If you are already driving an electric car or are considering buying an electric car, you will have to learn how to charge it. Here’s a basic guide on how to charge an electric car.
Unlike conventional Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) cars which either use petrol or diesel, electric cars are powered using electricity and you will have to “fill up” at a dedicated Electric Vehicle (EV) charging station, whether it be public or at your home.
How to charge your EV at a public charging station
Public EV charging infrastructure is becoming more prolific in South Africa, especially in urban areas, and finding a public charging station to charge your EV is easy with the help of technology such as the PlugShare app which can be downloaded on your smartphone. PlugShare will show you all the public charging stations in your vicinity, show what type of charging stations are available and whether the stations are operational. EV drivers will also be able to use the PlugShare app to plan driving routes to ensure that they don’t run out of range. The Plugshare app is therefore an essential tool if you are driving an EV.
The charging requirement for every EV will be different and so it’s worthwhile referring to your vehicle’s user manual to understand how and where you are able to charge your EV.
Your EV will be registered to use public charging infrastructure and an EV charging card will allow you to charge your EV at a public charging station. The card is either credited or you will be charged appropriately for charging on a monthly/annual basis.
Note that the cost of charging your EV will vary depending on what public EV charging station you use but bare in mind that public EV charging is more expensive than charging your EV at home.
How to charge your EV at home
Charging your EV at home is by far the most cost-effective charging solution.
Depending on what EV you drive or are planning to buy, a home charging system may or may not be bundled together with the purchase price of the EV. It’s best to ask the brand dealer if a home charger is included. If not, you will have to pay for the purchase and installation of the home EV charger over and above the purchase price of the vehicle. Pricing will vary greatly depending on the type and output of the system.
Once installed, your EV can be plugged in and charged while you are at home and the electricity usage will be billed to your municipal account. However, if you want to “go green” and avoid the effects of load shedding, you might want to consider investing in a solar system to power your EV charger. While this route might be expensive initially, the cost will be offset during EV ownership as your EV will be powered by the energy of the sun and you will no longer be paying for electricity to keep your EV charged.
Read more about How to Install an EV Charger at Home
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