News & Features

InfoPoint: Electric Vehicle (EV) Myth Busting - Chargers

Posted in News on Friday, May 1st, 2026

With electric vehicle adoption on the rise, our Marketing and Campaigns Manager, Zoe Rush, takes a closer look at how drivers can better understand charging infrastructure and payment options.

Petrol and diesel have been a stable fuel provider to cars for over a century. Prices are clearly displayed when driving past a fuel station, and when it’s time to fill up you know where you’re going and what to expect.

Although straight forward for the end users, it isn’t a sustainable option for the world, and a change has long been awaited. Electric Vehicle (EV) infrastructure is increasingly proving it can provide this renewable change, but the dust has not yet settled.

Charging an EV is consistently proving to be cheaper than a petrol/diesel car, but there isn’t yet consistency in charging particularly surrounding the prices and usability of chargers.

As we prepare for the ‘Accessible EV Europe trip’ this coming Tuesday we’re reminded accessibility isn’t just about the pathway, the charger weight or the screen height but also the ease to use the product and the mental load it can place on people to determine when, where and how they will be able to charge their cars. In this article we look at some of the challenges and help myth bust some of the confusions around charger speed and payments.

The table below provides an insight into some of the confusions surrounding chargers and their pricing complications:

 
Understanding the types of chargers

Firstly, let's understand the chargers themselves.

What is AC and DC?

There are two main types of electrical current used when charging an EV: Alternating Current (AC) and Direct Current (DC).

If you’re using a home charger, it will almost always supply Alternating Current (AC). The electricity from the grid is AC, and the car converts it into Direct Current (DC) using its onboard charger. These typically charge at rates between around 3 kW and 22 kW.

Direct Current (DC) chargers are generally more powerful. In this case, the charger itself converts AC into DC externally and delivers it directly to the car’s battery. Because of this, they are more complex and expensive, but can provide much faster charging speeds, typically ranging from 50 kW up to 350 kW.

The 5 main plug connectors

There are currently 5 main types of plug connector found around the world. Type 1, Type 2, CCS, CHAdeMO and Tesla.

 

Power and charger speeds

New technology is constantly coming out; this month a charger was introduced which can charge some cars to 100% in 5 minutes. It will be a while until this becomes the norm, in the meantime, it is good to have an understanding of how quickly you can charge your car.

The below table provides a breakdown of the average speeds you can currently charge with.

 

The make and model of your car will have an impact on how frequently you will need to charge. Once you have become familiar with your car it will start to become second nature.

Impact of battery life

Battery size affects charging time and cost. Larger batteries take longer to charge but give more range, while smaller ones charge faster, but need more frequent charging. As batteries age, they hold less charge, which can reduce range and slightly increase cost per mile, this is something to be aware of.

Key charging companies

Familiarise yourself with some of the most common charging companies in Europe.

 Charger weight

Although the charger weight doesn’t impact the cost or speed of charge, it remains a concern for many people, below provides some insight into the approximate weight of the chargers from the handle.

 Find your charger

As more chargers are installed and as more signage appears it’ll become easier to find a charger you’re able to use; however using apps and maps are proven to be useful for pre-planning or when plans change. The most popular maps to use at the moment are:

• Zap-Map
• A Better Route Planner 
• Octopus Electroverse – although they own their own chargers, they reveal a broad amount of chargers
• Individual charger apps – These reveal fewer chargers, but enable users to find chargers specifically by their chosen company
   

Charger payments and apps

Once you’re familiar with the types of chargers to look out for and what speed chargers you’re happy to use, you can navigate the basics of what payment you’re comfortable with.

When to charge

• Each charge point will tell you the rate of charge, this will be visible on the charger and on the app
• Speed, location and company impacts the prices; however charging from home with a low kW or during the night is generally recommended for the lowest costs.
• Some companies allow you to set up contracts, tariffs or membership to allow you to benefit from their lower rates

Understanding how to make a payment

Ways of paying for EV charging are evolving quickly. A new model known as “plug and charge” is being developed. This allows you to simply connect the charger to your car, and charging and payment begins automatically. While this technology is still evolving, it’s important to understand the current payment options available:

• Contactless payment – increasingly standard and the simplest option
• Mobile apps – still widely used across most networks
• Charge cards – work across multiple providers
• Apple Pay / Google Pay – often supported via contactless or apps
• QR codes – quick web payment without downloading an app
• RFID cards – older method, now less common
   

It’s all about how you drive

Where and when you charge is largely influenced by how you drive and the conditions around you.

• Driving style and speed - Higher speeds (e.g. above 65 mph) use significantly more energy.
  Weather - Cold temperatures and use of heating or air conditioning can noticeably impact battery performance.
• Route - Hilly, uneven, or mountainous roads require more energy than flat routes, so you may need to charge sooner. Braking in a some car enables some energy to go back into batteries, enabling them to charge up, hilly routes are not always problematic.

With experience, charging becomes more intuitive. You’ll develop a feel for your car’s needs and become more confident in deciding where and when to charge.

We’re testing it out!

Follow our Accessible EV journey from Tuesday 5th until Wednesday 13th May we will be testing out the charging infrastructure including looking at general accessibility issues surrounding the bays. Keep an eye for the live updates on our Social Media.

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