E.ON fitter testing an EV charge point
E.ON fitter testing an EV charge point

Types of electric vehicle chargers & accessories

Explore the different types of electric vehicle chargers on the market and get to grips with connectors, cables and accessories that'll make charging your EV a piece of cake.

Discover our home chargers

What are the different types of charger?

We can break chargers into 3 categories, Slow, fast and rapid/ultra-rapid, they’re usually categorised based on their speed as this is an important factor for most EV drivers. 

With the government ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 edging ever closer, we're seeing more and more electric cars on the roads. Consequently, charge points are becoming more and more in demand and many more people are looking to understand how electric vehicle charging really works.

Chargers can also be categorised by location:

  • Home chargers are specifically designed for domestic settings and home power supplies. They're safe and effective for day-to-day charging.
  • Public chargers are found in public spaces like car parks or service stations. The power of these charging stations is variable so you should always check the compatibility of your vehicle and a charge before you attempt to charge.

3 types of charger

Image reads the word slow

Charging at rates of around 3kW - 6kW would be classified as slow,. You can expect slow charging from a standard domestic 3-pin plug (2.4kW) and older type 1 connectors (up to 6kW) Slow chargers can take over 18 hours to fully charge your car.

Image reads the word fast

Most home chargers would be considered fast with charging rates of around 7.4kW, with a 3 phase electricity supply some home chargers can reach 22kW of power. Fast chargers are also the most common public chargers found in supermarkets and public car parks. 

Image reads the word rapid

This is how we'd describe the fastest chargers available. You'll find rapid and ultra-rapid chargers in locations like motorway service stations. You can charging power from 50kW to 175kW. The fastest chargers claim to be able to re-charge a car in under 30 minutes.

What do electric car chargers look like?

There are a range of brands and styles of charger on the market however at their most simple, home chargers are a wallbox that's attached to an exterior or garage wall. 

Tethered or untethered?

Home chargers are often sold with option of being tethered or untethered. A Tethered charger has a cable attached an untethered charger doesn’t have a cable. With an untethered charger you'll need to have a separate cable, you can carry this around with you for use on-the-go.

Let's explore connectors...

What is the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 EV Chargers?

Type 1 and 2 sockets are used for slow and fast charging. The type 2 socket is now the most common type of socket for home chargers.

  • Type 1

    The type 1 plug was designed with a latch that keeps the plug in place whilst in the socket, it's a 5 pin plug.

  • Type 2

    The type 2 is a 7 pin plug. It doesn't need the latch as type 2 compatible vehicles have a locking pin to keep the plug in place. 

  • CHAdeMO and CSS

    Rapid and ultra-rapid chargers, likely to be found at service stations, mostly use a different set of chargers. The CHAdeMO and CSS (Combined Charging System).

CHAdeMO

The name CHAdeMO is an acronym of 'Charge de Move'. It's a fast-charging system that was developed in Japan and allows you to charge up to 100kW. This means that an empty car battery can be charged to 80% battery capacity within 15 to 30 minutes – the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. The CHAdeMO system is being phased out of many European charging stations.

Type 2

This is currently the most common fast charging standard plug in Europe. It's suitable for both single phase and 3 phase electricity supply providing charging capacities of 3.7kW to 11 kW. The type 2 connector is easy to use, universal and robust. Our home chargers have a type 2 plug.

CSS connector

The Combined Charging System (or Combo 2) allows you to charge on both direct and alternating current, for fast and rapid charging. This is because the plug is divided into two areas - the upper part fits to the type 2 connection, whilst the lower part of the plug is designed to fit with sockets at rapid-charging stations. Most vehicles that are available in Europe come with the CCS system. 

Let's explore home chargers...

Image of a wallbox pulsar plus home charger
Image of a wallbox pulsar plus home charger

Wallbox Pulsar Plus

Our smallest charger, known for its sleek matte finish in a compact form. It comes with a built-in cable and neat holder mounted on your wall.

  • Professional Installation
  • Dimensions: 198 x 201 x 99 mm
  • 7.4kW output
  • 3-year warranty
  • Type 2 socket
  • Wallbox app compatible
  • Compatible with next drive tariff
  • Solar compatible
Get a Wallbox charger
Image of a Vestel home charger
Image of a Vestel home charger

Vestel EV04

Our affordable and connected charger

  • 7.4kW output
  • Type 2 socket
  • Attractive and neat design
  • Illuminated socket
  • Connect via Wi-Fi and ethernet.
  • Use our app, charging card or simply plug in and start charging.
  • Tethered or untethered options available
Get a Vestel charger
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Get a home EV charger

You don't have to be an E.ON customer to get an EV charger from us. Get a no-hassle quote today and see which charger and installation package is for you!

Explore all chargers

Where can electric car chargers be installed?

You'll need to have off street parking if you'd like a home charger installed. This could be on a driveway or in a garage. Plus, they're waterproof so you don't have to worry about it being out in the rain. You don't have to be a homeowner, but you will need your landlord's permission if you rent your home.

Docking stations

Our home chargers work with an eClick docking stations and many new build homes are built 'EV ready' with a docking station already attached to your wall. This makes it really easy for us fit a home charger as the basics are already there. 

Find out more about eClick

Articles and guides on electric vehicle charging

We have a range of guides, pages and articles about electric vehicle charging from the benefits of electric cars to battery capacity and lifespan, we can help you understand more about electric vehicles.

Electric vehicle battery capacity and lifespan
Learn more about battery capacity
How much does it cost to charge an electric car?
More about cost to charge
Home charge points from us
View our home chargers
Electric vehicle charging guides
View all of our EV guides
How do you install a home charge point?
Read about installation
Do electric cars need servicing?
More about EV servicing

EV help and support

Still have questions about electric vehicle charging? Our help and support pages have a range of frequently asked questions to help with your query.

Visit EV help and support

Still have questions about electric vehicle charging? Our help and support pages have a range of frequently asked questions to help with your query.

Visit EV help and support

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