Thinking of making the switch from petrol or diesel cars to an electric vehicle, or perhaps thinking of renting an electric vehicle with Avis to try before you buy? One of the most frequently asked questions for drivers before renting or buying an electric car is how do I charge my electric vehicle and how far can I travel in my electric vehicle?
Worries about charging and range anxiety are receding as public charging networks expand, reliable journey planner apps remove the worry of looking for a charge point and improvements to batteries extend the distance an electric vehicle can go.
Having information on the location of charging points is key to planning trips and having sufficient autonomy for journeys. Before renting, we recommend that you search in advance for the charge point provider with the densest charging network along your route and at your destination.
Alternatively, you can also quickly search for charging stations with the help of an charging app like Chargemap.
The Shell Recharge Network makes planning your electric vehicle rental journey simple, helping you locate public charging stations nearby and during your drive.
The network gives you access to 500,000+ public charging points across Europe and beyond. The map shows near real-time availability at each charging post plus the price, the charger and connection types and the speeds available.*
*7kW or 22kW chargers will take around 3-4 hours to fully charge; these can usually be found in car parks, supermarkets and leisure centres. 50kW DC chargers can typically charge from 0-80% in approximately 30 minutes, and the 150kW ultra rapid chargers located at Shell forecourts can deliver power up to three times faster than that. Timings are dependent on vehicle make and model.
As electric vehicle technology developed, car charging cables were produced without a universal connector that would fit all electric vehicles. However, the seven-pin Type 2 cable has become a European standard and all cars manufactured in Europe today have this connector.
Most cars feature at least two types of connector, and adaptors are easy to use.
There are three levels of charging speed so you can manage your electric vehicle top ups at your own convenience.
Using the public charging network is increasingly easy, thanks to the expansion of the network of charging stations, especially in city centres, allowing on-the-go charging.
Public charging points offer the possibility of both normal charging speeds and fast charging. Public charging can be between 3 and 10 times faster, depending on the outlet of the charging point and the type of chargers the vehicle uses.
This is a type of recharging in a public place and with high levels of power, so it requires a complex electrical installation. With this system it takes between 5 and 30 minutes to charge 80% of a battery depending on the type of charger, cable and vehicle capacity.
Charging times depend on both the battery capacity and the power source. Direct current (DC) charging is the quickest but is not possible with every vehicle or charging station. Charging with alternating current (AC) is more common. Depending on the charging power, as an example, charging a Renault ZOE can take between 2.5 hours (22 kw) and 4.5 hours (11 kw).
Charging at home over a 3-pin plug is the slowest method of charging an electric vehicle and could take up to 24 hours.
Using a 7kW wallbox home charging unit will enable a car to be fully charged overnight.
Using a ‘rapid’ charger at a public charging station offering speeds of up to 50kW, an electric Vauxhall Corsa can be charged up to 80% in just 30min (Source: The AA).
Did you know that there are many different factors that influence charging speed, but the two most important are electric vehicle battery capacity and charging power? Once these are determined, the calculation is very simple: Battery capacity/charging power = charging time.
Battery capacity
The battery determines the amount of energy that can be stored and therefore has a major influence on the time it will take to charge.
Battery capacity differs from car to car. For example, the Nissan LEAF has a battery capacity of 30 kWh, while the Tesla Model S has a capacity of 100 kWh.
To start charging
When vehicle is charged