FAQs - Electric Vehicle Chargers

OZEV is an acronym for The Office for Zero-Emission Vehicles and replaced OLEV which stood for the Office for Low Emission Vehicles. OZEV are a team of UK government officials supporting the transition from fossil fuels and ICE (internal combustion engine) to electrically power vehicles. One of OZEV’s responsibilities is research and development within the EV market and to provide grants and funding to support EV charging infrastructure across the UK. OZEC is part of the Department of Transport and the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy.

A PHEV is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. This type of EV has both an electric battery (lithium) and petrol (typically) or diesel powered ICE (internal combustion engine). A plug-in hybrid can be powered from either source. The battery range in a PHEV is typically limited to 30-35miles dependent upon the manufacturer and the petrol engine is used for longer journeys, acceleration and higher speeds than the electric motor can sustain. A PHEV can also include a self-charging mode whereby the petrol engine is used to charge the battery during journeys but to achieve the high range 100 plus miles per gallon (MPG) typically claimed for PHEV, the vehicle should be charged daily through a home or workpoint charger.

An electric vehicle charger is actually an electric vehicle charging point of connection to a mains power supply. The point of connection is one whereby the DC battery pack in the EV is connected to an AC mains power supply and converted from AC to the level of DC required to recharge the lithium battery pack.

A fast charger is typically found at roadside or motorway charging stations and is designed to charge electric vehicle batteries to 80% within 30-40 minutes. A typical fast charger costs £0.30p per kWh to charge an electric car. Tesla customers may not have to pay if connected to a Tesla branded electric vehicle charging station. EV chargers can be installed in offices, hotels, car parks and at domestic residences.

An electric vehicle is one that has an electric motor that converts energy stored in a rechargeable battery set into motion (forward or reverse directions). The typical battery used in electric vehicles is Lithium-ion (Li-ion) based. An electric vehicle will have mileage range based on the amount of charge (chemical energy) in the battery.

A Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) uses both a petrol or diesel engine combined with a battery. The petrol or diesel engine is used to extend the range of the battery or to take over from the battery when the vehicle is travelling above a certain speed. The battery is recharged by the engine or can be charged by plugging into a mains power supply (electricity source).