Electric vehicle charging point

If you’re new to the world of e-mobility, you’ve probably wondered how electric vehicle charging points work. This quick guide will take you through the basics as you explore whether electrification is right for your fleet.

Most electric cars are powered by lithium-ion batteries. An EV charging point is a machine that recharges these batteries with electricity. As EVs become more common on roads, new charging infrastructure is being developed to keep up with this growth.

Types of EV charging points

EVs generally charge from power outlets or dedicated charging stations. There are three main types of electric vehicle charging points:

Home charging points

Drivers who keep their vehicles overnight might have dedicated EV charging points installed at their homes.

Business charging points

Businesses with electric fleets may have electric vehicle charging points on their own premises.

Public charging points

You can often find public charging points at public car parks, shopping centres, supermarkets or service stations.
Commercial EV drivers who have long journeys may need to rely on public charging points to recharge their vehicles in between trips.

How does an electric vehicle charging point work?

Charging works by connecting a cable between the electric vehicle and the charging point.
Depending on the socket type or charge speed, vehicles may need their own cable to attach to the charging point.
Rapid chargers have attached cables.

How long does it take to charge at an EV charging point?

The time it takes to charge an EV depends on the battery size, the weather and the speed of the EV charging point. Larger batteries take longer to charge, and colder weather may slow down the charge speed. Public charging points may have varying speed levels depending on peak hours.

Electric vehicle charging points have four types of charging speeds:

Slow

Charging time: 6-12 hours.
Power rating: Up to 3 kilowatts (kW).
This charge speed is usually used for overnight charging.

Fast

Charging time: 3-7 hours.
Power rating: 7kW-22kW.
This charge speed is usually found at public EV charging points.

Rapid

Charging time: 0.5-1 hour
Power rating: 43kW+.
This charge speed only works for EVs with rapid charging capabilities.

Ultra-rapid

Charging time: Less than 30 minutes
Power rating: 150kW-350kW.
This charge speed only works for EVs with ultra-rapid charging capabilities.

Where to find public electric vehicle charging points?

As of 1 April 2021, there were over 22,000 public EV charging points in the UK¹, with over 4,259 of these being rapid chargers.
There are over 250,000 public slow chargers and 38,000 public fast chargers across Europe².
Webfleet’ PRO Driver Terminals have EV map coverage. They show drivers the locations of electric vehicle charging points in over 50 countries across Europe, North America, South America, the Middle East and Asia.

Are public EV charging points free?

Some countries have national policies such as free public charging in urban areas.
Other EV charging points require payment per hour or per charging session.
You may need a pass to charge an EV at public charging points. If applicable, drivers will also have to pay the standard parking charges.
The tariffs for rapid and ultra-rapid charging are often higher and can differ depending on the operator.

Can you install electric vehicle charging points for your fleet?

If you plan to introduce EVs to your fleet, you may want to consider electric vehicle charging point installation on your business premises.

The UK’s Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) offers government grants to help businesses install charging points. The Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS)³ provides financial support for organisations that meet specific criteria. EV charging point installation must be done by a certified charging provider.