?</h3>
<p>EV batteries undergo cycles of discharge when driving and charge when the car is plugged in. The electricity created from charging the car, when on the road, is converted to energy to get you from A to B efficiently.</p>
<h2>Why does an electric car battery lose charge over time?</h2>
<p>The greatest stress that can be put on a lithium ion battery is allowing it to deplete completely then charging up again. This process is known as a charge cycle and typically, Li-ion batteries have roughly 500 full charge life cycles in them. Once they have used up all 500 charge cycles, this is when the battery will start to deplete and the lifespan of the car will start to shorten. It is recommended that one way to preserve your electric car&rsquo;s battery is to keep it between 25% to 75% charged when not in use and between 20% and 80% when in use and never allowing it to deplete all together.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Basically, don&rsquo;t wait until 1% to go grab your charger.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Ways to make your electric car last longer</h2>
<p>There are numerous ways in which you can ensure your car&rsquo;s battery life is used to the best of its ability and doesn&rsquo;t deplete faster than it should. First of all, understanding how they work is imperative to getting the most out of your electric vehicle.</p>
<p>Installing a <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/ev-chargers" rel="follow">home EV charger</a> is one of the best ways to keep on top of your battery health, as you can retain autonomy and control over when and where you&rsquo;re charging your car.&nbsp;</p>
<p>It is best to use the car as soon as it&rsquo;s charged, therefore, by charging at home you can determine when is the ideal time to plug it in should you need it for the day, or longer. &nbsp;</p>
<p>Other methods to ensure your electric car battery lasts are as followed:&nbsp;</p>
<ul>
<li>Charge the battery only when necessary to avoid unnecessary stress</li>
<li>Keep the battery between 20% and 80% charge and never let it die completely</li>
<li>Charge the battery between 25% and 75% if you&rsquo;ll be away, rather than leaving it empty or full</li>
</ul>
<p>If you plan on going away for a while and don&rsquo;t intend to use your car, don&rsquo;t fret too much about the battery depleting. This is because an electric car will only lose approximately 2-3% of its charge a month whilst parked without being driven.</p>
<p>Discover <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/electric-car-charging/guides/do-electric-cars-lose-charge-when-parked" rel="follow">whether cars lose charge when they&rsquo;re parked</a> in our previous guide.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Replacing your vehicle battery</h2>
<p>If you find yourself in a situation where your vehicle battery needs replacing, don&rsquo;t panic.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In recent years, the price of replacing an EV battery has actually decreased, as consumer demand is starting to increase in favour of electric vehicles, manufacturers are working to make them more affordable and accessible to a wider range of customers.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Replacing a battery will vary in price and availability depending on the make and model of your electric vehicle. Below is a table showing the typical lifespan and warranty provided by each EV manufacturer.&nbsp;</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 391.876px;"><colgroup><col style="width: 50%;"><col style="width: 50%;"></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 19.5938px;">
<td style="height: 19.5938px;"><strong>Manufacturer</strong></td>
<td style="height: 19.5938px;"><strong>Warranty</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19.5938px;">
<td style="height: 19.5938px;">Audi</td>
<td style="height: 19.5938px;">8 years/100,000 miles</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19.5938px;">
<td style="height: 19.5938px;">BMW</td>
<td style="height: 19.5938px;">8 years/100,000 miles</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19.5938px;">
<td style="height: 19.5938px;">Citroen</td>
<td style="height: 19.5938px;">8 years/100,000 miles</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19.5938px;">
<td style="height: 19.5938px;">Fiat</td>
<td style="height: 19.5938px;">8 years/100,000 miles</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19.5938px;">
<td style="height: 19.5938px;">Honda</td>
<td style="height: 19.5938px;">8 years/100,000 miles</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19.5938px;">
<td style="height: 19.5938px;">Hyundai</td>
<td style="height: 19.5938px;">8 years/125,000 miles</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19.5938px;">
<td style="height: 19.5938px;">Jaguar</td>
<td style="height: 19.5938px;">8 years/100,000 miles</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19.5938px;">
<td style="height: 19.5938px;">Kia</td>
<td style="height: 19.5938px;">7 years/100,000 miles</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19.5938px;">
<td style="height: 19.5938px;">Mercedes-Benz</td>
<td style="height: 19.5938px;">8 years/100,000 miles</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19.5938px;">
<td style="height: 19.5938px;">MG</td>
<td style="height: 19.5938px;">7 years/80,000 miles</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19.5938px;">
<td style="height: 19.5938px;">Mini</td>
<td style="height: 19.5938px;">8 years/100,000 miles</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19.5938px;">
<td style="height: 19.5938px;">Nissan</td>
<td style="height: 19.5938px;">8 years/100,000 miles</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19.5938px;">
<td style="height: 19.5938px;">Peugeot</td>
<td style="height: 19.5938px;">8 years/100,000 miles</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19.5938px;">
<td style="height: 19.5938px;">Renault</td>
<td style="height: 19.5938px;">8 years/100,000 miles</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19.5938px;">
<td style="height: 19.5938px;">Skoda</td>
<td style="height: 19.5938px;">8 years/100,000 miles</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19.5938px;">
<td style="height: 19.5938px;">Tesla (Model S/X)</td>
<td style="height: 19.5938px;">8 years/150,000 miles</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19.5938px;">
<td style="height: 19.5938px;">Tesla (Model 3/Y)</td>
<td style="height: 19.5938px;">8 years/100,000 miles</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19.5938px;">
<td style="height: 19.5938px;">Vauxhall</td>
<td style="height: 19.5938px;">8 years/100,000 miles</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19.5938px;">
<td style="height: 19.5938px;">Volkswagen</td>
<td style="height: 19.5938px;">8 years/100,000 miles</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>Change your carbon footprint by installing an EV charger at home</h2>
<p>Broadly comparable to that of a petrol or diesel car, the lifespan of an electric car is nothing to worry about when making the switch to a greener mode of transportation. If you&rsquo;re considering <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/ev-chargers" rel="follow">installing a charging point at home</a>, then BOXT can help you.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Not all <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/electric-car-charging/guides/are-all-electric-car-chargers-the-same" rel="follow">electric chargers are the same</a>, therefore, you&rsquo;ll need to determine which to install at home or what to keep an eye out for when you&rsquo;re charging your EV out and about. If you already have an electric vehicle and want to install a domestic socket, then try our <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/find-an-ev-charger/" rel="follow">Find An EV Charger</a> tool.</p>

What is the lifespan of an electric car?

Electric vehicles are becoming more popular. If you're thinking about buying one, find out everything you need to know about EV charging point home installation.

<p>Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular as people look for more cost-effective and sustainable ways to get around. But one of the biggest challenges of owning an electric car is access to EV charging stations.</p>
<p>Installing a <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/ev-chargers" rel="follow">home EV charger</a>&nbsp;is a great solution for most EV owners. Still, it's important to understand the process and requirements involved.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Our guide is here to answer all your pressing questions before you decide if a <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/ev-chargers">home EV charger</a> will make sense for you. From eligibility to preparations before installation, we've got you covered.</p>
<h2>Can I install an electric car charger at home?</h2>
<p>So you've just invested in a brand-new electric car, and you want the convenience of being able to charge it at home. You've taken out your <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/electric-car-charging/guides/the-complete-guide-to-electric-car-insurance" rel="follow">electric car insurance</a>, and you're ready to go.</p>
<p>Of course, your next thought is, 'can I install a home charging point for my new electric vehicle?'. The good news is, yes, you can!</p>
<p>You can install an electric vehicle (EV) charging point at your home, provided you have off-road parking and an accessible place to install it. For example, a driveway, garage, or carport are fantastic places to install a home charging point.</p>
<p>You may also want to consider having a Wallbox installed for better and faster charging.&nbsp;</p>
<p>There's a great benefit to having a home charger, too. And that's not having to <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/electric-car-charging/guides/finding-electric-car-charging-stations" rel="follow">find electric car charging points</a> to recharge your vehicle.You can simply plug it in at home and rest easy knowing you can fully charge your electric car from the comfort of your own home.</p>
<h3>Who can install an EV charger at home?</h3>
<p>In the UK, anyone who owns the property where the EV charger is being placed can install one.</p>
<p>The installation should be done by a qualified electrician. This will ensure it is done safely and the installation is in line with local regulations.</p>
<p>Additionally, homeowners will need to make sure that the installation of their <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/ev-chargers" rel="follow">EV chargers</a> meets all the requirements. These include obtaining relevant permits, having a good power supply, and meeting safety standards.</p>
<p>If you want to make the process as quick, painless, and affordable as possible, BOXT has you covered. We'll always give you the <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/find-an-ev-charger/" rel="follow">best fixed-price quote for your electric car charging point</a>.</p>
<h3>How long does it take to have an EV charging point installed at home?</h3>
<p>Over and above the <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/electric-car-charging/guides/how-much-does-it-cost-to-install-an-ev-charger-at-home" rel="follow">EV charger installation cost</a>, you should consider how long it takes to install an electric car charging point at home. You'll need to be home while the charging point installation is being performed, so this is an important question.</p>
<p>When you've called a professional engineer to perform the installation of a home charger, the time it takes will depend on several factors. It will depend on the type of charger, the location of the charging point, and the power supply available.</p>
<p>On average, a standard installation should take a few hours. In most cases, your engineer can have a domestic charging point installed in as little as two hours.&nbsp;</p>

Fast chargers with full installation included

<h2>How can I prepare for EV charger installation at home?</h2>
<p>There are three main <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/electric-car-charging/guides/ev-charger-installation-requirements-what-you-need-to-know" rel="follow">EV charger installation requirements</a>. These requirements include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Property ownership</li>
<li>Off-street parking</li>
<li>Wi-Fi connection (some chargers also work off 4G as they have a sim card built into them)</li>
</ul>
<p>There are a few steps electric car owners can take to ensure their installation runs smoothly.</p>
<h3>Step 1 - Determine what type of charger you'll need</h3>
<p>Different electric cars need different chargers. While most electric cars need a Type 2 socket, older models may still use a Type 1. This is where a tethered and untethered charger will come in.</p>
<p>When you're getting a charger installed, it's important to remember that a tethered charger comes with a Type 1 or Type 2 cable attached. And while that may be handy in the short term, it's less flexible than an untethered charger. Untethered chargers don't have a cable attached but can be used with any electric car - no matter their plug requirements.</p>
<h3>Step 2 - Get all the necessary permits</h3>
<p>Depending on where you live and the regulations of your area, you may need to obtain permits before installing an EV charging point. Whilst most electric car drivers can install a charger without permits, there are special circumstances when they may be required. EV chargers are no longer considered permitted developments and will require permits when:</p>
<ul>
<li>The installation is close to a highway</li>
<li>In a listed building</li>
<li>Over 1.6 metres tall (ground-mounted) or over 0.2 cubic metres (wall-mounted)</li>
</ul>
<h3>Step 3 - Select a location</h3>
<p>If you want to charge your electric car at home, you'll need a good location for the charger. This can be in your garage, in a carport, or on your driveway.</p>
<p>As long as you have good accessibility and it falls in line with safety regulations, you can charge an electric car almost anywhere. Just remember that your location will also need a good Wi-Fi connection (unless your charger has a 4G sim installed)!</p>
<h3>Step 4 - Check your power supply</h3>
<p>When you get in touch with your technician or electrician, you'll need to ask them whether your home has a good enough power supply. The supply needs to support the electric car charger. Without it, you won't be able to use the charger.</p>
<h3>Step 5 - Hire a qualified engineer</h3>
<p>Don't get stuck with a poorly installed charger. One of the most important factors to consider before installing an EV charger at home is that you're only using a qualified engineer.</p>
<p>Trying to install your own charger can come at a cost and may even be dangerous to your health and home. Instead, a professional technician can help you to install your charger quickly and safely.</p>

<h2>Choose home EV charging point installation with BOXT</h2>
<p>Now that you're cruising in style with an electric car, the next logical step is to install a home charger. In the long run, these chargers will save you time and money and even improve the value of your home.</p>
<p>So if you're ready to get your installation going, BOXT can help you <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/find-an-ev-charger" rel="follow">find the best EV charger for your home</a>. Our team of experts is ready to help.</p>

Can I install an EV charger at home?

If you drive an electric car, you'll know howenergy-efficient and environmentally friendly they are when compared with petrol or diesel vehicles. But, thanks to the typical British weather, you may find yourself asking, 'Can you charge an electric car in the rain?' It’s something that many first-time EV owners wonder; ...

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you drive an electric car, you'll know how energy-efficient and environmentally friendly they are when compared with petrol or diesel vehicles. But, thanks to the typical British weather, you may find yourself asking, 'Can you charge an electric car in the rain?' It&rsquo;s something that many first-time EV owners wonder about; so you won&rsquo;t be the first.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With strong myths circulating about charging electric vehicles in bad weather, you may be worried that it's unsafe. Do you need to take any special precautions?&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Luckily, you'll find the answers to these questions and more right here.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We'll explain whether charging electric cars in the rain is dangerous and what you can do to protect your</span> <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/ev-chargers" rel="follow">home EV charger</a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in bad weather.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you'd like to know more, just read along as we explore how to safely charge your EV in the rain.</span></p>
<h2><span data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Is it safe to charge an electric car in the rain?&quot;}" data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:6717,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;6&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;7&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;8&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;12&quot;:0,&quot;14&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:2964813},&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Arial&quot;}">Is it safe to charge an electric car in the rain?</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We're all aware that water and electricity don&rsquo;t mix. But modern-day electric vehicles are designed to be used in every weather condition; there&rsquo;s certainly no need to worry. And this doesn't just refer to dry or wet weather either; it also means clean or dusty and hot or cold conditions.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Electric vehicles are designed to be used in the same way as petrol or diesel cars - in all weather conditions.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This makes all types of EV chargers perfectly safe to use in the rain.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Electric vehicle cables and chargers are weatherproof and are carefully designed to protect the car, driver and passengers from any electric shocks.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Waterproofing any outdoor electrical equipment is a standard routine, as there are strict rules that must be complied with by both manufacturers and installers.</span></p>
<h2><span data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Are there special precautions when charging an EV while it&rsquo;s raining?&quot;}" data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:6717,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;6&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;7&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;8&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;12&quot;:0,&quot;14&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:2964813},&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Arial&quot;}">Are there special precautions when charging an EV while it&rsquo;s raining?</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">No, there aren't any special precautions to be taken when using EV charging stations.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When you think about the inbuilt safety, testing standards, and advanced technology, it's easy to appreciate how safe EV charging stations really are.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, there are things you can do to further increase your safety when using an EV charging station whatever the weather, such as:</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Never charge your car using a multi-socket extension lead designed for domestic purposes. If you need an extension lead, only use one designed for outdoor use. That said, you should only ever be using a standard three-pin plug in an emergency, not for regular charging.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br><br></span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Only buy charging cables from reputable retailers or directly through the manufacturer: these companies will put their products through strict and thorough testing to meet UK safety standards.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br><br></span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Regularly check your cables for wear and tear and replace them if there's any damage.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br><br></span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">A dedicated charging point is the safest and most convenient way to charge your electric vehicle. Make sure this is installed by a qualified professional.</span></li>
</ul>
<h2><span data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;What happens if water gets inside an electric car charger?&quot;}" data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:6717,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;6&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;7&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;8&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;12&quot;:0,&quot;14&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:2964813},&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Arial&quot;}">What happens if water gets inside an electric car charger?</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It's very unlikely to happen, but if water gets into the charger to a point where it becomes dangerous, a charging connection won't happen. This means there won't be a current flow, so there's no risk of a shock or electrocution.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These safety precautions are put in place to keep you as safe as possible, and it means that your cables will be resistant to rain and water intrusion. Some of the safety precautions built into the charging plug to prevent water ingress include:</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The pins and prongs in the charger are designed to make the primary "charging pin" the last to make contact when plugged into the connector. It's also the first contact that will break when it's unplugged. This means that any defects with the connector would be identified before the primary pin is even fully plugged in.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br><br></span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The connectors are very bulky with copious amounts of plastic around them, even though the pins themselves are very small. This protects against water intrusion and prevents any damage from occurring. Each connector prong or pin has a plastic covering on the charging port and the vehicle's matching port.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These safety functions all work to ensure that, even if water does get into one of the pins, the moisture won't touch any other pins, preventing any short circuits.</span></p>
<h2><span data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Electric car chargers are subjected to safety testing&quot;}" data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:6717,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;6&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;7&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;8&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;12&quot;:0,&quot;14&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:2964813},&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Arial&quot;}">Electric car chargers are subjected to safety testing</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Before being sold, electric vehicles undergo testing and verification, making them an extremely safe option even in the worst weather conditions. The testing of electric vehicles is much more than just the approval process for the car and its components.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It includes testing the charging interfaces and all the systems to do with enabling the electric vehicle. Other tests include the charging station itself and the back-office systems that communicate, known as conformance or interoperability testing.</span></p>
<h2><span data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Don't believe the myths&quot;}" data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:6717,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;6&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;7&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;8&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;12&quot;:0,&quot;14&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:2964813},&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Arial&quot;}">Don't believe the myths</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Unfortunately, there are many myths about electric cars. Some people believe they're not safe to charge in the rain and that you'll get electrocuted. But this couldn't be further from the truth - electric vehicles are perfectly safe to charge in adverse weather conditions.</span></p>

You'll always be ready to go with a fast car charger installed at your home.

<h2><span data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Final thoughts&quot;}" data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:6717,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;6&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;7&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;8&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;12&quot;:0,&quot;14&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:2964813},&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Arial&quot;}">Final thoughts</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hopefully, this guide has put your mind at rest about charging your EV. Ultimately, electric vehicles are completely safe to charge, no matter the weather conditions.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Check out our other guides for more information on charging electric vehicles such as <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/electric-car-charging/guides/should-you-charge-your-electric-car-every-night" rel="follow">should you charge your electric car every night?</a></span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/electric-car-charging/guides/the-motability-scheme-for-electric-cars" rel="follow">the Motability Scheme for electric cars</a>.</span></p>

Can you charge an electric car in the rain?

Explore the types of EV charging cables and connectors, which cars they work with, how fast they charge an EV, and how to find the right charger with BOXT.

<p>The sale of new diesel and petrol cars is set to be <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consulting-on-ending-the-sale-of-new-petrol-diesel-and-hybrid-cars-and-vans" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">phased out from 2035</a>, meaning that every driver in the UK will have to switch to electric driving at some point in the not-too-distant future.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Although an EV technically drives the same as a petrol or diesel vehicle, charging is different and something that will take motorists some time to get used to.</p>
<p>One of the biggest discussion topics amongst those considering buying an EV is charging; including how long it takes, how much it costs and how it works.</p>
<p>In this guide, we&rsquo;ll help you to understand the different types of <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/ev-chargers" rel="follow">electric car chargers</a> currently available, as well as the different types of connectors.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>What&rsquo;s the difference between EV chargers and EV connectors?</h2>
<p>Like there are different cables required to charge different mobile phones, there are various EV charging connector types. While it may be difficult to remember all six, the good news is that as the need for more public charging increases, the more standardised the connectors become. At the moment, there are six different types of EV charging connectors.</p>
<h2>The 6 types of EV connectors&nbsp;</h2>
<h3>1. UK 3-pin plug</h3>
<p><img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/Gcd8LBqPQ3ucQND3da33" alt="UK 3 pin plug diagram" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></p>
<p>Every electric car comes with a cable designed for domestic plug sockets. However, the 3-pin plug should only be used occasionally or during emergencies as it&rsquo;s much less efficient than using a wallbox or charge point. &nbsp;</p>
<p>In fact, the 3-pin plug offers the slowest charge possible for an EV, with an average rate of just 8 miles of charge per hour.</p>
<p>If you're in a situation where your EV is running out of battery and can&rsquo;t locate a suitable charging station, you could use a UK 3-pin plug point to top up. But, with only an average power rating of 2.3kW, it should not be used as your only connector or for overnight charging, especially when better options exist.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>2. Type 1</h3>
<p><img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/pi11VzAQGWUOHsOnov26" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="type 1 ev charger diagram"></p>
<p>Type 1 chargers were one of the original electric car charger types and can still be found on some EV models, like the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and older versions of the Kia Soul EV and Nissan Leaf.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Featuring a 5-pin design, the type 1 charger runs on alternating current (AC) and can provide between 3-7kWk (12-25 miles of range per hour), so it can be used for fast and slow charging.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>3. Type 2</h3>
<p><img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/OG7icIXgSSKAI0QI3C0m" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Type 2 ev charger diagram"></p>
<p>Type 2 connectors are considered the universal EV connector type and are found on most electric cars. Sometimes referred to as Mennekes (the company that produces this connector type), type 2 connectors have 7 pins and can perform both fast and slow charging as they offer between 7 and 43kW.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Type 2 became the standard EU connector type in 2017 when EU legislation was passed that meant all public electric car charging stations must provide a Type 2 connector.&nbsp;</p>
<p>This change led many European car manufacturers, including Audi, BMW, Renault, Mercedes, VW and Volvo to fit new models with Type 2 charging compatibility.</p>
<h3>4. CHAdeMO</h3>
<p><img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/SYIVrdFTyu7VtAuHwMSx" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="CHAdeMO ev charger"></p>
<p>The CHAdeMO (Charge de Move) was one of the first DC charging types available for electric vehicles. It is the Japanese counterpart to the CCS and is often found on Toyota, Subaru, Nissan, and Mitsubishi EVs.</p>
<p>The CHAdeMO is less convenient than the CCS as it requires two separate plugs: one for rapid and one for regular. This means it requires a larger access flap.&nbsp;<br>What is convenient, though, is that all charging stations that feature CCS compatibility also feature a CHAdeMO plug point.</p>
<p>CHAdeMO charging points can currently provide a rapid charging speed of up to 400kW and manufacturers are currently looking at ways to increase this to 900kW.</p>
<h3>5. CCS combo type 1</h3>
<p><img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/dx813SCEQ2qbzL4wziPg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="CCS combo type 1 ev charger"></p>
<p>Combined Charging System (CCS) connectors are the most prominent DC (Direct Current) charging type available on tethered rapid chargers. It is most commonly found on European EV models and can also be found on some Teslas.</p>
<p>The CCS connector type comes with nine pins spread across two sections. The upper section features seven pins and will either be a Type 1 fixing or a Type 2 CCS combo fixing, depending on the model of the car. This upper section is also compatible with an AC charger or a home wallbox. The lower section features a 2-pin DC socket.</p>
<p>The current top charging speed of the CCS charging type is 350kW and can charge an electric car with up to 525 miles in just an hour.</p>
<h3>6. CCS combo type 2&nbsp;</h3>
<p><img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/aet5wOf2R6JYeHkMBTzL" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="CCS combo type 2 ev charger "></p>
<p>While the CCS combo type 1 is typically found on North American cars, the CCS combo type 2 is the European equivalent.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The CCS combo type 2 supports both AC and DC charging and provides between 50 and 350kW of energy - making it perfect for rapid charging. &nbsp;</p>
<h2>The 4 types of electric car chargers</h2>
<h3>1. Slow chargers&nbsp;</h3>
<p>Slow chargers, including three-pin plugs, only offer up to 6kW of AC charging and are only recommended for use when no other chargers are available. This is because a slow charger can take up to 12 hours to charge an EV battery.</p>
<h3>2. Fast chargers (level 2)</h3>
<p>Charging at speeds of between 7-22kW an hour in AC, fast chargers are commonly fitted in UK homes and used as public chargers in car parks.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Depending on the output, a fast-charging unit can take between 3 and 8 hours to fill an EV&rsquo;s battery. &nbsp;</p>
<h3>3. Rapid/Ultra-rapid chargers (level 3)</h3>
<p>One of the fastest ways to charge an electric car is with a rapid <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/ev-chargers" rel="follow">EV charger</a>. As the name suggests, these charging systems are super-fast and can refill 80% of an EV battery in around 40 minutes.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Ultra-rapid charge points are even quicker, with the potential to fill 80% of an EV battery in just 20 minutes.</p>
<h3>4. Tesla supercharger</h3>
<p>Unlike other EV car manufacturers, Tesla actually has its own network of over 25,000 charging points in the UK alone.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The ultra-rapid chargers are made specifically for Tesla models and can refill 80% of battery capacity in around 30 minutes.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Offering up to 150kW of power, Tesla&rsquo;s superchargers are typically found at motorway service stations and hotels across the country.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Types of charging cables</h2>
<h3>Tethered charging cable</h3>
<p>This type of charging plug is permanently connected to the charging unit, so can&rsquo;t be removed. Tethered cables are usually found on rapid and ultra-rapid charging units and resemble a petrol or diesel pump, with the lead attached to a dedicated EV charging unit.</p>
<h3>Untethered charging cable</h3>
<p>Unlike tethered cables, untethered charging cables can be taken anywhere (it&rsquo;s a good idea to keep one in your EV, just in case). These cables must be plugged into your car and a charging point, i.e. at your home or a public charging point.&nbsp;</p>
<p>One of the benefits of untethered charging cables is that it gives you more flexibility, compared to their tethered equivalent, because you can take the cable with you, wherever you&rsquo;re travelling.&nbsp;</p>

We delve into the pros and cons of each charger type, while also assessing which is cheaper, and which is more secure.

Check out our tethered vs. untethered EV charger guide

Want to learn more?

<h2>What sort of EV charger do you need for your car?</h2>
<p>If you&rsquo;re looking for a <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/ev-chargers" rel="follow">home EV charger</a>, then look no further than BOXT. If you&rsquo;re struggling to work out which charger or connector is right for you, our <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/find-an-ev-charger" rel="follow">Find an EV Charger</a> service can help. We&rsquo;ll ask a few questions about your car and where you park it, and then recommend chargers to you. It&rsquo;s that easy.&nbsp;</p>

You'll always be ready to go with an EV charger installed at your home.

<h2>More EV charging advice from BOXT</h2>
<p>To help you find the best solution to your EV charging problems, check out our dedicated <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/guides?category=electric-car-charging" rel="follow">EV charging blogs</a>. Here, you&rsquo;ll find everything you need to know about efficiently charging your car, from whether you can <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/electric-car-charging/guides/can-you-charge-an-electric-car-in-the-rain" rel="follow">charge your EV in the rain</a>, to <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/electric-car-charging/guides/how-much-does-it-cost-to-charge-an-electric-car" rel="follow">how much it costs to charge an electric vehicle</a>, and the <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/electric-car-charging/guides/electric-car-road-tax-what-you-need-to-know" rel="follow">type of road tax</a> you&rsquo;ll need. &nbsp;</p>

Exploring electric vehicle (EV) charger types: a comprehensive guide

If you're an electric car owner or are thinking of becoming one, you'll most likely be considering installing an EV charger at your home. Home charging is much more convenient than relying on public charging points, but it can be hard to decide which type of charger to choose. There ...

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you're an electric car owner or are thinking of becoming one, you'll most likely be considering installing an</span> <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/ev-chargers"><span style="font-weight: 400;">EV charger</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> at your home.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Home charging is much more convenient than relying on public charging points, but it can be hard to decide which type of charger to choose.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There are a wide variety of home chargers available depending on what size, style or shape you prefer. But, before you consider any of this, you'll need to decide if you want to install a tethered or untethered charger.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">They both fulfil the same purpose of charging your car, but there are different pros and cons to each type of charger.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here at BOXT, we've laid out a detailed guide on the two different types of home EV chargers to help you make an informed decision about which one is best for you.</span></p>
<h2><span data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Tethered vs untethered EV charger: what's the difference?&quot;}" data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:6717,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;6&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;7&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;8&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;12&quot;:0,&quot;14&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:2964813},&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Arial&quot;}">Tethered vs untethered EV charger: what's the difference?</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Essentially, the main difference between tethered and untethered EV chargers is the charging cable. Whereas tethered chargers have a fixed cable attached that can't be removed, untethered chargers have a detachable cable.</span></p>
<h2><span data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Tethered EV charger overview&quot;}" data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:6717,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;6&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;7&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;8&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;12&quot;:0,&quot;14&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:2964813},&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Arial&quot;}">Tethered EV charger overview</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Most electric car owners choose to buy tethered chargers, and they're the most common type of home EV charger that you'll see. They do have some benefits when compared to untethered chargers, but also several drawbacks.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The tethered charger is probably the most convenient of the two options as it requires minimal effort when charging your electric car.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">You simply unravel the cable from the charging unit and insert it into the charging point of your vehicle. It's similar to the way you would fill up the tank of a vehicle at a petrol pump. The charging cable is also included in the overall price of the charging unit.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As the charging cable is permanently attached to the charging unit, it means that you'll be limited to the length of cable that the manufacturer provides.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Most manufacturers provide 5-metre cables as standard, but they can vary between 2-10 metres. So, before buying a tethered charger, it's important to check what length of cable you'll be getting. If you require a longer cable, some providers will allow you to upgrade at an extra cost.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One of the more restrictive elements of a tethered unit is that the attached charging cable will have only one of two connection types, Type 1 or Type 2. Type 2 is now the standard connection type for all new electric vehicles, and it's only older EVs, such as the Citroen C-Zero, that still use the Type 1.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is something to bear in mind if you're purchasing a tethered EV charger, as you'll need to make sure you choose the correct charging type for your vehicle.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Remember that if you have an older electric car but you're planning to buy a new one in the future, then you would have to change your Type 1 charging unit for a Type 2.</span></p>
<h3><b>Tethered charger pros:</b></h3>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The tethered cable will be included in the overall price of the unit.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tethered EV chargers are convenient as you simply uncoil the attached cable and plug it into your vehicle.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The cable is permanently attached, meaning it is much less likely to be stolen than an untethered cable.</span></li>
</ul>
<h3><b>Tethered charger cons:</b></h3>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">You'll be limited to the length of cable supplied by the manufacturer. If you need a charging cable with more length, this will come at an extra cost.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">A tethered charger is restricted to either Type 1 or Type 2 charging connections.</span></li>
</ul>
<h2><span data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Untethered EV charger overview&quot;}" data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:6717,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;6&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;7&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;8&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;12&quot;:0,&quot;14&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:2964813},&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Arial&quot;}">Untethered EV charger overview</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">An untethered EV charger doesn't have a charging cable permanently attached to it, and provides greater flexibility than a tethered charger. Some electric cars come with their own charging cable, but most of the time, you'll need to buy a charging cable separately when you purchase an untethered unit.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As the cable is detachable, you can take it with you when you travel. This means you can use other public EV chargers whilst you're out on the road, as long as they have the right connection type for your electric car.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Also, if any visitors to your home need to charge their electric car, they can simply plug in their own charging cable to your home EV charger.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Although they're more flexible, they are also less convenient than tethered chargers, as each time you charge, you'll have to plug one end of the cable into the EV charging unit and the other end into your vehicle. You'll also have to disconnect each end of the cable when you've finished charging.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One of the big differences between tethered and untethered chargers is that untethered charging units are more future-proof. If, at some point, you need a longer cable or a different type of charging connection, you can replace the cable without having to pay for a whole new charging unit.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another benefit of an untethered charger is that it can often present a more pleasing aesthetic than a tethered EV charger. When it's not in use, you can untether the cable from the socket and store it somewhere out of the way.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is ideal if you want to avoid having any cables hanging down from the side of your home. All that will be visible when the cable is stored away is the EV charger, which can be quite discreet.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There are tethered chargers available that come equipped with cable holders so that the charging cable can be stored neatly away when not in use. This is not standard, though, and often these tethered chargers are more expensive than the more basic units.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you're concerned with how your unit will look once it's installed in your home, it's usually best to opt for an untethered EV charger.</span></p>
<h3><b>Untethered charger pros:</b></h3>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you need a different connection type or a longer cable, you can buy a new cable without having to pay to replace the entire charging unit.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The untethered cable can be stored away so that the unit looks tidier.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">It gives you more flexibility as you can take the untethered charging cable with you when you travel.</span></li>
</ul>
<h3><b>Untethered charger cons:</b></h3>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Usually, the cable must be bought separately from the untethered charger.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">You have to attach the cable before charging and detach it after charging, meaning it is less convenient than a tethered charger.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Depending on where you store the cable when it's detached, you may have to clean it regularly to avoid bringing any dirt inside.</span></li>
</ul>

<h2><span data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Which is more expensive, tethered or untethered?&quot;}" data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:6717,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;6&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;7&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;8&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;12&quot;:0,&quot;14&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:2964813},&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Arial&quot;}">Which is more expensive, tethered or untethered?</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One of the main considerations electric vehicle owners have when deciding whether to choose a tethered or untethered charger is which one will be more cost-efficient.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tethered chargers tend to be more expensive because the cost of the unit includes the price of the cable. Untethered chargers are usually less expensive to buy at first because you are only paying for the unit itself.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, when you factor in the cost of buying the cable separately, the price difference may not be very much in the end.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you have ordered an electric vehicle, make sure that you check whether it will come with its own charging cable. If this is the case, then you'll only need to pay for the unit itself, unless you want to buy a spare cable.</span></p>
<h2><span data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Tethered or untethered: which is more secure?&quot;}" data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:6717,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;6&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;7&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;8&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;12&quot;:0,&quot;14&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:2964813},&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Arial&quot;}">Tethered or untethered: which is more secure?</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As the cable for a tethered charger is permanently attached to the unit, it can't be removed, providing good theft protection. The only way to remove the cable would be to sever it or to completely remove the unit from the wall, which in both cases would make the charger unusable.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With untethered chargers, the cable can be detached and so is at a higher risk of theft. Many untethered chargers come with technology that provides added security, such as pin protection or cable locking. But, the best way to keep the cable safe is to detach it and store it out of sight when not in use.</span></p>
<h2><b>Final thoughts</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Both untethered and tethered chargers have benefits and costs that you need to carefully consider when deciding which type of unit to have installed at your home.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It's not the easiest decision to make, but it's best to get the most information possible beforehand, as if you choose one that's not right for you, then replacing it can be pretty costly.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Whilst tethered units tend to be more convenient for home charging, untethered units provide much more flexibility, and their detachable cables are not just limited to being used at home.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ultimately, the charger that will suit you best depends on your own needs and how you intend to use it.</span></p>

Tethered vs untethered EV chargers: what's the difference & which is best?

This guide explores whether electric cars lose charge when parked and how to prevent losing miles when you’re not driving.

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Electric cars are rapidly gaining in popularity, and with a long list of environmental and financial benefits, as well as the government&rsquo;s goal to phase out petrol and diesel vehicles over the coming years, it&rsquo;s not difficult to understand why</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Without the traditional fuel gauge that many drivers are accustomed to, it can be a bit of a learning curve to understand how your shiny new electric car maintains its charge and how long a single charge will last.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On average, a fully charged electric car battery should be able to take you approximately 200 miles - but what about the charge lost while the car is parked?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cars are made to be driven, and leaving your electric vehicle parked for any length of time will gradually deplete the battery power and whilst this loss might be nominal at first, be assured that it will build up over time.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The longer the electric car is left sitting idle, the more miles are trickling away, and soon, that average will look a lot shorter.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Thankfully, you can do a few things to protect your battery and ensure you get the best out of it for longer, and in this guide we&rsquo;ll walk you through what these are.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p>
<h2><span data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Why do electric cars lose charge when parked?&quot;}" data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:6717,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;6&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;7&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;8&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;12&quot;:0,&quot;14&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:2964813},&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Arial&quot;}">Why do electric cars lose charge when parked?</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lithium-ion batteries are great at preserving power, but like all batteries, they suffer from </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">vampire</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> drain. Vampire or </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">phantom</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> battery drain is the phenomenon that causes an electric car to lose charge when parked.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is predominately caused by onboard systems, which are left active even when the car is parked. Some of these are important, such as battery temperature management and protection against theft, but other unnecessary systems can also contribute to phantom drain.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The condition in which a person leaves their electric car parked can also diminish the battery life. For example, ambient temperatures wreak havoc with a lithium-ion battery's ability to store and maintain maximum charge. Therefore, it is advised that an electric car isn't left to sit in direct sunlight for an extended period of time.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Electric car batteries are not fond of colder climates either. The ideal solution is to let your electric car sit inside a garage, where the temperature is moderate and constant.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p>
<h2><span data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;How much charge can your electric car lose when it&rsquo;s parked?&quot;}" data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:6717,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;6&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;7&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;8&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;12&quot;:0,&quot;14&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:2964813},&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Arial&quot;}">How much charge can your electric car lose when it&rsquo;s parked?</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This depends on what is causing vampire drain on your battery power and how your electric car is being affected.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If the car is left with only essential systems active, then the loss of charge will be minimal.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It is suggested that an electric car will only lose around 2-3% of its charge a month whilst parked without being driven. So if you have an EV with a 200-mile range, you would expect to lose approximately 4 to 6 miles over the duration of a month.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, the current understanding of electric car batteries suggests they will lose more charge if connected to external apps that keep the car 'awake' even when it is not in use.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p>
<h2><span data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;How can you prevent your electric car from losing charge while it's parked?&quot;}" data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:6717,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;6&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;7&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;8&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;12&quot;:0,&quot;14&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:2964813},&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Arial&quot;}">How can you prevent your electric car from losing charge while it's parked?</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Of course, you'll want to prevent your battery from draining as much as possible when you're not using your car.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here are our top tips to help you do just that:</span></p>
<h3><span data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Activate energy saving mode&quot;}" data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:6717,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;6&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;7&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;8&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;12&quot;:0,&quot;14&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:2964813},&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Arial&quot;}">Activate energy saving mode</span></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Even though the setting may not be called &ldquo;Energy Saving&rdquo; in every model, most electric cars have a feature similar to this. Consider activating this next time you go on holiday or if you are planning to leave your vehicle parked for longer than usual.</span></p>
<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Energy Saving </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">or </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Power Saving </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">mode is designed to minimise energy consumption. This is a key feature among electric vehicles because it preserves battery power by disengaging certain systems which are not necessary while the car is parked. This might include GPS, which, if left active, may download regular updates and lead to a loss of battery power.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Teslas have a special security feature installed called </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sentry Mode</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">, whereby the car examines the environment around the vehicle when left unattended. Although a clever feature from a security perspective, it drastically drains the battery. In this case, you might be forced to choose between security and battery preservation.</span></p>
<h3><span data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Deactivate unnecessary pre-set features&quot;}" data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:6717,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;6&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;7&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;8&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;12&quot;:0,&quot;14&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:2964813},&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Arial&quot;}">Deactivate unnecessary pre-set features</span></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Be sure to switch off Wi-Fi, roaming features and your GPS' automatic updates, along with any other pre-set features.</span></p>
<h3><span data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Set it to deep sleep&quot;}" data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:6717,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;6&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;7&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;8&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;12&quot;:0,&quot;14&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:2964813},&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Arial&quot;}">Set it to deep sleep</span></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Putting electric cars into a deep sleep or power save mode will decrease the hold of the dreaded vampire drain by leaving the minimum number of systems active from which power is lost. In deep sleep, the electric car is essentially dependent on 12v battery power, which maintains absolute necessities, such as central locking.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Let your car go into a deep sleep and resist the urge to check on it using the app. Often an electric car owner will want to check in, especially if they have left the car while they&rsquo;re on holiday. But, every time you open a companion app, it wakes the car up, draining more power.</span></p>
<h3><span data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Ensure your battery is not charged to 100% or lower than 20%&quot;}" data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:6717,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;6&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;7&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;8&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;12&quot;:0,&quot;14&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:2964813},&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Arial&quot;}">Ensure your battery is not charged to 100% or lower than 20%</span></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The optimum charge for a standard electric car battery is around 80%.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It is not recommended that you leave your car parked with 100% since the battery may be damaged if the vehicle is left for a prolonged period with this much power stored.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p>
<h2><span data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;How long can an electric car sit without charging?&quot;}" data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:6717,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;6&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;7&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;8&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;12&quot;:0,&quot;14&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:2964813},&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Arial&quot;}">How long can an electric car sit without charging?</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Electric cars are modern vehicles; they are designed to be able to sit for weeks at a time without charging. However, exactly how long the car can be left will depend on the make and model, the type of battery </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">and</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> the state the car is left in.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As discussed, activating energy or power-saving mode, enabling your car to sink into a deep sleep and deactivating the vampiric sentry mode will all increase the length of time an electric car can sit without charging.</span></p>

<h2><b>Final thoughts</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you are serious about switching to or sticking with electric cars, the best thing you can do to optimise your vehicle's performance is to understand its battery.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">You might want to consider having a <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/ev-chargers" rel="follow">home EV charger</a> installed so you can <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/electric-car-charging/guides/charging-your-electric-car-at-home-what-you-need-to-know" rel="follow">charge your electric car at home</a>. It takes a car longer to charge from empty, so installing a charger at home means you can regularly top up your battery charge and save time.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With electric cars increasing in popularity, it has become pretty easy to source a charging station. So even if you leave home without a full charge, a charge point is probably not far away.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you do plan to leave your electric car inactive for a week or more, ensure it is charged to 80% or thereabouts. Park it somewhere not too warm, but not too cold either, and pop it into an energy-saving mode.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Next time you go to drive it, your car will be glad to see you and ready for new adventures!</span></p>

Do electric cars lose charge when parked?

In this BOXT guide, we’ll be looking at how much it costs to run an electric car. From maintenance and tax to charging costs, we’ll tell you everything you need to know.

<p>The UK government is set to begin the phasing out of petrol and diesel vehicles in 2030, and with this in mind, an increasing number of us are making, or at least thinking about making, the switch to an EV for the first time.</p>
<p>Add to this the rising petrol and diesel prices, and it&rsquo;s easy to see why many are considering an electric vehicle sooner rather than later.</p>
<p>But how much does it cost to charge an electric car in the UK? And how much does it cost to charge electric cars at home compared to public stations?</p>
<p>In this guide, we'll discuss everything you need to know about the cost of running an electric car and <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/ev-chargers" rel="follow">EV chargers</a>.</p>
<h2>How much do electric vehicles cost to buy?</h2>
<p>Before we discuss the costs of running an electric car, what is the average cost of purchasing one?</p>
<p>In the UK, the cost can range between &pound;22,225 to &pound;157,160. Luxury brands like Tesla, Mercedes and Jaguar also sell high-end electric cars that can cost hundreds of thousands of pounds.</p>
<p>Now, one thing you might want to consider is that even though an electric vehicle might have a higher upfront price tag, more expensive models typically have bigger or more economical batteries with longer ranges. This will mean that you'll be able to drive further distances on a single charge and, consequently, may end up spending less at charging stations in the long run.</p>
<p>A &pound;22,225 vehicle, for example, only has 16.7 kWh, so it will only travel 60 miles. The average cost you can expect to pay for relatively decent mileage is around &pound;30,000. The kWh ranges from 30 to 50, so you should be able to find an electric vehicle that suits your needs and price range.</p>
<p>It is also possible to buy hybrid vehicles and second-hand EVs, which can lower the price quite significantly.</p>
<p>Hybrid vehicles use both a combustion engine and an electric motor which means if your car is struggling to run on electric, you&rsquo;ll have a backup fuel source. The cheapest hybrid vehicles will cost you around &pound;21,000 to buy new, whilst second-hand models will only set you back between &pound;5,000 and &pound;10,000, depending on the age of the vehicle and the number of miles it&rsquo;s already clocked up.</p>
<p>Before you purchase a second-hand car, though, &nbsp;it&rsquo;s important to factor in any additional investment you might need to make on maintenance or repairs to ensure the vehicle runs smoothly and remains roadworthy.</p>
<h2>How much is it to charge an electric car?</h2>
<p>Many different factors come into play when you charge an electric car. Whether you charge the car at home or in public, you must also consider how much battery your car can manage and how long you expect to travel before the charge runs out.</p>
<p>Unlike petrol or diesel cars, how much it is to charge an electric car will vary depending on how you choose to charge it. The following options will show you the cost of charging an electric car in the UK.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>The cost of charging an electric car at public stations</h3>
<p>According to <a href="https://pod-point.com/guides/driver/cost-of-charging-electric-car#:~:text=Cost%20to%20charge%20an%20electric%20car%20at%20rapid%20chargers,(as%20of%20March%202023)." rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">PodPoint</a>, most rapid chargers cost, on average, &pound;22 for 30 minutes of charging (73p/kWh). These prices will vary from station to station, though, so expect to pay slightly more or less depending on where you&rsquo;re charging.</p>
<p>The management of the public charging station is free to establish their own rates meaning this can differ from place to place, and while most public charging points charge a fee, some can be free.</p>
<p>Even the cheapest public chargers cost approximately twice as much as a home <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/ev-chargers" rel="follow">EV charger</a>, and the most costly might cost more than refuelling a diesel or petrol car.</p>
<p>Additionally, users of public charging points have to pay 20% VAT on the electricity they buy, compared to those who use residential energy, which has a 5% VAT rate.</p>
<p>This helps explain why most electric car drivers prefer to charge their electric cars at home, with just a small percentage of drivers depending entirely on public charging stations, often when travelling on a long journey and being faced with no other option.</p>
<p>The rising adoption of electric cars has resulted in a quickly developing charging network, which means you have <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/electric-car-charging/guides/finding-electric-car-charging-stations" rel="follow">an increasing number of options</a> available.</p>
<p><img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/53kYMyZSPuiR8NC5rlpc" alt="man charging his electric vehicle"></p>
<h3>The cost of charging an electric car at home</h3>
<p>To make charging your EV as quick and easy as possible, we recommend getting a fast charger installed at home. These are far more cost-effective and convenient than relying on public charging stations, as you can simply plug in and recharge overnight whilst your car is parked on your driveway or in your garage.&nbsp;</p>
<p>As electric vehicles become more and more popular amongst UK drivers, so too do home charging solutions. Now, approximately 80% of EV owners have their own chargers installed at home to take advantage of cheaper charging rates and greater flexibility.</p>
<p>In terms of the costs associated with charging at home, it all depends on the price of your electricity. The price per kWh varies depending on your location, energy provider, the type of meter you have, the tariff you&rsquo;re on, and how you choose to pay your bills.&nbsp;</p>
<p>For customers on standard variable tariffs, the <a href="https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/information-consumers/energy-advice-households/energy-price-cap" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">current price cap</a> for electricity in the UK is <strong>27p per kWh</strong> (down from 30p per kWh in the period from 1st July to 30th September) with a <strong>standing charge of 53p per day</strong>. <a href="https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Ofgem</a> updates its pricing information each quarter, so these rates are subject to change.</p>
<p>Some energy providers offer special rates for EV owners to make recharging their vehicles at home more affordable. For example, EDF&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.edfenergy.com/electric-cars/tariffs" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">GoElectric tariff</a> has off-peak rates at 8p per kWh, meaning you can plug in overnight to benefit from significantly lower prices.</p>
<h3>The cost of charging an electric car at work</h3>
<p>Whether you're contemplating electrifying your fleet or have multiple workers who use electric cars, workplace charging has significant benefits.</p>
<p>The costs of charging electric cars at work can vary between companies, with some offering free charging and others demanding a fee.</p>
<p>If businesses are interested in helping employees with their commutes then they can take advantage of the <a href="https://www.find-government-grants.service.gov.uk/grants/workplace-charging-scheme" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS)</a>, which allows businesses to purchase and install EV charge points. This scheme helps cover 75% of the cost, with &pound;350 per socket and 40 sockets across all sites.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>The cost of charging an electric car at motorway service stations</h3>
<p>You&rsquo;ll find electric charging points at just about every motorway service station across the country. These are usually rapid chargers, too, but this is likely the most expensive way of recharging your vehicle.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.drivingelectric.com/charging/1181/complete-guide-to-the-gridserve-formerly-ecotricity-electric-highway-charging-network" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">The GRIDSERVE Electric Highway charging network</a> offers more than 300 charging stations, both at motorway services and other public locations, offering a mix of 22kW, 60kW rapid and (up to) 360 kW ultra-rapid chargers.</p>
<h4>GRIDSERVE Electric Highways current pricing structure</h4>
<p><strong>DC Charging</strong><br>Power: Up to 350kW<br>Connector types: CCS and CHAdeMO<br>Price: 69p per kWh (this is fixed regardless of whether you charge using a 60kW or 350kW charger)</p>
<p><strong>AC Charging</strong><br>Power: Up to 22kW<br>Connector types: Type 2<br>Price: 49p per kWh</p>
<p>The lifespan &amp; maintenance costs of electric cars</p>
<p>Another thing to consider is the electric car maintenance costs. Since EVs require fewer parts than petrol or diesel cars, they can cost around 30% less to service.</p>
<p>Although there are fewer parts to replace, the main areas that need the most focus are the brakes and exhaust, but what are the major costs involved?</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Brakes: </strong>Despite electric vehicles using regenerative braking, your car will still need backup brakes in case of an emergency which can cost you &pound;250 for the brake pads, discs and fluid.</li>
<li><strong>Battery: </strong>A healthy battery can store quite a lot of power. Your warranty should cover the life of your battery, but if you need to purchase a replacement, the cost for an EV battery is around &pound;6,000 to &pound;10,000</li>
<li><strong>Coolant: </strong>Although your vehicle runs on electricity, your battery can still overheat, much like a petrol or diesel engine. How often you check the coolant will vary for different vehicles, but the cost should be around &pound;40 for a new coolant.</li>
<li><strong>Charging cables: </strong>Servicing will also include checks on your charging cables. Replacing one of these could cost between &pound;100 to &pound;200.</li>
</ul>
<p>The average annual running cost of an electric vehicle is &pound;1,742 per year (or &pound;33.50 per week). An EV battery can also run for 100,000 to 200,000 miles which is the equivalent of 15 to 20 years.</p>
<p>When we compare this with insights from experts at <a href="https://www.webuyanycar.com/guides/car-ownership/how-many-miles-can-a-car-last" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">WeBuyAnyCar</a> and <a href="https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/business-environment-and-energy/average-car-uk-10-years-old-says-acea" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">Autocar</a> showing that the average lifespan of a petrol or diesel car is between 10 and 12 years, investing in an electric vehicle becomes all the more attractive.</p>
<p>It&rsquo;s worth noting, though, that electric vehicles (just like <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/boilers" rel="follow">boilers</a>, <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/air-conditioning" rel="follow">air conditioning systems</a> and <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/solar">solar panels</a>) need regular servicing to remain in tip-top condition. By getting your EV checked over annually by a trained mechanic, you can save money in the long run by fixing any issues promptly.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>The running costs of electric cars vs petrol or diesel cars</h2>
<p>While petrol and diesel cars may be cheaper to purchase, their lower running costs make EVs a more economical and cost-effective investment.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Electricity is far cheaper than petrol or diesel. When comparing the five most popular electric vehicles against popular petrol cars in the UK, we can see how their costs compare, assuming an at-home cost of electricity is 27p per kWh and a per-litre petrol cost is 159.10p (the current averages in the UK).</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"><colgroup><col style="width: 24.9606%;"><col style="width: 24.9606%;"><col style="width: 24.9606%;"><col style="width: 24.9606%;"></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><strong>Petrol Vehicle*</strong></td>
<td><strong>Cost to Fuel</strong></td>
<td><strong>Electric Vehicle</strong></td>
<td><strong>Cost to Charge</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vauxhall Corsa</td>
<td>&pound;71.60</td>
<td>Tesla Model 3</td>
<td>&pound;16.10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kia Sportage</td>
<td>&pound;87.50</td>
<td>Kia e-Niro</td>
<td>&pound;17.92</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ford Puma</td>
<td>&pound;71.60</td>
<td>Volkswagen ID.3</td>
<td>&pound;16.24</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hyundai Tucson</td>
<td>&pound;85.91</td>
<td>Nissan Leaf</td>
<td>&pound;11.20</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mini Cooper</td>
<td>&pound;70.40</td>
<td>Audi E-tron</td>
<td>&pound;23.80</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>*Calculations based on the fuel tank capacities of the most popular models. Your actual refuelling cost may vary depending on the size of your car&rsquo;s fuel tank.</p>
<p>We can break this down even further, looking at the fuel efficiencies of petrol vehicles against electric vehicles. Based on an <a href="https://www.nimblefins.co.uk/cheap-car-insurance/average-car-mileage-uk" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">average annual mileage of 7,400</a>, here are estimations for how much it might cost to refuel over the course of a year, depending on your vehicle type.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"><colgroup><col style="width: 16.6929%;"><col style="width: 16.6929%;"><col style="width: 16.6929%;"><col style="width: 16.6929%;"><col style="width: 16.6929%;"><col style="width: 16.6929%;"></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><strong>Petrol vehicle</strong></td>
<td><strong>Cost per mile</strong></td>
<td><strong>Annual fuel cost</strong></td>
<td><strong>Electric vehicle</strong></td>
<td><strong>Cost per mile</strong></td>
<td><strong>Cost to charge</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vauxhall Corsa<br>Average fuel efficiency: 45 mpg</td>
<td>34.90p</td>
<td>&pound;2,582.60</td>
<td>Tesla Model 3<br>Efficiency: 18.7 kWh/100 miles</td>
<td>5.04p&nbsp;</td>
<td>&pound;372.96</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kia Sportage<br>Average fuel efficiency: 40 mpg</td>
<td>39.26p</td>
<td>&pound;2,605.24</td>
<td>Kia e-Niro<br>Efficiency: 18.7 kWh/100 miles</td>
<td>5.04p</td>
<td>&pound;372.96</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ford Puma<br>Average fuel efficiency: 50 mpg</td>
<td>31.41p</td>
<td>&pound;2,324.34</td>
<td>Volkswagen ID.3<br>Efficiency: 16.5 kWh/100 miles</td>
<td>4.46p</td>
<td>&pound;330.04</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hyundai Tucson<br>Average fuel efficiency: 42 mpg</td>
<td>37.39p</td>
<td>&pound;2,766.86</td>
<td>Nissan Leaf<br>Efficiency: 21.2 kWh/100 miles</td>
<td>5.71p</td>
<td>&pound;422.54</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mini<br>Average fuel efficiency: 38 mpg</td>
<td>41.38p</td>
<td>&pound;3,062.12</td>
<td>Audi E-tron<br>Efficiency: 24.1 kWh/100 miles</td>
<td>6.51p</td>
<td>&pound;481.74</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>How long does it take to charge an electric car?</h2>
<p>The length of time it takes to recharge the batteries in electric vehicles can vary depending on the make and model of the car in question, its age and the type of charger being used.</p>
<p>Over time, <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/ev-chargers/guides/do-electric-cars-lose-charge-when-parked" rel="follow">electric cars can lose charge when parked</a>, even when they aren&rsquo;t being driven, so it's important to keep your car charged up. Depending on the speed of the charging station and the size of the battery, it could take anywhere from 30 minutes up to 12 hours.</p>
<p>Read our in-depth guide on <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/ev-chargers/guides/how-long-does-it-take-to-charge-an-electric-car" rel="follow">how long it takes to charge an electric car</a> for more information.</p>
<p>A car's 60kWh battery can take approximately 8 hours to charge from empty to full using a standard 7kW home charging outlet. By comparison, a 50kW rapid charger can charge up to 100 miles in less than 35 minutes for most electric car brands.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The size of your car's battery and the speed of the charging station will determine how long it takes for your car's battery to charge fully from empty, so it's best to <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/ev-chargers/guides/ev-charger-installation-requirements-what-you-need-to-know" rel="follow">check the EV charger requirements</a>.</p>
<h2>Tips for reducing the running costs of your electric vehicle</h2>
<p>Along with checking prices to obtain the cheapest EV tariff, here are a few cost-cutting charging tips:</p>
<h3>Utilise a companion application</h3>
<p>Monitor the life and health of your battery with a smart EV charging app that tracks your use. Because the best EV energy tariffs also need a smart meter installed in the home, you can download the accompanying app to understand your household's energy use better.</p>
<h3>Avoid draining your car&rsquo;s battery completely</h3>
<p>Recharging the battery after depleting it to its lowest capacity requires additional energy. A decent rule of thumb is to keep it above 20%.</p>
<h3>Prevent your car&rsquo;s battery from overheating</h3>
<p>Lithium-ion batteries may be destroyed if they get too hot, so it's critical to shelter your car from direct sunlight to save money on repair and maintenance. Locate charging stations in the shade and, if feasible, park your EV in a garage.</p>

<h2>Reduce your bills and carbon emissions with BOXT</h2>
<p>As the UK moves closer to its target of achieving net zero emissions by 2050, green technologies such as electric cars&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/solar" rel="follow">solar panel systems</a> are becoming increasingly important.&nbsp;</p>
<p>At BOXT, we understand that keeping your home&rsquo;s bills and carbon footprint as low as possible is crucial, which is why we&rsquo;re working hard to make things fairer for everyone.</p>
<p>Our team of expert engineers and installers works nationwide to provide you with <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/ev-chargers" rel="follow">EV chargers</a>, <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/boilers" rel="follow">A-rated boilers</a>, <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/solar" rel="follow">home solar panel systems</a> and more. Use our <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/find-an-ev-charger/" rel="follow">Find an EV charger tool</a> to get started and learn how much you could save by getting a charging point installed at home.</p>

How much does it cost to charge an electric car?

Thinking about charging your electric car at home? You’re in the right place. From the benefits to considerations you must remember, we explain it all here.

<p>Charging an electric car at home is one of the most convenient ways of getting some juice in your vehicle, and it means you can make sure you always have enough battery capacity for your journey.</p>
<p>An at-home electric car charger also drastically reduces your reliance on visiting public chargers, so you can stop wasting time hanging around car parks waiting for your vehicle to charge.</p>
<p>With a fast <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/ev-chargers" rel="follow">EV charger</a>, you can charge an electric car overnight on your driveway or in your garage, so all you need to do in the morning is unplug and get going.</p>
<h2>What is a home charging point?</h2>
<p>A home car charging point is a small unit that connects directly to the electric mains in your home. It enables you to charge your electric car without paying a premium like you would elsewhere, such as at a petrol station or supermarket car park.</p>
<p>The charging point connects to your car through a connector cable, so you just need to plug in to start charging.</p>
<h2>What are the benefits of charging your EV at home?</h2>
<p>While there&rsquo;s no getting away from the fact that installing a home EV charging point comes at a cost, an increasing number of EV drivers are realising the benefits of having one right on their doorstep.</p>
<h3>1. It&rsquo;s cheaper in the long run&nbsp;</h3>
<p>Once installed, you can start to use energy tariffs designed especially for EV charging. These include cheaper overnight charging rates so you can recharge your electric car&rsquo;s batteries for less than you&rsquo;d pay during peak hours.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In the majority of cases, this works out to be far cheaper than relying on public chargers, where you'll likely find yourself paying sky-high rates for limited amounts of charging time.</p>
<h3>2. It's better for the environment</h3>
<p>We all know that electric and hybrid-electric cars are already significantly better for the environment than petrol and diesel equivalents. However, having a charger at home that runs off power from a renewable energy tariff can help you live even more sustainably than using public charging points.</p>
<p>Likewise, if you have <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/solar" rel="follow">solar panels</a> installed that enable you to generate your own energy, you can hook your EV charger up to your solar storage system. Doing this will reduce your reliance on the national grid even more and help you save money by harnessing the sun&rsquo;s energy to recharge your car.</p>
<h3>3. It's the safest (and fastest) way to charge at home</h3>
<p>If you want to charge an electric car at home without a proper <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/ev-chargers" rel="follow">EV charger</a>, you&rsquo;ll need to use a standard 3-pin plug. While this is possible, manufacturers don&rsquo;t recommend it.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Running a domestic plug socket close to its maximum current capacity for prolonged periods puts an incredible amount of strain on the electrical circuits, which can lead to overheating and even fires.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Beyond the safety risks, using a 3-pin plug socket to charge your EV is also far less efficient, taking around 18 hours to recharge completely. So, even though you can technically use a standard domestic plug to charge your electric car, we&rsquo;d advise only doing so in an emergency situation.</p>
<h3>4. It's super convenient</h3>
<p>Imagine heading to a supermarket car park every time you need to charge your phone. It would get pretty annoying pretty quickly, right?</p>
<p>When your phone&rsquo;s running low on charge, you want to be able to walk across the room and plug it into the nearest charging cable, and the same goes for your car.</p>
<p>Without a dedicated charging point installed at home, you&rsquo;ll find yourself at the mercy of public chargers. In practice, this can mean you end up spending a lot of time waiting around in petrol station forecourts and supermarket car parks - not ideal when you have places to be and people to meet!</p>
<h3>5. It's better for the car's battery</h3>
<p>While taking your car&rsquo;s battery from 0-100% using a rapid charger at a public charging point can seem like the way to go, don&rsquo;t fall into the trap of thinking you can rely on this method.</p>
<p>Professor David Greenwood, an industry expert on all things engines, batteries, and electronics from the University of Warwick, has shared his thoughts on <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/neilwinton/2022/02/16/electric-cars-can-fast-charge-safely-but-range-still-dives-at-speed/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">how EV drivers can best care for their car batteries</a>.</p>
<p>His advice is to avoid keeping your vehicle plugged into a charger continuously once the battery has reached its capacity and not to let your car&rsquo;s battery levels run below 5% if possible, as both of these things will reduce its performance.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Home EV chargers provide the flexibility to give your car&rsquo;s battery a top-up as and when you need to, prolonging its lifespan and helping to ensure your investment is as worthwhile as possible.</p>
<p>Plus, when you get a home EV charger from BOXT, you're buying a premium-quality product with the highest safety ratings. All our EV chargers include three-year manufacturer guarantees and professional installation, providing you with total peace of mind.</p>
<h3>6. It increases the value of your home</h3>
<p>As the electric vehicle market continues to grow and people are looking for more ways to live greener lifestyles, having an EV charging point installed at your property can increase its market value and attract a greater number of potential buyers.</p>
<p>The reason for this is pretty straightforward. With a charger already in place, EV drivers can move in without the extra hassle of organising and paying for one to be installed. They can just plug in and keep using their vehicles immediately.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>7. It's more secure&nbsp;</h3>
<p>Charging your vehicle at home on your driveway offers more privacy and security than charging in public, where there is an increased risk of theft and vandalism.</p>
<p>If your EV charger is installed inside your garage or behind driveway gates, your vehicle will be far safer than if you were to leave it unattended at a public charging point or in a supermarket car park.</p>

You'll always be ready to go home EV charger from BOXT

<h2>What are the requirements for having an EV charging point at home?</h2>
<p>If you want an <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/ev-chargers" rel="follow">EV charging point</a> installed in your home, there are a few things you need to be aware of.</p>
<h3>1. You<em> ideally</em> need to have off-street parking</h3>
<p>For the best EV charger setup at home, it's ideal to have off-street parking like a driveway or garage. This ensures a smooth reach for the charging cable without blocking anything.</p>
<p>If off-street parking isn't available, you can technically still install a charger on your house's exterior wall and run the cable across the pavement to your street parking space. However, some local councils may not approve due to potential trip hazards. Check local rules before going ahead with this setup.</p>
<h3>2. You need to be the property owner or have their permission</h3>
<p>If you live in a rented property, you must get your landlord's permission before installing an EV charger. Even if you pay for the charger, a landlord can still have it removed if they haven't been consulted about the installation.</p>
<h3>3. EV chargers need to be connected to WiFi or roaming data connection</h3>
<p>When you have a home charge point installed, you'll have to set it up on the WiFi or 4G/5G to access its smart features.</p>
<p>In June 2022, The Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations came into effect. Under these rules, all charge points sold must include smart functionality. This includes sending and receiving information and responding to signals to increase the rate of time electricity flows.</p>
<h3>4. The charging point will need to be connected to the fuse box</h3>
<p>The electricity supply for smart chargers comes from the fuse box, so it could be advantageous that the charger is located near its electricity supply. This will reduce the amount of cable that's needed and reduce the installation times.</p>

We break down everything you need to know about preparing your home for an EV charger installation. From electrical capacity to equipment specifications, we've got you covered.

Check out our guide

Learn more about home EV charging requirements

<h2>How to get an EV charging point installed at home</h2>
<p>If you want a dedicated home charger installed at your home, you're in luck. With BOXT, it's super easy. Just tell us a few details about your electric vehicle and where you want the charger to be located, and we'll <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/find-an-ev-charger/" rel="follow">find an EV charger</a> for you. And if you order by 3pm, we could install your EV charger the very next day.</p>
<p>The Government also offers grants of up to 75% towards the cost of installing electric vehicle chargers. For more information and to see how much you could claim, check out the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-grants-for-low-emission-vehicles" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">GOV.UK website</a>.</p>
<h2>More from BOXT</h2>
<p>For everything you need to know about EV charging, like the <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/electric-car-charging/guides/tethered-vs-untethered-ev-chargers-whats-the-difference-which-is-best" rel="follow">difference between tethered and untethered chargers</a>, <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/electric-car-charging/guides/do-electric-cars-lose-charge-when-parked" rel="follow">whether electric cars lose charge when parked</a>, and <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/electric-car-charging/guides/should-you-charge-your-electric-car-every-night" rel="follow">if you should charge your electric car every night</a>.</p>
<p>Alternatively, you can check out our <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/faqs#ev-charging" rel="follow">EV charging FAQs</a> for answers to common questions relating to EV chargers and costs.</p>

Get a fixed price charger with installation today

Home electric car charging: A comprehensive guide

If you’ve bought an electric car for the first time, there’s a good chance that you’re wondering about the optimal way to charge your vehicle to get the most out of its battery. And commonly, owners wonder whether or not they should charge their EV every night. While many do ...

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you&rsquo;ve bought an electric car for the first time, there&rsquo;s a good chance that you&rsquo;re wondering about the optimal way to charge your vehicle to get the most out of its battery.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And commonly, owners wonder whether or not they should use their <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/ev-chargers" rel="follow">home EV charger</a> every night.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While many do leave their electric car to charge every night, this can have negative effects on the battery's range and lifespan and it&rsquo;s only recommended that you charge when needing to do so, to ensure there&rsquo;s sufficient range in the vehicle for your next journey.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In this guide, we've laid out a detailed guide with everything you need to know about charging your EV overnight and if you're wondering, </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">should I charge my electric car every night? </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">read on for everything you need to know!</span></p>
<h2><span data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Is charging my electric car every night safe?&quot;}" data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:6717,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;6&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;7&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;8&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;12&quot;:0,&quot;14&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:2964813},&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Arial&quot;}">Is charging my electric car every night safe?</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you're planning to leave your electric car to charge overnight, you may be wondering if there's any risk involved with leaving it plugged in for that long.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, electric car batteries contain battery management systems that automatically disconnect the battery once it reaches full charge, so there is no risk of it becoming overcharged and causing damage.</span></p>
<h3><b>What type of battery do EVs have?</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lithium-ion batteries are now the norm in most battery-powered devices and have mostly replaced nickel-based batteries. They're found in electric bikes, mobile phones, solar power storage units and electric cars, as well as many other usages.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As EV battery technology has improved over the last few decades, the storage capacity of lithium-ion batteries has increased massively, and so has their ability to store energy durably, for a long period of time. This is the reason for their use in electric vehicles and why they have been so extensively produced.</span></p>
<h3><b>How long do lithium-ion batteries last?</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One downside of lithium-ion battery packs is that they will gradually decay during their lifespan if they're not charged in an optimal way.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">How much and how quickly they decay depends on two things: how many charging cycles they go through during their lifespan and how much time the EV battery spends above 80% and below 20% charge.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you charge your electric car every night, this will increase the number of charging cycles that your car's battery pack goes through, ultimately decreasing its lifespan.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Equally, if your electric vehicle is left on charge all night every night, it will reach its full battery capacity, meaning that it will be spending a lot of time above 80% charge capacity. This will also shorten the lifespan and, over time, will decrease the range of your electric vehicle.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">You should always check the car's user manual for advice on the optimal amount of time your batteries should be left on charge.</span></p>
<h2><span data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Is charging my electric car overnight cheaper?&quot;}" data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:6717,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;6&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;7&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;8&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;12&quot;:0,&quot;14&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:2964813},&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Arial&quot;}">Is charging my electric car overnight cheaper?</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One of the main reasons that people choose to charge their electric cars overnight is that electricity costs tend to be cheaper at night than during the day, and this is especially the case for those on specialist EV tariffs. This is due to the fact that demand for electricity is generally lower during the night, as fewer people are using the grid.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you are planning to charge your electric car at night, then it's always best to make sure you check if this will actually be the most affordable option for you, however, this will almost always be most cost-effective than charging during the day.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another thing to consider is that as electric vehicles grow in popularity, the demand for electricity at night will most likely increase, meaning that the cost of electricity will likely also increase.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A common concern amongst owners when charging their EV is that they will continue to be charged for electricity even once the battery has reached its full capacity, but this is not the case as the battery will contain charge controllers that disconnect the battery once it's fully charged and therefore limit energy consumption.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span>Learn&nbsp;</span><a target="_blank" class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" data-stringify-link="https://www.boxt.co.uk/electric-car-charging/guides/how-much-does-it-cost-to-install-an-ev-charger-at-home" delay="150" data-sk="tooltip_parent" href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/electric-car-charging/guides/how-much-does-it-cost-to-install-an-ev-charger-at-home" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-remove-tab-index="true" tabindex="-1">how much it costs to install EV charger at home.</a></span></p>
<h2><span data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Is it necessary to fully charge my electric car every day?&quot;}" data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:6717,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;6&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;7&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;8&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:[{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;5&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0}},{&quot;1&quot;:0,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;3&quot;:3},{&quot;1&quot;:1,&quot;2&quot;:0,&quot;4&quot;:1}]},&quot;12&quot;:0,&quot;14&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:2964813},&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Arial&quot;}">Is it necessary to fully charge my electric car every day?</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another reason that owners of electric vehicles are tempted to charge their cars every night is range anxiety.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is the common fear that their vehicle will run out of charge during their journey when they are not near a charging station, and it's one of the main reasons that many people are reluctant to make the switch to an electric car.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, studies have shown that the average driver travels less than 40 miles a day, and all EVs have the battery capacity to cover this distance several times over. For example, a Nissan Leaf can cover 239 miles on a single charge.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As we've covered, it's optimal to try and keep your battery charged to over 20% capacity and under 80% capacity as much as possible to increase its lifespan and prevent it from losing range.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So, if your daily commute is on average, let&rsquo;s say, 40 to 50 miles, you should only need to charge your vehicle every few days. However, if you're planning to make a long trip that will push the limits of your EV's range, then it makes absolute sense to charge the battery to its full capacity.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In many cases, a simple rule is to think about charging your EV the same way as you would fill up a petrol car&rsquo;s tank. You wouldn&rsquo;t fill this up every day unless the tank was running low, but would wait until either your fuel light came on or you knew you had a long journey coming up.</span></p>

<h2><b>Final thoughts</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So, </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">should I charge my electric car every night</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Although it's certainly safe to charge your EV at night, and it can be the most economical option, it's certainly not best to make a habit out of charging it every night unless you need to do so.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ultimately, it will lead to the battery&rsquo;s lifespan being shortened and will reduce the range that you can travel on a single charge. Switching to electric is definitely the best choice, and there's no need to worry about the charging process.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you follow the advice we've laid out in this guide, charging your car shouldn&rsquo;t be seen any differently to filling your old car with fuel.</span></p>

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