Help - Charging Modes

Welcome to our brief guide to charging speeds - 'Charging Modes'

There are four main modes for electric vehicle charging, the higher the mode, the faster the potential charging rate.

All of our charge points are Mode 3.

Mode 1

• Essentially obsolete.
• A power lead is plugged into a standard power socket.
• A charger in the vehicle controls the charging.
• As the power lead is always live this method of charging is potentially dangerous.

Mode 2

• A power lead is plugged into a standard power socket.
• A charger in the vehicle controls the charging.
• A control box close to the socket is controlled by the car charger.
• The cable between the control box and the cable is only live while the car is actively charging.
• As a standard socket is used charging is limited to ~2.4kW meaning a very slow charge.

Mode 3

• These are commonly called "car chargers" or "charge points".
• Permanently fixed installations at homes, workplaces and in public places.
• Can charge significantly faster than lower modes, up to 7.2kW at most homes and 22kW where three-phase power is available.
• A charger in the vehicle controls the charging and instructs the charge point when to switch on and off.
• All of our EV charging units are Mode 3.

Mode 4

• Often referred to as 'DC fast-charge' or simply 'fast-charge'.
• Provides from 5kW to 400kW dependent on the unit and power supply.
• Not always faster than Mode 3.
• Only available in dedicated commercial installations.