Electric vehicle drivers using public charging points are often getting much slower charging speeds than expected, according to What Car? research.
Tests across 15 sites in England, covering five charging networks, revealed that drivers might receive as little as 37% of the advertised maximum charge rate. Shockingly (or not, it seems!), only two chargers delivered full-rated performance, while more than half delivered less than two-thirds.
For fleets, these slowdowns could cause delays, impacting operational efficiency. What Car? adjusted results for each vehicle’s charging curve, ensuring fair comparisons. Still, examples like a Renault Scenic receiving just 48kW from a 125kW InstaVolt unit highlights the shortfall.
A Peugeot e-208 also peaked at only 49% of its potential at a Shell Recharge site.
In contrast, Fastned sites in Basildon and St Albans met expectations.
Several factors affect EV charging speed, including the vehicle’s onboard charger limit, faults with the car or charger, grid capacity and ambient temperature. Vehicles also regulate charging through a ‘charging curve’ to prevent battery overheating. What Car? says it accounted for this in its testing, by comparing actual charge rates only against what each vehicle should realistically accept at any given battery state.
Claire Evans, What Car?’s consumer editor, has called for mandatory disclosure of real-world charging data to help EV drivers plan better and avoid wasted time.