Busting electric car charging myths
Whether you’re a beginner or just need a quick reminder, here are your top charging tips
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The whole notion of charging your electric vehicle (EV) can be a very confusing process to someone completely new to the idea and more used to sticking a petrol or diesel nozzle in their car instead.
Don't worry though. Whether it’s charging in the rain or fears of overcharging your electric vehicle, we’ve got the answers below:
Can you overcharge an electric car?
Is it safe to charge my electric car in the rain?
Why is EV charging terminology so confusing?
Is charging an electric car actually cheaper than petrol or diesel?
Is range anxiety really a thing?
Can you overcharge an electric car?
In short, no – you can’t overcharge an electric car’s battery because the battery management system attached to the battery pack won’t allow it to happen.
Electric cars are clever enough to stop charging at a certain point and start trickle-charging the battery to make sure it isn’t overcharging itself.
Another feature that many electric cars have is programming when you want it to fully charge by. For example, if you know you need to leave the house at 6am the next day, you tell the car, and it'll make sure to start charging at the right time and stop charging at your chosen battery percentage before you need to leave.
Not only is this convenient for you, but it also ensures the battery isn’t charging unnecessarily, preserving the longevity of the battery pack.
Is it safe to charge my electric car in the rain?
As a rule of thumb, all of us as children were always told never to mix water with electricity, and as we grow older, we realise why that is – water is a great conductor and can increase the risk of a shock.
It makes sense why it’s such a popular question about EV ownership, then. We need to charge our car, and it rains quite a lot in the UK, but luckily, the answer is very straightforward.
The simple answer is yes, you can charge your electric car in the rain. In fact, you can charge them in all weather conditions. This is because EVs and their chargers are designed to stop water from getting anywhere it shouldn’t, like the battery pack or motor.
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Why is EV charging terminology so confusing?
When experts speak about electric cars, it can be confusing. They talk about all these DCs and ACs and kWhs, but what do they mean?
Because there are countless different terms, you’re better off reading our full guide to EV terms, but here are the main five we find occur daily:
DC = direct current – used when describing fast charging
AC = alternating current – an electric current that continuously changes direction
kW = kilowatt – basic measurement of an EV's power (a bit like horsepower (hp) for a petrol or diesel car)
kWh = kilowatt hour – how much power a kilowatt can supply
Is charging an electric car actually cheaper than petrol or diesel?
Fuel and electricity prices both change quite often. And when it comes to EVs, there are a few factors that determine the cost of your charge, such as where you live and what type of charger you use.
This means it can be hard to gauge which is cheaper, so make sure to also keep an eye on our fuel cost guide.
Our motoring editor, Sam Sheehan, says that powering your electric car is generally more cost-effective than refuelling its petrol and diesel siblings.
Sam says: “It’s tricky to tell exactly how much you’ll pay per charge. But, generally speaking, recharging your EV from your driveway is the most affordable – it can cost as little as £6 to fully charge up in some cases.
“If you’re out and about and need to charge your car, there are also some spots that allow you to do it for free.
“For example, supermarkets such as Lidl, Aldi, and Sainsbury’s provide their customers with free charging points, meaning you can do your food shopping as your car recharges.”
Is range anxiety really a thing?
People who have never owned an EV before are often sceptical because of ‘range anxiety’, but the reality is that most users won’t even be phased by the remaining range whatsoever.
This is because the average UK commuter travels around 20 miles a day to get to and from work, so even the lowest-range EVs that get 100 miles would happily cover your weekly commute on a single charge.
As for those who do longer journeys, you shouldn’t need to worry because the charging infrastructure is improving by the day. Even a thousand-mile trip across the UK or Europe isn't that difficult if you plan out your route carefully.