Five tips for charging EVs that new owners should know

More and more people are now electrifying their drives with EVs. To get the most of your new EV and soothe any range anxiety, here’s what you should and shouldn’t do.

1. Plan your charging schedule with your lifestyle

You can easily incorporate this once-a-week session into your lifestyle by choosing to charge your car overnight.

This option, also known as slow charging, uses alternating current (AC), is not only convenient for drivers, but it also poses a much lower burden on the electrical infrastructure. Similar to charging your mobile phone overnight, you can do the same for your EV and wake up to a fully charged car.

Most public charging points in Singapore at shared residential carparks are slow chargers that support overnight charging.

On the other hand, if you prefer to dovetail it with your regular activities such as buying groceries, getting a haircut, or even just having breakfast with your family at a nearby cafe while your car is being charged, you can opt for fast charging that uses direct current (DC), which is available at some shopping malls, office buildings, and even select petrol stations.

2. Use the MyTransport.SG app to find the nearest charging point

By 2025, every HDB town will be EV-ready, which means there will be charging points in nearly 2,000 HDB carparks over the next three to four years. By 2030, there will be around 60,000 charging points!

No need to worry, though, because finding one near your most frequented places or in a building where you’ll be meeting clients for an appointment has been made easier with the MyTransport.SG app.

Once you have the app on your phone, you can quickly access information on where you can find the most convenient charging spot.

MyTransport.SG doesn’t just display available charging locations, though. It also shows you the type of plug, power rating, and price. This offers drivers convenience and enables them to make informed decisions.

You can also use the app to filter and search for charging points, be redirected to the respective charging operators’ apps to make payments, or to Google Maps for navigation. Very handy.

3. Park in an EV lot only when charging

EV charging points are meant specifically for that – to charge electric vehicles. Once you are done charging, do move your vehicle and park it in a regular lot, so that other EV users who wish to charge their car can do so.

4. Charge only up to 80%

While you may be tempted to fully charge your EV, sometimes less is more.

Studies have shown that an EV’s charging rate slows down once it reaches this level of charge, so you may want to consider unplugging at 80%, and save yourself time in the process. This also helps prolong your EV’s battery life, so it’s a win-win.

5. Return the charging gun properly

Don’t forget to place the charging gun firmly back in its holster when you’re done.

This helps prevent it from getting damaged (just imagine if it was left on the ground and it got run over by a car!) and reduces the risk of people tripping over the cable.

There you have it!

Charging an EV can be fuss-free and convenient. With these quick and easy tips, you can say goodbye to range anxiety and power up your EV the right way