Can I charge an electric car at home?
DRIVERS who have an electric car will want to know whether they are allowed to charge it at home.
They're becoming more popular with motorists looking for ways to make their commute to work greener.
Experts predict that demand for electric cars will go up even more in the coming years as models become cheaper.
The latest research shows that some electric vehicles will be cheaper to produce than petrol models by as early as 2026.
If you're looking to get one, or already have one, here's what you need to know about whether you can charge it at home.
Can I charge an electric car at home?
Yes, you can charge your electric car at home.
You'll need an existing regular plug socket or a wall-box home charging unit.
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These charging units, made especially for electric vehicles, deliver around 7kW of power and will charge your car up three times faster than using a regular plug socket.
You’ll need to pay to install one, but a government grant will fund up to 75 per cent of the cost of purchase, up to a maximum value of £350.
Charging units cost around £800, according to the RAC - which means you'll need to stump up the rest of the cash needed to get one fitted.
You'll also need off-road parking like a driveway or garage to charge the car up - this is because running wires across streets means walkers could be at risk of tripping over and councils may have an issue with this.
How much does it cost to charge my car?
According to the RAC, fully charging your car at home costs around £5 - which will last you between 100 to 300 miles.
It means that it's cheaper to charge your car compared to filling it up with fuel, the RAC adds.
If you're out and about on the road and run out of juice, you can always use public charging points - but your bill will likely be higher.
The RAC says that it costs between £7 to £10 to charge your car up to 80% capacity.
Zap-Map is a useful app that shows you the location of charging points across the UK, and the type of charger available.
There are more than 7,000 locations nationwide with a public charging point installed, providing more than 20,000 connectors.
How long does it take to charge an electric car?
How long it takes to charge an electric car depends on the size of the battery and the speed of the charging point.
It could take anything from 30 minutes to 12 hours depending on these factors.
A typical car with a 6kWh battery takes roughly 8 hours to charge fully with a 7kW charging point.
We explain if electric cars are exempt from London's ULEZ charges.
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