Chargepoint solutions

Can I get a free charge point for my electric car?

Moving to electric vehicles (EVs) has brought about a swathe of new questions, queries and concerns. The default position with an EV is generally a defensive one; indeed, we find that there has been too much negativity and mistrust about this new form of vehicle energy.

Many customers, in our opinion, miss out on the opportunity to enjoy a better, quicker and overall cheaper vehicle because of misinformation. We understand change is hard but how many of us would really go back to dial-up internet instead of our fibre optic solutions.

Some of the conjecture is self-interested; the transition to EVs is going to harm oil and gas companies while also affecting those businesses who have built a foundation on combustion engines. However, as we have seen recently, the Government is now pushing our automotive economy to more eco solutions by 2030. As a car business, you will either develop and grow or resist and go.

How do I charge an electric car?

The move to electric vehicles has not been without a few customer queries. One of the main ones we receive is, “How do I charge an electric car?” Unlike our petrol/diesel alternatives, our culture of nipping to the petrol station is not quite the same. When a customer is looking into a new electric car, we always stress that they look into the key facets of the vehicle including, 1) range (how far will the car travel on a full charge); and 2) charging times.

With regard to the latter, we will also bring to the customer’s attention the charge connection type (Type 1 or 2) and the charging speeds which are available. This is not yet a standardised or “one size fits all” industry just yet. Each manufacturer and product will offer slightly different faculties for the vehicles but the information for each is readily available. As a leasing broker, we can highlight and explain these facts to our customers and give them all the facts to help them make an informed decision.

An electric car needs to be plugged into an external power source to enable it to charge properly. In some cases, you could connect the vehicle to a standard 3-pin plug. For this you need a specific cable which connects to your car (Type 1 or 2 connector) and a plug at the other end. However, the rate of charge is limited by your domestic socket and the result is that it will take a considerable time to fully charge your vehicle. In the medium- to long-term, we would not recommend this to be your solution unless you just don’t have an off-road charging solution.

Installing an EV charge point at home

If you have a designated parking space or drive, the most effective way to charge your vehicle would be to arrange a charge point to be installed. How do you do this? In every case, it is about getting the right product for your situation (and vehicle), but our suggestions are below.

For our northwest customers, we can forward your details to E-Verve Energy to arrange this process. Essentially, for any personal or business customers situated from Manchester to Liverpool, we would highly recommend you speak to the E-Verve team to arrange your survey, pricing and install.
For UK customers, we suggest Raw Charging or one of the national charge point companies, like PodPoint.

The charge point decision is about getting a product which you feel comfortable with. Like any industry, there is a budget through to a luxury option; in many cases you get what you pay for! However, because of domestic electric infrastructure the “speed” of the charge point will generally be no more than 7kW; this will fully charge most vehicles in 6-12 hours.

You will also probably see adverts from many of the large utility companies advertising electric car charging rates/prices. Some will even offer enhanced or supported rates for overnight charging.

Installing an EV charge point for your business

Business charging for EVs is a little different.

Depending on the infrastructure, more developed and advanced charge points could be installed - 22kW (AC) and 50kW(DC) could be utilised by your premises. As long as your vehicle can charge at those rates (AC or DC), you can effectively obtain a quicker charge.

For destination charge points (shops) and workplace schemes, there needs to be a quicker and more immediate solution. Some employees may not have a home charge point, so need their weekly charge from the employer’s premises.

But how much does all this cost?

A grant from the Government is available for each charge point. This is currently £350 per unit, with any additional costs to be satisfied by the customer.

Companies like E-Verve will have a range of products you can choose from, so that you can understand how much in addition to the grant you will pay. In all cases the charge point will not be “free”; you or the business will have to make the contribution. However, a charge point installer should be able to properly advice you on which best to utilise. Always speak with the e-car lease team if you are not sure about the vehicle’s capacity, range and charging times.

Mercedes-Benz EQC 400 300kW AMG Line 80kWh 5dr Auto

In terms of the car shown, the Mercedes-Benz EQC 400 300kW AMG Line 80kWh 5dr Auto (Pure Electric Vehicle), this is based on the following configuration:

Charge Point for my new Electric Car

Graphite Grey Metallic Paint
Leather - Black
Anthracite carbon fibre look trim with high gloss centre console
20" AMG multispoke wheels painted black with high sheen finish

As standard the car includes active lane departure, cruise control, active brake assist, blind spot assist, heated and noise insulated glass, privacy glass, floor mats, navigation, easy-pack tailgate, ambient protection, traffic sign assist, DAB radio.

Multimedia system with a 10.25” instrument and 10.25” media display, Mercedes sound system (including bass and amplifier), aluminium running boards, AMG aesthetics, multibeam LED headlights, 3-spoke multifunction steering wheel.

Leather upholstery, interior lighting, interior light package, mirror package, keyless go, seat comfort pack, stowage pack, heated front seats parking pack (with reversing camera) and 20” alloys.

In terms of additional options, consider the driver assistance pack or upgrade to the Premium and Premium Plus Pack.

On the technical side, company car and business users can note the P11d at £68,345.00 and CO2 at 0g/km. The 80kWh battery will deliver a combined WLTP range of 250 miles, 408ps and 0-62 times of 5 seconds. The service intervals are every 12 months or 10,000 miles for the electric Merc.

In terms of range on the EQC, expect 200 miles in colder climates and just over 250 miles in warmer ones. EQC charging times are circa 12-13 hours for a full charge for a 7kW AC connection and 20-80% in 30 minutes off a rapid 100kW DC charge point.

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