How do I recharge an electric car?

Charging an electric car may seem complex at first, but rest assured: once you've learned the basics, it's really quite simple! Let's take a look at the main ways to recharge your electric vehicle, with no fuss or bother.

1. Home recharging: the simplest solution!

The majority of electric vehicle owners opt for home charging. Why should they? It's practical, economical and you recharge overnight, without even thinking about it.

Three options are available:

• Standard household socket (2.3 kW)  this is the standard socket you use every day. No installation is required, but it's very slow: around 20 hours to fully charge a 50 kWh battery (approx. 200-300 km range). Ideal for emergency use only.
• Reinforced socket (3.7 kW)  called Green'Up, it is reinforced and secured, enabling faster and safer recharging. Allow around 15 hours for a full recharge. Cost? Around €200-300, including installation.
• Wallbox (7.4 to 22 kW)  the perfect home solution! Installed by an electrician, it enables full recharging in just 4 to 7 hours, depending on the power selected. Installation costs between €1,000 and €1,500, but subsidies are available to reduce the bill.

Recharging at home costs around €2 to €3 per 100 km driven, much cheaper than a full tank of petrol! Cost-saving tip: schedule your recharge for off-peak hours (often between 11pm and 7am), it's even cheaper.

2. City charging: simple and accessible everywhere

Do you live in the city or are you often on the move? Public charging stations are your allies. They're easy to find: in parking lots, near shops or on the street.

These stations generally offer "accelerated" recharging (7 to 22 kW). In one to two hours' parking, you'll recover around 50 to 100 km of range. All you need is an RFID card (such as Chargemap) or a mobile app. Some pay stations even accept payment by credit card.

Average cost in town: between €5 and €8 for 100 km, which is still reasonable even if a little more expensive than at home. Some charging stations are free of charge, especially in store parking lots for customers. Don't miss out!

3. Recharging on the road: fast and efficient!

Travelling on vacation or business in an electric car? It's possible, thanks to fast freeway charging stations.

These powerful charging stations (50 to 350 kW) recharge your car in the blink of an eye: around 20 to 30 minutes are enough to recover 80% of your range (100 to 250 km depending on your vehicle). You'll find them at almost every motorway service area.

Note that the faster the charging station, the higher the cost: around €8 to €10 per 100 km. This is certainly more expensive than at home, but comparable to the cost of a full tank of petrol. A word of advice: use apps like Chargemap or ABRP (A Better Routeplanner) to plan your charging stops easily.

4. Recharge at work: make the most of it!

Is your company installing charging stations? It's a real advantage! Many employers offer free charging, tax-free until 2027. You recharge during the working day, and leave with a full battery at no extra cost.

For the company, installing charging stations is encouraged by the State with advantageous financial aid (such as the ADVENIR bonus), considerably reducing costs. A real benefit for everyone!

5. Slow vs. fast charging: what are the differences?

Electric recharging is available in several power levels: slow, accelerated, fast and ultra-fast.

• Slow charging (3 to 7 kW)  : Ideal for home or office use, it takes several hours (7 to 20 h). Perfect for preserving the battery and recharging during long periods of downtime (overnight, for example).
• Accelerated charging (11 to 22 kW)  : Practical for city or company parking lots. You can recover 100 km in about an hour. Note that your car must accept this level of power to get the most out of it. Generally speaking, it's more like 11kW.
  
• Fast charge (50 kW)  : Perfect for short stops on the freeway. It gives you back 100 km in around 30 minutes. To be used occasionally to preserve battery life for pre-2020 cars, and trouble-free now!
• Ultra-fast charging (150 to 350 kW)  : Extremely fast, ideal for long journeys. You can recover up to 300 km in less than 30 minutes. More expensive, it's reserved for exceptional trips or long journeys.
  

The secret? Adapt recharging to your daily needs, while protecting your battery over time.

6. How much does it really cost?

Costs vary depending on where you recharge:

• At home: €2 to €4/100 km (most economical)
• In town (public terminals) : €5 to €8/100 km (comfortable for everyday use)
• On freeways (fast terminals) : €8 to €10/100 km (practical for travel)

Even on freeways, driving electric is still economical, often cheaper than petrol. Intelligent recharging by combining home, work and urban travel solutions can save you a lot of money.

A new way to fill up!

Today, electric recharging offers a wide range of solutions to suit all lifestyles. At home, it's practical and very economical. In the city, it's rapidly becoming more accessible, with affordable rates and numerous charging points available. On the freeway, it's as quick and easy as filling up with petrol, making long journeys stress-free.

Last but not least, recharging at work is a considerable advantage for both the company and its employees.

With a few good habits (charging at off-peak times, using apps to easily locate charging points and anticipate your stops), driving electric soon becomes second nature.

Now you're ready to take the plunge and make the most of your electric car, with peace of mind, in terms of the environment and the economy.

Enjoy your electric journey!