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FAQs

Why does Devon need this?

    • The escalating climate crisis and the effect on public health means we must act now to reduce vehicle emissions. Devon has already called a Climate Emergency. Reducing emissions will directly benefit the health of everyone in our city – we’ll be breathing cleaner air when we step outside.
    • Rapid Charging Devon is addressing one of the biggest barriers to widescale adoption – access to a charge point.
    • 32%* of people in the UK do not have access to off-street parking so they cannot enjoy charging from home. This largely stops them from even considering owning an electric car and, if they do decide to go ahead, they run the risk of having to pay more to charge it. Rapid Charging Devon provides rapid charging solutions in many affected neighbourhoods at a competitive rate.
    • The Government has recently brought forward a ban on selling petrol and diesel cars and vans to 2030 which means Devon needs to be moving towards increasing electric vehicle use right now. Without a network of on-street chargers, supported by other chargers in public car parks, large sections of society will be left behind in the electric vehicle revolution.
    • The Government has recently brought forward a ban on selling petrol and diesel cars and vans to 2030 which means Devon needs to be moving towards increasing electric vehicle use right now. Without a network of on-street chargers, supported by other chargers in public car parks, large sections of society will be left behind in the electric vehicle revolution.*Source: In 2010, 40% of dwellings had use of a garage, 26% had other off street parking, 32% relied on street parking, and 2% of homes had no parking provision whatsoever.

What about the impact on parking in the streets where charge points are located?

  • We understand that there will be an impact on parking in some streets. But we believe, as the switch to electric vehicles accelerates, the benefits of having rapid chargers located close to residents’ homes will quickly outweigh any initial concerns.
  • The sites have all been carefully selected to give a balanced geographic spread of charging points in the city and to offer charging facilities to areas where having a charge point at home may not be possible. The locations have also been chosen so that they are not immediately adjacent to the front entrances of houses.
  • Overall, the addition of rapid chargers will give your neighbourhood a boost. Living in an area with easy access to EV charging could become a real advantage for anyone looking to move house, as the transition to EVs accelerates.Your street could be at the beginning of changing the whole city.

How long does it take to charge a vehicle?

  • Rapid charging can provide 75 miles of range in just 30 minutes from our 100% renewable energy power supply agreements (a typical home charger will provide about 4 miles for every 30 minutes it’s plugged in).

Slow, Fast and Rapid EV charging speed breakdown:

  • Most slow charging points have a maximum power of 3.6kW (most common for home chargers) + takes around 8-12 hours from empty.
  • Fast charger typical rate is 7kW or 22kW + charges a car fully in 4-6hrs and 1-2hrs respectively.
  • Rapid chargers provide between 25kW to 99kW, and ultra-rapid chargers have 150kW-350kW+. Our 60kW rapid chargers can deliver 80% charge in 30 mins or less (EV plug-in hybrids aren’t compatible). Our 30kW rapid chargers provide 80% charge within 1 hour.

Can anyone park in the bays?

  • Only electric vehicles can use the bays. Anyone with an electric vehicle can use one to charge their car, they do not need a residents parking permit.

Does rapid charging damage my battery?

  • Advice shows we should recharge our cars before they are empty, and shouldn’t overcharge, so a combination of rapid and fast charging is best. The Battery Management System (BMS) of the 10 most popular EVs in the UK effectively prohibit damage, so rapid charging in most situations should be a go!

Are rapid charging points reliable?

  • The Government are mandating a 99% reliability standard for rapid charge points in the UK and a free round-the-clock helpline for people struggling to charge. Potential charging speeds have increased by a factor of 5 in the past few years as businesses have started to focus seriously on EVs as the future of road transport.

Are rapid charging points simple to operate?

  • Quite simply, yes! And with over 42,500 public charge points available across the UK. All of Rapid Charging Devon’s chargers come with simple instructions to follow. Contactless payment is enabled, meaning drivers can just turn up, charge, and pay.

Do I have to own my own electric vehicle to use a rapid charging point?

  • No! Having your own electric vehicle is not possible for many of us. However, there are a number of companies that HIRE out electric cars for use.