--- title: The Basics of Electric Vehicle Charging description: Learn the basics of electric vehicle charging and helpful electric vehicle knowledge. image: https://blog.fossnational.com/hubfs/FNL_EVCharging.jpg --- - Login & Support - [Driver login](https://driverportal.fossnational.com/(S(j3l4ffvs10c4pg5kst3wihvl))/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2f) - [Fleet manager login](https://fossfleet.com/portal/#login) - [Support](https://dev-foss-national-leasing.pantheonsite.io/en/support) - [Vendor Support](https://dev-foss-national-leasing.pantheonsite.io/en/vendor) [Fuel & Maintenance Locator](https://www.fossnational.com/en/fleet-maintenance-vendors) [Search](https://blog.fossnational.com/hs-search-results?hsLang=en) [![FNL-Logo](https://blog.fossnational.com/hubfs/Foss%20Blog%20Template/Images/FNL-Logo.svg "FNL-Logo")](https://www.fossnational.com/) - Lease Your Vehicle - [Business Leasing](https://www.fossnational.com/en/business) Choose from open-end or closed-end lease offers—greater flexibility, fewer restrictions, and real benefits for businesses. - [Short term vehicle leasing](https://www.fossnational.com/en/short) Lease a vehicle for 1-24 months with no early termination fees or end-of-contract settlements. - [Zero emission vehicles](https://www.fossnational.com/en/zeroemission) Consider switching to zero-emissions vehicles to reduce your organization's greenhouse gas emissions. - Manage your vehicles - [Fleet Cards](https://www.fossnational.com/en/fleet-cards-canada) Consolidate all your monthly fuel and maintenance purchases with Canada's number one fleet card. - [Remarketing](https://www.fossnational.com/en/remarketing) Maximize your profits from selling used vehicles with our expert support. - [Telematics](https://www.fossnational.com/en/telematics) Monitor real-time drivers' behaviour with our telematics solution, developed in partnership with GEOTAB. - [Safety and risk management](https://www.fossnational.com/en/safety) Protect your drivers and vehicles by managing your fleet's operational risks with a holistic fleet safety program. - [More ways to manage your fleet](https://www.fossnational.com/en/more) Explore worry-free packages that include upfitting, vehicle storage, licensing and title management, and many more. - Resources - [Fuel and maintenance network](https://www.fossnational.com/en/network-search) Access service and repairs through our nationwide network of vendors. - [White papers](https://www.fossnational.com/en/resources-listing) Blogs and white papers developed to help you better manage your fleet and drivers. - [Zero-emissions](https://www.fossnational.com/en/zeroemission) Best practices for reducing your organization's greenhouse gas emissions. - [Case studies](https://www.fossnational.com/en/resources-listing?page=0&category=Case) Learn how we helped other companies improve their fleet operations. - [Articles](https://blog.fossnational.com/) Uncover industry insights, expert advice, and the latest trends in fleet management, vehicle leasing, and mobility solutions. Stay informed, inspired, and ahead of the curve as we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of fleet management together. - About - [Our team](https://www.fossnational.com/en/about) Meet the team and values behind Foss National Leasing - [Our company](https://www.fossnational.com/en/ourcompany) Foss National Leasing is Canada's top fleet leasing and fleet management provider. We have boosted fleet productivity and customers' ROI since 1967. - [Contact us](https://www.fossnational.com/en/contact-us) Contact for general inquiries about our Fleet Manager, Driver Portal, services or for customer and vendor support. - [Careers](https://www.fossnational.com/en/careers) We are hiring! Explore exciting career opportunities with one of Canada's leading fleet management and business vehicle leasing companies. - [Free Quote](https://www.fossnational.com/en/free-quote) To deliver the ROI you need to succeed, your leasing solution should be as unique as your business. That’s why we offer a free quote! - [Get in touch](https://www.fossnational.com/en/getintouch) [![FNL-Logo](https://blog.fossnational.com/hubfs/Foss%20Blog%20Template/Images/FNL-Logo.svg "FNL-Logo")](https://www.fossnational.com) - Lease Your Vehicle - [Business Leasing](https://www.fossnational.com/en/business) - [Short term vehicle leasing](https://www.fossnational.com/en/short) - [Zero emission vehicles](https://www.fossnational.com/en/zeroemission) - Manage your vehicles - [Fleet Cards](https://www.fossnational.com/en/fleet-cards-canada) - [Remarketing](https://www.fossnational.com/en/remarketing) - [Telematics](https://www.fossnational.com/en/telematics) - [Safety and risk management](https://www.fossnational.com/en/safety) - [More ways to manage your fleet](https://www.fossnational.com/en/more) - Resources - [Fuel and maintenance network](https://www.fossnational.com/en/network-search) - [White papers](https://www.fossnational.com/en/resources-listing) - [Zero-emissions](https://www.fossnational.com/en/zeroemission) - [Case studies](https://www.fossnational.com/en/resources-listing?page=0&category=Case) - [Articles](https://blog.fossnational.com/) - About - [Our team](https://www.fossnational.com/en/about) - [Our company](https://www.fossnational.com/en/ourcompany) - [Contact us](https://www.fossnational.com/en/contact-us) - [Careers](https://www.fossnational.com/en/careers) - [Free Quote](https://www.fossnational.com/en/free-quote) - [English](https://blog.fossnational.com) - [Français - Canada](https://blog.fossnational.com/fr-ca) # The Basics of Electric Vehicle Charging November 23, 2022 Written by [David Thornton](https://blog.fossnational.com/author/david-thornton) / 4 minute read ![Electric vehicle charging ](https://blog.fossnational.com/hubfs/FNL_EVCharging.jpg) Search - Filter By Topics ### Get the latest fleet management news SHARE [mailto:?body=https://blog.fossnational.com/basics-of-vehicle-charging](mailto:?body=https://blog.fossnational.com/basics-of-vehicle-charging) ![Electric vehicle charging ](https://blog.fossnational.com/hubfs/FNL_EVCharging.jpg) SHARE [mailto:?body=https://blog.fossnational.com/basics-of-vehicle-charging](mailto:?body=https://blog.fossnational.com/basics-of-vehicle-charging) When it comes to electric vehicles, it is essential to understand the basics.  Questions like, what are the correct vehicle charging options and how long does it take to charge an electric vehicle are some of the most common we hear.   In this blog, we will take you through:   - Variables affecting electric vehicle charging time.   - Different types of chargers and their relative speeds.   - Additional best charging practices. ![FNL_EVCharging](https://blog.fossnational.com/hs-fs/hubfs/FNL_EVCharging.jpg?width=3840&height=2160&name=FNL_EVCharging.jpg) ## Variables Affecting Charging Time  Your EV charging time depends on: 1. The power of the charger,  2. The connection of your car and  3. The power provided to the charging station.  The actual charging speed is determined by the lowest of the 3 speeds, put together.    [Batteries](https://www.laserax.com/blog/ev-battery-cell-types#:~:text=There%20are%20three%20basic%20types,prismatic%20cells%2C%20and%20pouch%20cells.) have different capacities (measured in kWh). Larger batteries take longer to charge at the same power level, but higher capacity doesn’t always mean longer range. The weight of the vehicle, as well as driving efficiency, also influences vehicle range. ## Battery Size Relative to Maximum Charging Power  This ratio of battery size relative to maximum charging power is what determines your charging speed. Vehicles with large batteries are normally compatible with more powerful chargers, to compensate for their increased size.  ## State of Charge (SoC) [State of charge (SoC)](https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/state-of-charge#:~:text=2%20State%20of%20charge%20\(SOC,the%20nominal%20capacity%20Qn.&text=A%20fully%20charged%20battery%20has,SOC%20of%200%20or%200%25.) refers to the fullness of an EV battery. To stop your battery degrading over time, it’s best to stop the SoC from going too low or too high. Experts recommend keeping your EV between 10% and 90% charge if possible. If you’re out of the house and not taking your car, you should keep the car plugged in but set the charge to 90%. This will stop the battery from overcharging. ## Driving behavior Most new EVs use advanced e [‘active cooling’](https://driving.ca/column/how-it-works/how-it-works-electric-vehicle-battery-cooling) – this feature makes fast charging possible even after driving at high speeds. EV drivers should watch their speed, as overusing the accelerator can damage battery health in the short and long term. ## External temperature  An EV battery performs best between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius. In cold weather, the battery has to warm up before it can charge properly. High-end brands, such as Tesla, have pre-heating enabled for fast charging. This costs energy but gets you back on the road quicker. If your EV doesn’t have pre-heating, be prepared to wait longer for a charge in the winter months.  ![FNL_Charging_](https://blog.fossnational.com/hs-fs/hubfs/FNL_Charging_.jpg?width=6461&height=4307&name=FNL_Charging_.jpg) ## Types of Chargers  Chargers come in two main categories: alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC). AC chargers are typically installed in home and near-home environments.  The standard is AC Type 2 and is quite powerful – All EVs can be charged overnight with this type. Type 2 chargers have a maximum power rate of 22kW when used at home. [Renault](https://www.renault.co.uk/engines-innovation/charging-your-renault.html) also has its own AC charger: Mennekes AC, which has a maximum power of 43kW. DC chargers are considerably faster. Usually found at public charging stations, they can take a battery up to 80% charge in just 20 minutes. There are three common types of DC charger:  - CCS: the most widespread DC charger, with a maximum power of 350kW DC. Compatible with vehicles from Hyundai, BMW, Volvo, Audi, Jaguar, Volkswagen, Lucid, Mercedes, Chevrolet, Porsche, Smart, Honda, Rimac and Tesla 3. CCS can also be used for AC charging. - Tesla Supercharger: used by all Tesla models, this charger has a maximum power of 1250kW DC. Tesla charging stations also include CCS plugs; these can only be used with an adapter.  ## Plan Your Route to Optimize Battery Usage  There are several apps to help you plan the perfect route. We recommend using PlugShare, which gives users access to around 300,000 charging points across Europe. The app has a route planning feature that shows you available charging stations and lets you filter for different charging speeds. ## Don’t Overuse Fast Charging  Fast charging is a quick fix, not a long-term solution. Using a fast charger puts a lot of current into the batteries in a short period of time, and the increased strain means the battery wears down faster. According to [Kia](https://www.kia.com/dm/discover-kia/ask/how-to-extend-ev-battery-life.html), eight years of standard charging will give you 10% more battery life than eight years of fast charging.  Have questions about electric vehicle charging? Reach out to our [trusted fleet experts](https://www.fossnational.com/contact-us) to learn more.  ## Final Thoughts: The Power of Understanding  In conclusion, understanding the basic elements of charging your electric vehicle is essential to beginning your EV journey. Knowledge is power, and being well equipped with electric vehicle know-how will serve you and your team in the long run.  Want to learn more about how you can plan for adopting EV vehicles in your fleet? [Download our helpful guide here.](https://info.fossnational.com/efleets-are-coming?hsLang=en)   [Previous Post](https://blog.fossnational.com/selling-fleet-vehicles-for-maximum-returns?hsLang=en) [View all posts](https://blog.fossnational.com) [Next Post](https://blog.fossnational.com/fleet-interest-rates?hsLang=en) ### Get to Know the Author Dave is a highly motivated, innovative and results-oriented sales executive. He is passionate about coaching and sustaining high-performance teams that enhance the customer experience and achieve business objectives. He knows the fleet business from the ground up with over two decades of fleet management experience. He has held several senior management roles overseeing new business development, customer satisfaction, account management and operations. Dave maintains a keen aptitude for continually assessing and adapting to the needs of clients. [Meet our team](https://www.fossnational.com/our-team) ![](https://blog.fossnational.com/hubfs/David%20250x250.jpg) ### Get the latest fleet management news ![Screen Shot 2022-11-22 at 2.40.33 PM](https://blog.fossnational.com/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-22%20at%202.40.33%20PM.png "Screen Shot 2022-11-22 at 2.40.33 PM") ## E-Fleets Are Coming: How to Plan for Change  Electric vehicles can provide significant benefits for many fleets. In this guide, we help you determine if they're right for you: [![Download Guide](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/6014256/f12586d4-395f-4486-adab-3e9e106eb588.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/6014256/f12586d4-395f-4486-adab-3e9e106eb588) ### Recommended Reading [Learn About Electric Vehicles](https://blog.fossnational.com/topic/learn-about-electric-vehicles?hsLang=en) ##### [EV as a Business Vehicle - An Honest Review](https://blog.fossnational.com/ev-for-business-use?hsLang=en) By [David Thornton](https://blog.fossnational.com/author/david-thornton) / September 21, 2023 [Continue Reading](https://blog.fossnational.com/ev-for-business-use?hsLang=en) [Learn About Electric Vehicles](https://blog.fossnational.com/topic/learn-about-electric-vehicles?hsLang=en) ##### [Electric Fleet Vehicles: One-Year Update On The Foss EV Pilot Program](https://blog.fossnational.com/electric-fleet-vehicles?hsLang=en) By [Basil Marcus](https://blog.fossnational.com/author/basil-marcus) / June 16, 2023 [Continue Reading](https://blog.fossnational.com/electric-fleet-vehicles?hsLang=en) [Learn About Electric Vehicles](https://blog.fossnational.com/topic/learn-about-electric-vehicles?hsLang=en) ##### [Want to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint? Consider Electric Vehicles](https://blog.fossnational.com/carbon-footprint-electric-vehicles?hsLang=en) By [Hussain Dhanani](https://blog.fossnational.com/author/hussain-dhanani) / December 13, 2022 [Continue Reading](https://blog.fossnational.com/carbon-footprint-electric-vehicles?hsLang=en) ### Subscribe and stay up to date ### Subscribe Here! Receive The Latest News And Industry Updates That Impact Your Fleet, Delivered Quarterly To Your Inbox. Our promise is to provide only useful information. We will never send you spam or share your data with anyone. You can unsubscribe at any time. [![foss_logo.png](https://blog.fossnational.com/hs-fs/hubfs/FNL_logo_CMYK-1.png?width=958&height=320&name=FNL_logo_CMYK-1.png "foss_logo.png")](https://www.fossnational.com) ![Driving Innovation](https://blog.fossnational.com/hubfs/Foss%20Blog%20Template/Images/Driving%20Innovation.png "Driving Innovation") - - - - ### Lease vehicles - [Business vehicle leasing](https://www.fossnational.com/en/business) - [Short-term leasing](https://www.fossnational.com/en/short) - [Zero-emission vehicles](https://www.fossnational.com/en/zeroemission) ### Manage fleet - [Fleet cards](https://www.fossnational.com/en/fleet-cards-canada) - [Safety management](https://www.fossnational.com/en/safety) - [Remarketing](https://www.fossnational.com/en/remarketing) - [Telematics](https://www.fossnational.com/en/telematics) - [More solutions for your fleet](https://www.fossnational.com/en/more) ### About - [Contact](https://www.fossnational.com/en/contact) - [Get in touch](https://www.fossnational.com/en/getintouch) - [Our company](https://www.fossnational.com/en/ourcompany) - [Meet our team](https://www.fossnational.com/en/about) - [Careers](https://www.fossnational.com/en/careers) - [Free Quote](https://www.fossnational.com/en/free-quote) ### Resources - [Case studies](https://www.fossnational.com/en/resources-listing?page=0&category=Case) - [Driver login](https://driverportal.fossnational.com/(S(f2sdqpz5utpepps4owahfmor))/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2f) - [Fleet manager login](https://fossfleet.com/portal/#login) - [Maintenance network](https://www.fossnational.com/en/network-search) - [Support](https://www.fossnational.com/en/vendor) - [Articles](https://blog.fossnational.com) Copyright © 2026 - [Privacy Policy](https://blog.fossnational.com/) Powered by [Red Rocket Creative](http://www.redrocketcreative.com/) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "David Thornton", "url" : "https://blog.fossnational.com/author/david-thornton" }, "dateModified" : "2024-09-12T23:35:24.423Z", "datePublished" : "2022-11-23T14:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "The Basics of Electric Vehicle Charging", "image" : [ "https://blog.fossnational.com/hubfs/FNL_EVCharging.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.fossnational.com/basics-of-vehicle-charging", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.fossnational.com/hubfs/FNL_logo_CMYK-1.png" }, "name" : "Foss National Leasing" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://blog.fossnational.com/#organization", "@type" : "Organization", "address" : [ { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "CA", "addressLocality" : "Toronto", "addressRegion" : "ON" }, { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "CA", "addressLocality" : "Montreal", "addressRegion" : "QC" }, { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "CA", "addressLocality" : "Calgary", "addressRegion" : "AB" }, { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "CA", "addressLocality" : "Vancouver", "addressRegion" : "BC" } ], "areaServed" : { "@type" : "Country", "name" : "Canada" }, "description" : "Canada's full-service fleet management and vehicle leasing company, serving businesses of all sizes coast-to-coast since 1967.", "foundingDate" : "1967", "knowsAbout" : [ "fleet management", "vehicle leasing Canada", "fleet cards", "telematics", "fleet safety", "zero emission vehicle fleets", "remarketing" ], "legalName" : "Foss National Leasing", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 60, "url" : "https://blog.fossnational.com/hubfs/Foss%20Blog%20Template/Images/FNL-Logo.svg", "width" : 200 }, "name" : "Foss National Leasing", "sameAs" : [ "https://ca.linkedin.com/company/foss-national-leasing", "https://www.facebook.com/FossNationalLeasing", "https://twitter.com/fossnational" ], "url" : "https://www.fossnational.com" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@id" : "https://blog.fossnational.com/author/david-thornton", "@type" : "Person", "name" : "David Thornton", "url" : "https://blog.fossnational.com/author/david-thornton" }, "dateModified" : "2024-09-12T23:35:24+0000", "datePublished" : "2022-11-23T14:00:00+0000", "description" : "Learn the basics of electric vehicle charging and helpful electric vehicle knowledge. ", "headline" : "The Basics of Electric Vehicle Charging", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://6014256.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/6014256/FNL_EVCharging.jpg" }, "inLanguage" : "en-CA", "isPartOf" : { "@id" : "https://blog.fossnational.com/#blog", "@type" : "Blog", "name" : "Foss National Leasing Blog", "publisher" : { "@id" : "https://www.fossnational.com/#organization" } }, "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.fossnational.com/basics-of-vehicle-charging", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@id" : "https://www.fossnational.com/#organization" }, "url" : "https://blog.fossnational.com/basics-of-vehicle-charging" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement" : [ { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : "https://www.fossnational.com", "name" : "Home", "position" : 1 }, { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : "https://blog.fossnational.com", "name" : "Blog", "position" : 2 }, { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : "https://blog.fossnational.com/basics-of-vehicle-charging", "name" : "The Basics of Electric Vehicle Charging", "position" : 3 } ] } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "FAQPage", "mainEntity" : [ { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "" }, "name" : "" }, { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "" }, "name" : "" } ] } ```