Frequently Asked Questions and Other Help
If you're new to the world of EV's the thought of charging your car can be a little daunting - but in reality, with the right equipment, it's not any harder than charging your phone.
Essential to the ownership of any electric car is to have the right charging cable/lead so that you can refuel when the electrons get low.
Use our product selection pages to identify the right lead for your car and follow our simple guide to plugging in and you'll be up and running in no time.
Most people when buying an EV have a home charger installed (hopefully before the car arrives) so that you can charge on your driveway. Government grants for this are available as long as you have it installed by a register OLEV installer. Click here to be directed to the UK Government OLEV website.
Q: Have you seen the introduction to EV videos we've collected in our EV Guides section?
A: No. Then you should probably check it out! Click here
Q: Why do I need a charging cable/lead?
A: Electric cars and Plugin Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV's) need to be plugged in to an electrical supply to recharge the batteries and although this can be done with a 3 pin domestic socket, it will take many hours to charge. Our high speed charging cables are designed to be used with either a specialist home charger or public charging socket.
You might also find it useful to have a second charging cable in case anything happens to your primary cable, or even as a spare for use at the office/at a public charger.
Q: Where can I find out more information about grants and funding for charging infrastructure?
A: The best place for impartial advise and information is the UK Government website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-grants-for-low-emission-vehicles
Q: What is Type 1 and Type 2?
A: Type 1 and 2 are the main charging cable types and refer to the plug fitted at the end (which goes either into the car or the charging point). A lead can either be the same type at both ends or a combination of both - for instance Type 1 to Type 1 or Type 1 to Type 2.
Q: What "Type" is my car?
A: On our site you can find listings for each type of car - either by type or make/model of car. It will also be prominently listed on the manufacturers website. The best selling electric car, the Nissan Leaf is a Type 1 for all models before the 2018 release and Type 2 after 2018 model.
Q: How do I plug in my car?
A: The process is very simple, first open the charging flap on your car, take the cable out of the protective bag, then plug into the car. After the cable is plugged into the car it can be inserted into the plug of the charging station. Most home stations will begin charging immediately but you may need to switch it on if there is a manual override. The car will then work out what rate to charge at and the charging process will begin.
Q: What if my car doesn't start to charge?
A: The main reason for a failure to charge immediately is the car's settings. It is normal practice (especially if you or the previous owner has Economy 7 electricity) to set the car so that it only charges during the low price hours. Firstly please check to make sure that the car is set to charge immediately if that is what is required.
Q: What is Mennekes?
A: Mennekes is another name for Type 2 connector
Q: What is IEC62196?
A: IEC62192 is the technical name for the Type 2 connector
Q: What is CHAdeMO
A: CHAdeMO is a fast charge standard allowing very high rates of charge and is found on Nissan and Renault cars as well as several others (more information can be found on Wikipedia)
Q: What if my lead is damaged or has been driven over?
A: If possible isolate the power supply as soon as you can then after isolating UNPLUG it from both the car and the power supply using insulating (rubber) gloves. The charging unit/car should recognise that there is a problem but electricity is very dangerous and precautions need to be taken to ensure that you are not shocked in the event of damage to a cable.
If your cable is damaged you should replace it immediately and DO NOT try to use it, even in emergencies. Most EV's are supplied with a 3 pin charger which can be used in emergencies.
We can normally get a replacement cable to you in 1-2 days if required.