EV charging: all of your big questions answered

Can you charge your electric car with a 3-pin socket? … here are some simple answers to some of the big questions and myths around home charging

What type of cables do I need?

Think charging cables can be confusing? Let’s make it simple. Cross-compatible Type 2 and CCS (Combined Charging System) cables are used by most major car brands. The Type 2 has a 7.4kW capacity – perfect for home chargers, such as the Alfen smart charger used by Hive and British Gas. The CCS is essentially an amped-up version for rapid on-the-go recharging.

Some Japanese and Korean cars come with CHAdeMO charging cables, but many public chargers and home charging solutions – including Hive EV Charging – offer a choice of both types of connection. When on-the-go it’s always worth checking in advance using your car’s sat-nav or a reputable third-party crowd-sourced smartphone app for moment-to-moment live updates.

How long does an electric car take to charge?

Just like a fuel tank, the size of an electric car’s battery determines not only how much energy it can hold, but also how long it will take to see the famed ‘full charge’ icon. SUVs and performance cars with large-capacity long-distance batteries will naturally take longer than city-friendly electric cars with more compact batteries.

Equally, the speed at which you put electricity into the battery determines charging time. Motorway-style public rapid and ultra-rapid chargers deliver big boosts of range that get you moving again in as little as 10 minutes to 40 minutes, while fast destination chargers in supermarkets, urban car parks and out-of-town leisure centres provide a long-fill top-up while you’re doing longer activities like shopping, having a meal, catching a movie or having a session at the gym.

On-the-go public charging can often be expensive, though. That’s why waiting to get home and plug in for some simple cost-effective home charging is often the best solution. Using Hive EV Charging’s powerful 7.4kW Alfen charger, it will take roughly 10 hours to fully charge an electric car with a large-capacity 80 kWh battery, and just under eight hours to do the same with a small to mid-size electric car (47kW–62kW).

So you want to buy an electric vehicle (EV) but still have questions? Maybe you’re worried about giving up the gas pump. Maybe you’re having range anxiety (yes, that’s a thing). We’re here to give you the answers you need to feel confident driving electric. And trust us—it’s a good feeling.

Depending on its battery size, an EV can travel as far as 360 miles on a single charge. That’s like driving from London to Paris… without recharging! Keep in mind, the average commute in the UK is only 23 miles—less than an eighth of an average EV’s range!

Meanwhile, most plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) on the market today have an all-electric range between 10 to 50 miles. Plus you’ll have your gas engine as a back up. It’s still a fuel efficient alternative to a diesel car.

Still thinking about those longer drives? According to the UK government, a driver is never more than 25 miles away from a rapid (50 kilowatt) chargepoint anywhere along England’s motorways and major A roads ¹. With 809 open-access rapid chargepoints (and counting) along those routes and an average of 2 rapid chargepoints per motorway service area, charging stations will be almost as common as gas stations in the near future. So if you do need to recharge, you’re all set.

The fastest way to charge at home is using a smart home charger, which can be up to 8x faster, meaning your car could be ready to go by the time you’re done with your daily binge-watching session.

Charging at home is cheaper and more convenient—that’s why 67% of people planning to buy an EV in the UK expect home to be their primary chargepoint. So let’s talk home charging.

When charging at home, your charging speed depends on your car’s battery capacity, your home’s connection to the electric grid, the onboard charger of your car and, most importantly, the type of charger you use. If you’re using a standard outlet, charging can take a full day or longer.