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Everything you need to know about charging an electric car

It has never been easier to own or run an electric vehicle (EV). The UK's Plug-In Car Grant offers EV buyers £3,500 off the price of a new 100% electric car, and up to £8,000 off a new electric van.

Pure EVs produce no greenhouse gases, meaning they are far better for the environment than petrol and diesel-run cars, even considering the greenhouse gases produced to generate the electricity to run them.

They emit less noise pollution than non-electric models, and they are cheaper to run and maintain as well.

Even charging them is getting easier. Owing to the 350kW charge network of IONITY - the joint venture between Daimler, Ford, BMW and the Volkswagen Group (with Audi and Porsche) - electric cars in the UK will soon be able to be charged in just 20 minutes. IONITY has revealed it will open 40 sites in the UK - in addition to the one already in operation in Maidstone - each with as many as six High Power Chargers.

All things considered, EVs make an appealing mode of transport. Yet many are reluctant to 'make the switch'. Why?

Concerns over charging might play a part: what happens if you can't find a charging station? Or what if you arrive at a charging point to find it out of order?

Whilst the future of the electric car seems bright, what is the lie of the land right now?

For everything you need to know about charging a car, keep reading.

How many charge points are there in the UK?

Whilst the numbers change daily with the ever-increasing introduction of new points, at the time of writing there are 23,112 connectors across the UK at over 8,400 locations, according to Zap-Map.

777 new devices have been intrdouced in the last 30 days, with over 7,500 added in the last year.

Where can you find a charging point?

Sites like Zap-Map detail charging points across the UK, as well as the types of chargers they offer.

How much does it cost to charge an electric vehicle?

The cost varies depending on a number of factors, such as car model, where the car is being charged - at home, at work, in a public space - and the electricity provider, some of which have annual or monthly subscription fees attached.

The best-selling pure EV in Europe last year was the Nissan Leaf and most models cost £6.60 to charge at home, according to the joint Government and car industry campaign, Go Ultra Low.

EVs are, however, far cheaper to run than petrol and diesel cars; on a cost-per-mile basis, they are at least a third less expensive than their petrol/diesel counterparts.

How long does it take to charge an electric car?

The length of time depends on the charging capabilities of your car, the battery and the power output of the charger in use, but generally speaking, it can take anywhere between 30 minutes and 12 hours (sometimes over).

Most drivers prefer to charge-as-they-go, rather than run their battery down ahead of a big charge - manufacturers advise against this anyway, due to concerns over battery damage.

How far can electric cars run for?

This depends on all the EV model, its battery, weather and the state of the roads. Models feature a built-in range indicator informing drivers roughly how long their vehicle can go for. As an example, the aforementioned Nissan Leaf (the 40kWh version) can run for as long as 160 miles on a single charge.

What happens if your car runs out of battery?

Much like if your car runs out of fuel, EV owners will have to call a breakdown service and ask for a tow vehicle to take them to the nearest charging station.

What happens if a charging station is out of order?

Look up the nearest charging station and if you have enough power to get there, obviously, go.

However, if you don't think you have enough to cover the journey, contact your breakdown provider and ask them to transport you to the next charging point.