A guide to electric car charging
There are so many benefits to having an electric car: low maintenance, low running costs and low emissions. So what prevents drivers from making the switch to an electric car? Often its concerns around charging. The way electric vehicles are powered is completely different to diesel and petrol cars which can make car owners anxious about the unknown. But have no fear, this simple guide to electric car charging will tell you everything you need to know about how to charge your electric MG car.
How to charge an electric car
Electric car charging is different from filling up a petrol or diesel car. You can plug your car into a regular socket, however, this greatly extends the charging time. The ideal way to charge is through a charging station with special equipment that can transfer electricity to your vehicle.
Most electric cars have chargers that come with the car, but if you have an older model or you're buying a used electric car, you may need to purchase an adapter or charger separately. You can also charge your electric car at various public charging stations scattered around the country. These can be found in service stations, car parks, or on the streets.
Here’s everything you need to know about the two main ways of charging your electric car:
1. Public charging stations
Public charging points can be easily located through your Sat Nav. There are also lots of useful apps you can use such as ZapMap, which locates the nearest public charging station to you so that you can always find power when your battery is running low. Be sure to have some cash on you, or download one of the apps to pay, just like how you would pay for parking. As electric cars become more popular and technology develops, more charging stations will have contactless payments to make it easier than ever to charge your electric car.
2. How to charge an electric car at home
Electric car charging at home is relatively simple - you’re just going to need a long extension cable! You can charge your car from any standard 240v outlet that you have in your home with no trouble. If you don’t have a drive or garage and you’re parking your car on the street, you might choose to put some protective gear over the wire of your extension cable. This ensures that people can walk over it safely without any tripping hazards. It also makes sure your extension cable lasts as long as possible without it being trodden down.
How long does it take to charge an electric car?
At MG, we have a collection of electric cars for you to choose from. Each car has lots of fantastic features and different driving ranges so you can choose the one that’s best for you. Electric car charging times depend on what MG car you choose! We’ll take you through the varying charging times for all the different electric cars so you can make the right choice for you.
New MG ZS EV
New MG ZS EV Long Range can reach a full charge from a 7kW domestic charger in approximately 10.5 hours. Using a 50kW public rapid charging point, you can achieve 80% charging capacity in 63 minutes.
The MG ZS EV has a shorter charge time for most outlets, making it a great choice if you're going to need a speedier getaway. Book a test drive today.
MG5 EV Long Range
The charging capacity of any car is going to depend on what kind of charger you’re using. For the MG5 EV Long Range to reach full charge, there are the following options. Using a 7kW fast charger, a full charge takes approximately 9.5 hours. When using a 50kW public rapid charger, the car can be charged to 80% capacity in 61 minutes.
Of course, you don’t have to charge your car every night as you’re not going to use the full extent of the battery every day. However, for long journeys it would be beneficial to note the public rapid chargers en route so that you know you’re going to be able to charge without any issues.
MG HS Plug-in Hybrid
MG HS Plug-in Hybrid can reach full charge from a 7kW fast charger in just 4.5 hours.
The MG HS Plug-in Hybrid is also speedy when it comes to electric car charging, as well as being the ideal bridge for those not quite ready to go fully electric. Book a test drive today to discover if this hybrid car is for you.
