How to charge your electric vehicle
Tips and tricks to charging your electric vehicle
Electric vehicles have ushered in a new age of charging points in homes, public spaces and service stations. Studies to date have shown that charging will mostly take place overnight at peoples homes on a domestic charging point.
Charging your electric car is very simple with two options to choose from:
HOME CHARGING FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Charging your EV at home has been made simple. Home chargers are convenient and easy to use. A full charge can cost as little as €4 using cost effective night rate electricity (costs differ by energy supplier and vehicle). The cost of charging at home will be added to your regular esb bill in the usual way and can also be supplemented through the use of a solar panel array to further reduce costs.
PUBLIC CHARGING FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES
You can charge your electric car at a public charging point, for which the network is growing by the day at locations such as shopping centres, street chargers and car parks. You can locate your nearest charge point on the very convenient plugshare app which will also tell you if a charger is in use.
TIPS AND GOOD PRACTICE FOR CHARGING YOUR EV
Always:
- Have your charging card with you on at all times
- Make sure that your electric vehicle is parked in a such a manner that the charging lead will comfortably reach and connect with ease
- Turn off any charging schedules on your EV app before you start charging
- Allow the charger time to register your card after you tap the reader
- Make sure the same card is used to start and stop the charging session
- Pay for parking fee if applicable
- Once charging is complete you should vacate the space to allow the next driver to connect
- Report any faults to the providers helpline
- On a fast multi-standard charger you can only use one of the DC connectors (CHAdeMO and CCS) at a time, however DC and AC connectors can be used at the simultaneously
Don’t:
- Do not block a footbath or double park in order to reach a charger if another vehicle is blocking the space.
- Do not unplug somebody else‘s car from a charging point even if you believe that their charging session is complete
- Do not trail cables across the ground in a manner that may cause a trip hazard
- Do not press the emergency stop button unless it is a genuine emergency
- Do not leave your card in your wallet when tapping the chargers reader
Contact us for more information about our EV charging station solutions.
Avail of the €600 grant available from SEAI against the cost of your charger