Electric Vehicles

A new measure announced by The Secretary of State for Transport will support the uptake of Plug-In vehicles in the UK. A Government commitment of £400 million will encourage the purchasing of full electric and electric hybrid vehicles, of which £37 million has been directly allocated for the installation of EV charging points throughout the UK.

We are the North East leading installer.

To date we have installed 600 electric vehicle charging units and have a further 300 to complete.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How much does the service cost?

To fit for a standard 16amp charging point (7-8 hours to charge) the cost is just £299.00 + VAT or an upgrade can be made to the 32amp (4-5 hours to charge) for £330.00 + VAT.

Will I need a home charging point to run an electric vehicle?

This is the best way to keep your costs low however it is not mandatory to have a charge point.

Can I use a standard 13 amp socket to charge my electric vehicle?

This is not recommended for the following reasons:

• They are not designed to carry the heavy load of vehicle charging over the length of time it takes to fully charge. Sockets used for this type of loading can often show signs of over-heating.
• They also may not be installed to the latest edition of wiring regulations - earthing arrangements may not be suitable for the safe charging.
• Normal household sockets may not be RCD protected in case of a fault. This is necessary, if you plan to use them to charge an electric vehicle.
• May not be in an accessible place requiring use of an extension lead

Using a specially designed charger and cable, this monitors the continuity of the earth conductor. In the case of a breakdown, the charger will not operate for safety reasons, thus protecting your home wiring from damage.

What are the benefits of Electric Vehicles (EVs)?

Electricity has great potential as an alternative to oil. It can be produced from renewable sources, is readily supplied, and produces no emissions at the point of use through the car's tailpipe. EVs can offer significant environmental benefits when used as commuter transport. Some of the benefits of

EVs when operating solely on battery power:

• No emissions at the point of use
• A quieter driving experience
• Easy to use charging point
• No road tax
• Lower maintenance and servicing costs
• No gearbox means EV's are practical and easy to drive, particularly in urban stop-start traffic
• The convenience of home charging

How long does it take to charge?

The length of time to charge will depend on the type of vehicle, how depleted the battery is and the type of charging point used. Typically, pure-electric vehicles using standard charging points will take 6-8 hours to fully charge and can be ‘opportunity charged' whenever required.

Electric vehicles capable of using rapid charge points could be fully charged in as little as 30 minutes (up to a maximum of 1 hour) and can be topped up in around 20 minutes, depending on the type of charge point and available power. Rapid charge points will soon become available for public use in places like shopping malls, supermarkets and around town to recharge your car whilst you have limited time.

There are a number of areas around the UK where public charging points are now beginning to be available. This number is growing and can be located online via Google Maps. Membership schemes with an annual fee are also offered in city locations.

Why Malones?

We use the highest quality of equipment from approved suppliers and all our engineers are trained to City & Guilds 2919 electric vehicle charging standard and follow the code of practice set out by the IET.

We offer charging equipment for home and business use, making sure you can charge your car safely, quickly and easily.