DRIVING an electric vehicle requires a change of mindset.
With petrol and diesel engines, users are not giving much thought to the speed of refuelling.
But recharging an EV isn’t as simple as parking up at the station and waiting a few seconds, pump in hand.
It can take as little as 30 minutes or as much as 12 hours.
Electric models are ranked – along with other criteria – on how quickly they can refuel and be back on the road.
The highest selling EV, however – the Tesla Model 3 – is the best seller but only comes in third on the list of top 5 for charging.
Manufacturers will quote a maximum charging speed – the theoretical highest amount of power it can draw from a rapid charger.
But it’s only theoretical because the charger itself will also have a maximum possible power output, which can further vary depending on local electricity supply available.
A car charging at its maximum charging speed of 100kW for one hour could theoretically fill a 100kWh battery.
But in reality, the rate of charge slows dramatically after the battery is 80% full.
Instead, it is more likely a driver would add 25kWh in 15 minutes, which on average could allow for 87 miles of travel, according to Auto Express.
The UK Government has set a net-zero emissions target for 2050.
To meet this goal, all cars in the UK will need to be 100% battery- or hydrogen-powered by this date.
The first steps towards this target have been announced.
As of 2035, it will be illegal to sell brand-new petrol and diesel cars (ICEs).
However, with the most popular model – the Tesla 3 – costing at least £40,000, general drivers on average salaries will be hoping prices take a drastic nose dive in the next decade.
