Switching to driving electric is an exciting choice. Not only did you choose a different type of car, charging is also a completely new experience. There is a numerous amount of charging options. The EV market is still young and charging technology is rapidly evolving. We will explain the basics and help you on your way..

You can find charging stations nearly everywhere now: along the highway, at companies and hotels, in the city street or maybe even at home. How long it takes to charge your EV differs per location, per car and the type of charging cable used.

Regular, fast & high power charging

There are three ways of charging: regular charging, fast charging and high power charging. We will briefly review all three of them in this article.

Regular Charging

The standard charging is ideal if you park your EV a little longer (3-12 hours). For example, at home or at the office. These charging stations can charge up to 22 kW. Most electric vehicles are supplied with a Type 2 charging cable that is suitable for regular charging.

Duration: 3-12 hours
Power: up to 22 kW
Required cables: Type 2
Most common to find: at home or at the office

Fast Charging

A fast charging station is ideal if you can leave your EV for fifteen to forty-five minutes. For example, when you go grocery shopping, have lunch or have an appointment. The most common fast chargers can charge up to 50 kW. Fast chargers can often be found along the highway, at hotels and increasingly at large supermarkets and shopping centres. To use a fast charger, you need either a CCS or a CHAdeMO plug on your vehicle. Your EV's user manual will tell you all about what cable fits your specific EV.

Duration: 15-45 minutes
Power: up to 50 kW
Required cables: CCS or CHAdeMO plug
Most common to find: along the highway, at hotels and increasingly at large supermarkets and shops

High Power Charging

Your EV will be full of energy in no time, with high power charging. Within ten minutes of charging you can drive up to 250 km further. So, after a cup of coffee, you can hit the road again. The charging stations can charge up to 350 kW and you can use a CCS plug here. CCS has become the standard in fast charging.

Duration: 10 minutes
Power: up to 350 kW
Required cables: CCS
Most common to find: along the highway

Become a pro

Allego is a specialist in charging EVs and we aim to make charging as seamless as possible. In our next Pro Charging articles, we will dive deeper into the different cables, the charging passes and useful apps. Can’t wait to read more? Go ahead and check the FAQs of Allego.

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