AN EV owner has revealed the exact time you should charge up to save money and when you should avoid.
James Foxall told drivers how to get around “charge rage” as they go through the “maddening experience” of navigating the UK’s public charging network.
GettyAn EV owner has told other drivers how to avoid charge rage and save money[/caption]
Writing in The Telegraph, James urged electric car owners to try and charge when demand is lowest, usually overnight or in the early morning.
This allows you to beat the rush hour and gives you a better chance of finding a spot to fill up.
Not only that but, similar to domestic electricity, prices change depending on the time of day, with peak hours costing up to 60% more according to research from the AA.
James explained: “The busiest charging times are, naturally, peak commuting times or peak holiday travel days.
“If you want to be guaranteed a charger, trying to avoid these times is wise, even though – of course – that’s not always possible.”
Additionally, he recommended stopping with 30% or 40% remaining on your battery rather than running it down to zero.
This gives you enough of a reserve to find other charging stations if your first choice is all full up without encountering the dreaded range anxiety.
And James also addressed the little-known issue of trying to navigate motorways in an electric car.
Government figures show that, as of this June, there were only 200 ultra-rapid chargers on English motorways.
While ministers are targeting 6,000 by 2035, as things stand queues can build up quickly.
James explained: “It’s no secret that the motorway network is poorly served for EV charging points in certain areas.
“It’s still not unusual to find a major motorway services with only two rapid chargers, and that’s it.”
Instead, he suggested drivers make use of third-party apps which can locate available charging points and try and charge off the motorway where possible.
It comes after an EV erupted into flames after its owner tried to use a toaster to warm the battery amid sub-zero temperatures.
Meanwhile, a new “baby” SUV was crowned the best EV in the UK by a panel of experts.