From home charging solutions to public infrastructure, we'll explore the different options available to you, as a private individual, and to your business, if you are a Fleet Manager, Fleet Operator, or business owner.
An important aspect to keep in mind regarding charging is the shift in mindset from petrol and diesel vehicles: instead of stopping to charge (as you will do for petrol and diesel), you need to charge when you make stops at your destinations (supermarkets, restaurants, gym, etc.) and therefore use these stops to charge your vehicle. Consequently, you may not necessarily require a vehicle with extended range, as in many instances, a range of 200 miles is more than enough when journeys and stops are planned in advance.
Together, we can shape tomorrow’s mobility.
Home charging is probably the simplest and cheapest place to charge your Electric Vehicle. It gives you the convenience to:
Charging an Electric Vehicle at home is like charging any other device such as your mobile phone. However, it only uses electricity during the charging process: simply plug-in when you’ve finished driving for the day and the vehicle will stop charging and using electricity once it reaches 100% charge.
With the remote control of your vehicle, you can also automate your overnight charging when the electricity rates are lower.
To charge at home, you can use a standard three-pin plug socket, but this is not the quickest way to do it. For the quickest charging, Leasys recommend using a wallbox, which can have a different power rating, and which can be installed on your private off-street parking.
To calculate how long it will take you to charge, simply divide the size of your battery by the power source. For example a Jeep Avenger with a 54kWh battery using a 3-pin plug at 2.6kW will charge in 20.8H so 20h48mins (54/2.6); while with a 22kW Wallbox, it will charge in 2.5H so 2h30mins (54/22).
A wallbox can also be installed where you park your vehicle, within range of your home’s main electricity supply.
The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) gives you up to £350 off the cost of purchasing and installing home chargepoint. For more information, click here
With Electric Vehicles expanding in the UK, there is a growing trend for community charging enabling Electric Vehicle drivers to share charging points with their neighbours or borrowing them from households enroute when they’re not in use. There are roughly 400,000 home chargers across the UK, which gives an alternative solution if you are unable to install a charger at home.
It also means that if you own a wallbox, you can rent it at the price you want, for the time that works for you, allowing other electric drivers in the area to book your charging time at your location, and therefore enabling you to get money from it. Handy, right?
Find out more: justpark.com | co-charger.com
Get your home Electric ready before your new vehicle arrive.
Install an Electric Vehicle charger at home with Octopus Energy for cheap and easy charging.
Starting from £899 (for a standard installation), your charger will be expertly installed by an Octopus engineer.
Rapid Charging point
Pair your compatible charger or vehicle with Intelligent Octopus Go to access super low smart charging rates. Simply plug in and tell Octopus how much you need your car charged by and they’ll do the rest, all controlled through their handy app.
Intelligent Octopus Go customers also receive an 8% discount on public charging with Electroverse.
Charging your Electric Vehicle at your workplace has many advantages and is especially beneficial for fleet managers looking to offer convenience and peace of mind to their drivers.
Not only charging at work avoids disrupting drivers’ onward journey, but often, workplace electricity rates may be lower than those at home or on the go.
If you are a fleet manager looking at implementing Electric Vehicles within your fleet, the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) supports you towards the cost of installing up to 40 charging points sockets. For more information, click here.
With nearly 60,000 charging points in the UK according to Zapmap, the network of charging stations for Electric Vehicles is continuously and rapidly expanding (47% increase since March 2023!)
Although charging at a petrol station can be convenient, you will discover there are a lot of alternative locations available for charging (only 400 of the 8,380 petrol station in the UK have electric charge points). And if you have a charger at home, or at work, you'll likely find that you won't need to rely on public charging regularly.
While you are used to consistently experience the same charging speed when you charge at home or at work, public charging have different speeds across different charging points. Public charge-points offer two types of charging points: Fast Charging Point and Rapid Charging Point.
This is the international standard charging connector, which is supplied with your vehicle by the manufacturer.
To calculate how long it will take you to charge, simply divide the size of your battery by the power source. For example a Vauxhall Vivaro-e with a 50kWh battery using a 22kW public fast charger will charge in 2.3H so 2h15mins (50/22) from empty to full. But keep in mind that actual charging times may vary depending on factors such as battery temperature, charging station limitations, and the vehicle's onboard charging system.
Rapid chargers are usually found on motorways and major A roads. They can charge up to 80% of your Electric Vehicle in just 30 mins (the cable is permanently attached to the electric charging station - same as in a fuel station, so you don’t need to have your own).
Rapid charging may come at a higher cost due to increased investment by charging companies. While you pay for the convenience, overnight charging at home is a more cost-effective option if speed is not essential.
This partnership give Leasys customers access to the public charging network with a ‘one card, one app’ concept. In addition to locating a charging station, this offers Leasys customers useful driver features such as route planning, charging history and specific vehicle filtering and insight.
Access live charger availability, plan routes, and charge across most networks in the UK and Europe, with exclusive discounts of up to 20% for Octopus Electroverse customers.
Octopus Energy is leading the way with its simple ‘one card, one app’ concept giving Leasys customers access to over 700,000 charging points across the UK and Europe via its award-winning Electric Vehicle public charging platform, Electroverse.
Electroverse gives you access to thousands of chargers with a single card and app and numerous useful driver features such as route planning, charging history and specific vehicle filtering and insight. Plus, if you’re an existing Octopus Energy home customer, your bills can be linked for ultimate simplicity.
Leasys is committed to giving its customers the best mobility experience and this referral partnership provides a simpler and easier on-the-road charging solution.
Leasys UK Ltd and Allstar have teamed to offer a new electric charge card solution to small and medium enterprises and corporate clients, ensuring seamless electric charging requirements. With convenient access to one of the UK's largest integrated electric charging networks, you can enhance your fleet's efficiency and reduce expenses.
Allstar is an electric charge card provider who have access to 90% of the UK’s charge sites, including supermarkets and major fuel and charge companies nationwide. They help businesses stay in control of spending, simplify the electric charge expense process and provide charge discounts.
Allstar also use Zapmap, the UK’s leading Electric Vehicle charging app, to make it easy for drivers to search, plan and pay for electric charging around the UK.
Most likely, you won’t need to charge every day and if you don’t have off-street parking, it can be carried out at destinations such as gyms, supermarkets and at workplace charging points. There is also a Co-Charging option where drivers are able to share charging points with neighbours or utilise these from households en route when they are not in use, which offers an alternative solution for those unable to install a charger at home.
Leasys use RAC as the breakdown provider who are well equipped to handle callouts to Electric Vehicles, but there’s one key difference – your Electric Vehicle can’t be towed. The RAC have developed a charging system called EV Vehicle Boost, where a mobile Electric Vehicle charger provides any stranded vehicle enough power to get to a charging point, so if you can rest assured that you are covered. More information can be found here.
By adopting a subtle ‘charge when you stop’ rather than ‘stop to charge’ driving mentality, you will be able to maximise the range of the vehicle, reduce fears like ‘range & charging anxiety’ and unlock the significant financial and environmental advantages from Electric Vehicle driving.
