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Electric charging explained

Coventry is leading the way in green transport. As the birthplace of transport innovation, we’re building one of the UK’s most comprehensive electric vehicle (EV) charging networks outside of London — helping residents, businesses, and the environment and making it easier than ever to switch to electric.

EVs mean cleaner air, lower emissions, and reduced running costs. That’s why we’re investing in over 2,100 on-street charging spaces by the end of 2025 and becoming the UK’s first all-electric bus city.

Our work is part of a city-wide push to improve air quality, reduce carbon emissions, and power a cleaner future. Transport is key to tackling climate change, and Coventry is proud to lead the way with real action that benefits our communities and the planet.

Learn more about our Local Air Quality Action Plan [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/pollution-1/air-quality/2].

Charging guide

Electric vehicle (EV) charging is a new concept to all first time EV owners. It is not quite as simple as filling up with petrol; charging speeds, connector types, and understanding your vehicle specification, are all important considerations. But don’t worry, we’ve created a series of simple guides to explain the world of EV charging.

These guides will help to explain the ins and outs of charging on public networks, charging at home, charging at work, as well as some of the more detailed points around EV charging in general.

To find a charging point near you use  [http://www.zap-map.com/live/]Zap Map [https://www.zap-map.com/live/]

EV charging explained

EV chargers are classed as rapid or ultra-rapid, fast and slow or standard, depending on their speed.

  • Low speed and Standard – often used at residential properties and on residential streets, including lamppost column charging.
  • Standard and Fast – this is the power of chargepoint often used in residential or destination areas, including public car parks.
  • Rapid and Ultra Rapid – these are often installed in short stay areas, such as petrol stations or Motorway Service Areas. These are also often useful for electric taxi recharging.
Charging usage
Use Referred to AC DC
Long stay home, work or destination charging  Slow Under 3.5kW  
Standard 3.5kW to 7kW  
Fast 7kW to 23kW 10kW to 22kW
Short stay on-route, or opportunity charging Semi-rapid 43kW to 44kW 22kW to 50kW
Rapid   50kW to 62.5kW
Ultra-rapid   62.5kW to 500kW

Electric vehicles and charging

Telephone: 024 7697 6691 [tel:02476976691]

How to charge your electric vehicle

The majority of charging your vehicle will be done at home, usually overnight. If you have a driveway or garage, the cheapest and most convenient way is to install a dedicated chargepoint.

Charging an electric vehicle at home

The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) has the following grants available for residential chargepoint installation:

  • For renters and flat owners
  • For households with on-street parking
  • For landlords, including car parks

These grants will cover up to 75% of the costs of installing a home chargepoint, up to a limit of £350. For more details on the grants available see OZEV electric vehicle [https://www.gov.uk/guidance/electric-vehicle-chargepoint-and-infrastucture-grant-guidance-for-installers#grants-that-are-available-to-your-customers]chargepoint and infrastructure grants [https://www.gov.uk/guidance/electric-vehicle-chargepoint-and-infrastucture-grant-guidance-for-installers#ev-chargepoint-grant]  [https://www.gov.uk/guidance/electric-vehicle-chargepoint-and-infrastucture-grant-guidance-for-installers#grants-that-are-available-to-your-customers]

While you can use a regular UK three-pin socket, it is much slower than a dedicated chargepoint and may involve running charging cables from inside your home. These cables do not have as many safety features as a type 2 cable, and should not be used as a long-term solution for home charging.

Don’t have access to off-street parking? Coventry has deployed a network of on-street residential charging stations.

Charging at work

It is highly convenient to charge at work, because, much like charging at home, your car is often parked for an extended period during the day.

Many organisations are now installing charging stations for staff and visitors as a perk, for sustainability reasons or to facilitate the switch to an electric fleet.

To help towards the cost of installing an EV chargepoint socket at your workplace, the following grants are available

The EV infrastructure grant for staff and fleets, helps small and medium sized businesses install the infrastructure they need for chargepoints.

Electric vehicles and charging

Telephone: 024 7697 6691 [tel:02476976691]

Connectors and cables

There are two primary electric vehicle charging methods: AC (alternating current) and DC (direct current). All home EV chargers and the majority of public charging stations use AC, while DC is used for rapid charging.

AC connectors

  • UK 3-pin (BS 1363)
  • Industrial Commando (IEC 60309)
  • American Type 1 (SAE J1772)
  • European Type 2 (Mennekes, IEC 62196)

DC connectors

  • Japanese JEVS (CHAdeMO)
  • European Combined Charging System (CCS or ‘Combo’)

How do I choose a charging cable?

To charge your electric vehicle, you’ll need the correct charging connector. You need a charging cable with connectors that are compatible with both your car and the charging point you want to use.

If your vehicle does not come with the cable you need to charge it at home, at work, or in public, make sure that you understand the connector type that your vehicle is compatible with.

Most EVs will accept either a type 1 (typically older cars) or type 2 (the new European standard) connector and your manufacturer should be able to advise if you’re not sure which one you have.

While your car may also have a CHAdeMO or CCS compatible inlet for rapid charging, charging points with the corresponding connectors are usually only found at public fast charging stations. These connectors will usually be inbuilt, so it’s rare that you’d need to supply your own charging cable.

Can you charge an electric car from a three-pin plug?

Yes, but we’d advise against it. Three-pin domestic plugs are slow to charge, aren’t designed to handle high charging loads and aren’t designed to be a long-term charging solution (it wouldn’t be safe to use them all the time).

Electric vehicles and charging

Telephone: 024 7697 6691 [tel:02476976691]

Connector types

EV chargers are classed as rapid or ultra-rapid, fast and slow or standard, depending on their speed. This section will explain the different electric car plug types, EV connector types and charging cables, helping you identify which one you need.

Rapid and ultra-rapid chargers

Rapid chargers

  • 50kW - 350kW DC charging with CHAdeMO or CCS
  • All rapid units have tethered cables

Type and design of rapid charger
Type Design
CHAdeMO 50 kW DC CHAdeMO 50 kW DC
CCS 50 kW DC CHAdeMO 50 kW DC

DC Rapid chargers are the fastest way to charge an EV and are often found in motorway services or as part of a public network. DC Rapid chargers currently range from 50kW up to 350kW, with the capability to deliver between 180 and 1,200 miles of charge each hour. It is important to remember that most vehicles will start charging at a lower rate when the battery reaches around 80%, to protect the battery and extend its life. All rapid devices have the charging cable tethered to the unit.

Rapid charging can only be used on vehicles with rapid-charging capability.

Currently available rapid DC chargers provide power at between 50kW and 150kW and use either the CHAdeMO or CCS charging standards.

Ultra-rapid DC chargers can charge an EV battery even faster. Typically rated at 100kW upwards, 350kW chargers are starting to appear in the UK. Ultra-rapid chargers can refill an EV battery to 80% in around 20 minutes.

Fast chargers

  • 7kW fast charging on one of three connector types
  • 22kW fast charging on one of three connector types
  • Units are either untethered or have tethered cables

Type and design of fast charger
Type Design
Type 2 – 7-22 kW AC CHAdeMO 50 kW DC
Type 1 - 7 kW AC CHAdeMO 50 kW DC
Commando – 7-22 kW AC Type 2 43 kW AC

Fast chargers, all of which are AC, are typically rated at either 7 kW (32A, single-phase) or 22 kW (32A, three-phase). Charging times vary depending on the vehicle, but a 7 kW charger will recharge a compatible EV with a 30 kWh battery in 3-5 hours, and 1-2 hours for a 22 kW charger.

Charging rates when using a fast charger will depend on the car’s on-board charger, with not all models able to accept 7 kW or more. These models can still be plugged in to the charge point, but will only draw the maximum power accepted by the on-board charger. For example, a Nissan Leaf with standard 3.3 kW on-board charger will only draw a maximum of 3.3 kW, even if the fast charger is 7 kW or 22 kW.

The majority of fast chargers are 7 kW and untethered, though some home and workplace based units have cables attached. The latter units mean only those vehicles that can use that connector will be able to charge on them; in contrast to the more common use of a driver’s own connector cable. Untethered units are therefore more flexible and can be used by any EV with their own cable.

Slow chargers

  • 3kW slow charging on one of four connector types
  • Charging units are either untethered or have tethered cables
  • Includes mains charging and from specialist chargers
  • Often covers home charging

Type and design of slow charger
Type Design
3-Pin - 3kW AC 3-Pin - 3kW AC
Type 1 - 3 kW AC Type 1 - 3 kW AC
Type 2 - 3 kW AC Type 2 - 3 kW AC
Commando – 3 kW AC Commando - 3 kW AC

Most slow charging units are rated up to 3kW with some lamp-post chargers being rated at 6kW. Charging times vary depending on the charging unit and EV being charged, but a full charge on a 3 kW unit will typically take 6-12 hours. Most slow charging units are usually untethered, meaning that a cable is required to connect the EV with the charge point.

Slow charging is a very common method of charging electric vehicles, used by many owners to charge at home overnight. Slow units can also be found at workplaces and on public networks where the available electrical supply is not sufficient to accommodate fast units.

While slow charging can be carried out using a domestic 3-pin socket, because of the higher current demands of EVs and the duration spent charging, it is strongly recommended that those who need to charge regularly at home or the workplace get a dedicated EV charging unit installed by an accredited installer.

All plug-in EVs can charge using at least one of the above slow connectors using the appropriate cable. Most home units have the same Type 2 cable as found on public chargers, however some may require a Type 1 connector.

Electric vehicles and charging

Telephone: 024 7697 6691 [tel:02476976691]

Electric vehicle charging network

ESB Energy: Rapid Charge Point network

There are 39 rapid chargers across Coventry. Find your nearest rapid charge point: Live and interactive charge point map (esbenergy.co.uk) [https://www.esbenergy.co.uk/ev/charge-points]

Rapid chargers can re-charge an electric vehicle in as little as 30 minutes using 100% renewable electricity. Customers can sign up to PAYG, Membership or Taxi price plans.

ESB Energy can be contacted on:

Char.gy: Slow and Standard Charge point network

There are 374 slow and standard residential charge points provided by Char.gy across Coventry. Find your nearest Char.gy charge point [https://char.gy/map].

Char.gy can be contacted on:

Connected Kerb Ltd: Standard Charge point network

There are 1,863 standard residential charging sockets provided by Connected Kerb across Coventry. Find your nearest Connected Kerb charging socket [https://connectedkerb.com/charge-your-car/find-a-charging-point/].

Connected Kerb can be contacted on:

For more information on everything EV, visit Zap Map [https://www.zap-map.com/].

E.ON EV chargers

There are 24 standard and 2 semi-rapid chargers available under E.ON. Find your nearest E.ON charging points [https://www.zap-map.com/live/].

E.ON can be contacted on:

For more information on everything EV, visit [http://www.zap-map.com/]Zap Map [https://www.zap-map.com/].

Electric vehicles and charging

Telephone: 024 7697 6691 [tel:02476976691]

Cross-pavement gully channel trial

We are currently running a trial to explore the use of cross-pavement gully channels in Coventry as a safe and practical solution to help residents charge EVs at home, even if they don't have access to off-street parking.

This trial aims to identify a scalable and effective method that could eventually support citywide access to home EV charging. The trial is expected to conclude by the end of the 2025/26 financial year.

The featured charging solution utilises a self-closing and lockable cable duct, enabling the EV charging cable to cross the pavement safely. This design helps prevent tripping hazards and keeps the street accessible for pedestrians.

Each gully includes a built-in locking mechanism to prevent tampering with unattended charging cables. Every user receives a personal key to open and close the channel, providing an added layer of security and peace of mind.

The trial is helping us better understand important technical and logistical factors, such as:

  • The impact on surrounding pavement materials when a shallow trench is installed.
  • How to manage utility work near or across the gully channels, including who is responsible for repairs if damage occurs.

What happens next?

Once the trial concludes, we will be working on developing and approving a formal policy. If the approach proves successful, residents across the city may be able to apply to install a gully channel at their own cost, as a way to safely run a charging cable from their home to their EV parked on the street.

If you do not have off-street parking, you will need planning permission before installing a home EV charger.

Need to charge now?

While the trial is ongoing, we encourage residents to use the public charging network. You can find your nearest charge point using Zapmap – UK EV charging map [https://www.zap-map.com/].

Trojan Home charging trial

We have partnered with Trojan Energy to deliver a trial of a cross-pavement home charger, providing a safe and convenient solution for at-home charging without a driveway.

This trial aims to identify a scalable and effective method that could eventually support citywide access to home EV charging. The trial is expected to conclude by the end of the 2026/27 financial year.

The flat charging unit, installed outside residents’ homes, sits within the pavement and is powered by their own electricity supply, with no installation costs. It’s safe and accessible, designed to keep pavements clear and avoid trip hazards.

Trojan Energy provide a free adaptor to plug in and begin charging straight away. Trojan Home is also shareable and part of a wider network, so that you can use your home energy tariff at other Trojan chargers across the city.

The trial has the following terms:

  • Minimum 12 month council trial, 36 month Trojan subscription fee to access your home electricity tariff (£50 per month)
  • First come, first served, 20 installations maximum
  • No up-front cost or need to purchase hardware
  • No planning permission required
  • Installed and maintained by Trojan Energy, including 24/7 Customer Support
  • Installed on behalf of Coventry City Council with the option to extend at the end of the trial period
  • Take your home-tariff with you: Use other Trojan Home charge points in your area and only pay your home-tariff rate

If you are interested in the trial, visit the Trojan Energy webpage [https://trojan.energy/aon/] and complete a short application form.

What happens next?

Once the trial concludes, we will be working on developing and approving a formal policy. If the approach proves successful, the Council will look to roll out further Trojan Home chargers across the region.

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