Driving electric: EV Charging and electric car costs guide

Your guide to charging your EV, boosting range and saving costs on battery maintenance

Driving electric, either for performance or to maximise your savings, is all about the getting the most out of the battery. And of course, with the battery of an EV vehicle being the biggest single electric car cost, it’s important to know how to maintain it and still maximise the joy of driving electric!

So, how do you get the most out of your EV car battery? Our guide will help you find out more about:

How to find a public charger for your electric car

Ford’s EV route planning tools

Your ongoing electric car costs mostly revolve around getting charged up. The cheapest place to charge is at home, but enjoying the freedom of an EV is about going places. And with charging stations popping up like dandelions across the U.K. the old worries about driving electric have been banished. Especially if you check your route before you set off on EV route planner.

Of course, we think that our FordPass app is the perfect solution; it helps plan your route, with charging stations along the way and plugs you into a growing network of quality charging suppliers in just one easy app. And it interacts with your new Ford EV.

Other EV Route planning apps

Looking for a different option, apps like Zeemap, Chargemap and Octupus Electroverse have also taken the hassle out of planning your road trip and finding electric vehicle charging stations. Just set up your vehicle, add your destination and how much charge you want to arrive with, and the apps will plan your route, recommend where you charge and tell you how long it will take.

The issue now is there are dozens of charging operators that all want you to sign up to their services. Again, there are apps that are combining charging networks to reduce the hassle. If you don’t want to make the most of our FordPass you could choose Octupus Electroverse (from Octopus Energy) or Allstar co-pilot if you are looking for flexibility across traditional fuel stations and electric charging points. These all have networks of suppliers that you pay for through one system.

With new EV’s range in the hundreds of miles and charging stations on even the remotest of Scottish islands all the way to the tip of Cornwall you can enjoy the open road without the dreaded range anxiety.

However, as well as knowing ‘the where’ it’s also important you know ‘the what’.

Types of EV chargers

First you need to know that EVs can take AC and DC power.

• AC typically comes from home chargers – AC chargers normally are slower, up to 11 kwh, and ideal for your regular overnight charging
• DC is typical for rapid chargers at charging stations – DC chargers are great for rapid charging, up to 350 kwh, as your battery is DC power too. But DC is limited to only 80% of your battery capacity to protect your battery. And remember the speed of charging is also limited by your car’s specifications

Then of course, there are different levels of electric vehicle battery chargers.

Level 1 Chargers

Standard 120-volt outlets are ideal for overnight charging at home.

Level 2 Chargers

240-volt outlets, common in homes and public charging stations, offer faster charging times.

DC Fast Chargers

High-powered stations are found in public areas, providing rapid charging for long-distance travel.

All electric cars should handle these specific chargers, but it’s essential to consult your manual. This video shows you the typical plugs and how they’re used, it’s for vans, but the plugs are all the same.

EV Home Charging Solutions

To get the best value from driving electric charging at home, a cheap overnight rate is ideal. Compared to rapid charging, you could save up to 90% of the cost. At current prices that’s just a few pence per mile.

If you have off street parking, then installing a wallbox charger is reasonably simple. There are on street options too, but that’s for another article.  At TrustFord we trust Centrica, part of British Gas, to professionally install our Ford Connected Wallbox.

As our trusted partner, they will make sure your circuit board can manage the additional load and that the wallbox matches up to your car’s needs. They do a home check, either in person or on a video call, to work out the best spot for the wallbox and to see where your power is located. Then they do all the paperwork and give you, their quote. Remember, TrustFord we have various grants and incentives that may help with this cost.

If you do choose a different make of home EV charger, make sure any changes to your electricity supply are made by a trained professional. You may need to apply to your Distribution Network Operator (DNO). Look for chargers with Wi-Fi connectivity to monitor and control charging remotely.

Remember, home charging lets you access cheap overnight rates, which will quickly repay your investment in the EV wall charger, whichever route you choose.

Not constantly watching petrol station fuel prices is one of the greatest parts of owning an electric car. But you can increase the cost saving driving electric even further…

Reducing EV Charging Costs

• Charge during off-peak hours: Many utility companies offer lower rates during off-peak times, typically between 11pm and 5am overnight
• Public charging memberships: Join charging networks that offer subscription plans at discounted rates
• Free charging options: (Yes, some do exist) Look for free public charging stations at shopping centres, offices, and other locations like hotel car parks

Drive to save electric car costs

The range you get from your EV depends on where you drive, in town vs open roads, hills vs flat and your driving style, rally driver vs Ming vase delivery. So, your EV range is personal to you and the display in your car reflects that. It’s just showing how much energy gets converted into miles in your situation. And it’s that energy that costs.

For instance, driving just 5 mph slower, 65 mph vs 70 mph, could give you nearly 11 miles extra range over a 150-mile journey. And you’d only need to set off 11 minutes earlier. Make the following top tips is a habit and every 13 similar journeys you’ve saved a recharge.

1. Ensure regenerative breaking is engaged, this turns breaking into new energy and reduces wear on your breaks
2. Choose direct, flatter routes – extra miles = extra costs
3. Use the technology in your EV – adaptive cruise control smooths driver inputs and saves power
4. Tyres – keep them correctly inflated, easy to overlook but with EVs needing stiffer tyres, you could be losing up to 4% of your range, circa 10 miles, if your tyres are too soft
5. Take your time, rushing costs more; reduce top speeds – extra speed = extra cost.

Let Jake, one of our electric vehicle specialists, talk you through some more ways to maximise your range and battery life:

Using tech to save costs on electric cars

Most modern EVs come with built-in apps that tell you loads of things, including how to extend your range. We’ve mentioned cruise control but taking time to read your manual and exploring your EV’s app will pay dividends.

FordPass is one such app. In addition to remote locking, starting, and finding your car in a busy car park (one of the most useful things EVER!), the app helps you find nearby charge points, monitors your usage, and plans the best route for you based on your current range.

You can also monitor charging status, set your desired departure time, and pay for charging if necessary.

Keep electric car costs aFordable

Despite all the advancements in battery technology, some old-fashioned common sense is still king when driving electric. So, keep up with your scheduled charges, drive smoothly, service when needed, and use all available technologies to monitor performance.

If you’re not sure, or just need some handy advice, talk to one of our electric vehicle servicing experts.

See you on the road.

More EV advice from TrustFord

Four fabulous hybrid and electric family cars   

How often to charge your EV

The grants available for EVS