Over 20% of new car registrations for April were of a vehicle that required some form of plug-in charge, whether that be a BEV or PHEV. This demonstrates that EV’s are continuing to rise in popularity and only petrol vehicles were higher for new car registrations in the month.
This got us thinking that with more and more EV’s on the road, motorists will be looking to find the best and most cost-effective way of charging their vehicle, whether that be at work, at home on their drive, using their local chargepoint or a mixture of all three.
For this week’s blog we have provided you with some top tips for charging your vehicle, to ensure you charge at the cheapest rate, whilst getting the most efficiency out of your car battery.
Off-Peak Charging
When out and about, the best time to avoid charging at public stations is outside of rush hour. If possible, charge your vehicle mid-morning or mid-afternoon, to reduce the risk of not being able to find an empty chargepoint.
Speak to your energy provider
If you have a charger at home the best time to charge is between the hours of 10pm and 6am. This is because other appliances in the house are generally not in use. Secondly many energy companies will offer a cheaper rate during this time period to encourage EV drivers to charge their car overnight. It is worth speaking to your energy provider and doing some research before getting an EV and setting up your chargepoint, to see which energy provider will offer you the best deal.
Make use of community charging
A win, win for both those that need to charge a car but can’t fit one at their house and for the chargepoint owner. If you own a chargepoint it’s worth considering offering your charger to others at times you aren’t using it. With chargers that are OCPP compliant you can add a charging tariff therefore generating additional revenue and providing those who aren’t able to have a charger fitted with regular access to charge their vehicle.
Use the EV Charging Apps available
Make sure you download apps such as Zap-Map, PlugShare and WattsUp when planning your journey or looking for a chargepoint in an area you aren’t familiar with. These apps provide real-time updates on who is charging, as well as the fees involved and other useful information such as how many chargers are on site and what size units are available.
Let the battery cool down
Where possible try to let the battery in your car cool down after a long journey. This can be achieved at home by setting randomised delay functions or Scheduled charging on your home chargepoint. Charging your vehicle with the battery at optimum temperature will enable the best possible capacity achieved and contributes to better battery health.
Long storage battery level
If you’re going on holiday for a few weeks, a top tip is to make sure your battery isn’t full or completely empty as this can affect its health. Have around 50% in the battery whilst the car is stood for a while.
Utilise regen braking on longer journeys
All EV’s have regenerative braking that can be set to different levels. When out and about, especially on long journeys try letting your foot off the accelerator when you can and accelerate more slowly, this will preserve the battery life for more miles and will even add charge back into the car.
Don’t rely solely on DC chargers!
Not only will this affect your pocket, paying for higher tariffs it will also significantly reduce the battery capability. Although fast chargers are great when you are pushed for time, try to find an AC charger as your main charging point such as a home charger or a charger at work.
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