• Paua prepared a full fleet managers guide including "13 insider tips". These blogs break down insights from the experience of the Paua Rangers team over hundreds of hours of engagement with businesses switching to electric vehicles
• Paua tip - a requirement that every business adopting electric vehicles needs to consider

Understanding charging speeds (AC (Low Power) & DC (High Power) charging) can open up the beginning of a charging strategy

Most businesses have two ways to charge their vehicles. One is to charge overnight either off street, in a driveway or workplace, or on the street. The other way is to rapid charge while they are out driving.  

Rapid charging while driving is the most common challenge that Paua solves. It helps drivers get back on the road quickly so they can do their next job, which further reduces a fleet’s downtime.

Charge points now cater for vehicles with larger capacity batteries requiring high power outputs to deliver short charging times. There are 2 main ways to charge a car; AC and DC.

Paua Tip: The UK government has pledged £1.6 billion to expand the EV charging network, so you can benefit from this without having to invest your own money.

AC Charging (Low Power)

AC charging means using the AC from a main supply to charge the vehicle. This usually takes 3-22kW but can occasionally be up to 43kW. A Type-2 connector is required for this, but some older vehicles have Type-1 connectors. These chargers are often called slow or fast chargers compared to rapid, ultra-rapid, and superchargers in the DC category. In the main, AC chargers are “not tethered” meaning you need to bring your own charging cable. The charging speed on these chargers is limited by the vehicles maximum AC charging speed. (An important characteristic that is often overlooked when buying an EV).

DC Charging (High Power)

DC charging is when a higher-powered charging occurs at up to 350kW. For a while, the most common DC charging speed was 50kW, and many of these still exist in the UK charging ecosystem. However, recently the trend is for chargers to operate at a higher power of 150kW or higher. The car does not require an on-board charger and therefore most of the powerful electronics are found in the big box next to the charger.

Up next we discuss Home Charging vs Workplace Charging, and how each brings a new set of considerations. If you want to find out more, for a comprehensive guide prepared specifically for Fleet Managers, why not request a free copy of our ‘13 Insider Tips To Help You Transition To EVs’ HERE.