What is the difference between AC and DC chargers?
First of all, we must say AC stands for alternating current whilst DC stands for direct current. An DC charging station supplies your electric car with AC to be converted to DC by an onboard charger of your EV. A DC station converts alternating current and provides your EV battery right with a direct one. As a result, charging goes faster when using an EV solution with DC.
How long does it take to charge an electric vehicle?
The time depends on the wattage of the EV charger you use. If its output is 3-10 kW, you need up to 8 hours to feed up to 80% of your car battery. In contrast, with wattage of 7-22 kW, you need only 2-3 hours to complete this task and about 30 minutes with a DC station of 43-150 kW.
Are all EV models compatible with every charging station?
No, compatibility depends on whether a socket of your vehicle tallies with a station connector. As there are a lot of socket standards, you simply can’t connect two different ones.
Do I have to carry an adapter ?
At Auto-E, we equip our charging complex with any connector you need. Moreover, some of our EV solutions have four types of connectors to provide wider coverage of EV models.
Do I need an app to charge my car at public charging points?
Yes, in most cases, an app is a must when you use public EV solutions. These apps are designed to provide you with greater control over your charging procedure as you can track how much energy you use and what your expenses are.
Do I need an app to charge my EV at home with your charging points?
No, when using your own charging point at home, typically, you do not need an app. This is because you are supposed to be the only one who uses your EV solution.
Is there any grant to reduce my expenses when installing an EV charger?
Sometimes — but the rules have changed, and many homeowners no longer qualify. The grants are now run by OZEV (which replaced OLEV), and five chargepoint schemes run until 31 March 2027. Renters and flat owners with private off-street parking, and households with only on-street parking who install a cross-pavement solution such as a gully, can each get up to £500. Workplaces can claim up to £500 per socket for up to 40 sockets, landlords up to £500 per socket for up to 200 sockets, and state-funded schools up to £2,000 per socket. Please note: if you own and live in a house with a driveway, none of the current schemes apply — the home scheme that used to cover that closed on 31 March 2022.
Is there a risk to overload my grids whilst charging an EV?
To be honest, yes, there could be a risk of overloading your grids unless smart charging is available. To minimize this risk thorough inspection of your grids and assessment of the overloading risk is necessary. Also, at Auto E, we developed a Smart Grid control system “E-telemetry”. The system monitors the current load state of your grids and to prevent them from overloading by lowering power supply that goes to your car when this becomes crucial.
Can I share my home charge with my neighbors. How I count the energy?
Add our app option to your charge. You can allow the usage by adding your neighbor's car plate number to "allowed" vehicles to use your personal charge point and check consumed energy .
Can we share one charge point to several houses?
Yes, choose a version of our multi socket charging point . To control consumption use our app function - allow charge by plate number .