Do all electric vehicle chargers fit all cars?

Whether you’re switching or you’ve just invested in an electric vehicle, you’re bound to have a few burning questions as you transition to an EV. And like every new EV driver before you, you’re probably wondering if EV chargers are all made equal. With range anxiety becoming a phenomenon faced by experienced and new EV drivers alike, it’s a valid question.  

The truth of the matter is that EV experts and manufacturers are confident that battery range is no longer a priority, supposedly ‘leaving range anxiety back in 2012’. Performance now takes centre stage. The reason? Batteries are always improving and more charging stations are popping up every day. 

With all that said, let’s go back to the question at hand: do all EV chargers fit all cars? 

Are all EV chargers the same?

Great news! Generally, EV chargers are universal. 

All EVs use the same standard plug for Level 1 and Level 2 charging. Variations are few and far between and we’ll come to that a little later. First up, you’ll want to know what we mean when we say Level 1 and Level 2 charging. 

Level 1 charging

You’ll typically receive a Level 1 charging cord with the purchase of your EV. It delivers 1.4kW to your vehicle. On average, you’ll get four miles of driving range per hour of charge. 

Level 2 charging

While a Level 1 charging cord delivers 1.4kW, a Level 2 charging system ranges from 6.2 to 7.6kW. An hour of charging with Level 2 will get you an average of 32 miles driving range.

What about those variations? 

There is a Level 3, but this usually requires a different plug. 

The CHAdeMO plug is a 10-pin plug that you’d normally find in fast-charging stations. They can supply quick charging of up to 50kW. While Level 3 isn’t as common as Level 2, it’s often the fastest way to get charged when you’re on the road. The downside? Not all Level 3 chargers are compatible with all EVs. 

Want to know your kilowatt-hour (kWh) from your electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE)? You can learn more from our handy guide to EV charging.

Can I charge my EV on the move?

Yes, you absolutely can. The important thing to remember when charging on the go is to make sure your EV is compatible with the charger you plan to use. 

You can use apps like Zap Map to find out the details of public charging stations in advance. 

It’s also wise to keep a backup charging cable with you - not every public charging station will have one and you don’t want to be left stranded. 

Where can I charge on the road?

There’s an ever-growing number of public charging points in the UK. You can find charging stations at supermarkets, petrol stations, shopping centres, hotels and more. Read our on street parking guide for your burning questions.

Employers are beginning to offer charging points at the workplace, with the government making efforts to offer more on-street residential charging points. 

Again it’s important to double-check check your EV is compatible with the public charging station you’ll be using. When you search for local chargers ZapMap lets you know which connection types are available for you to use- Handy, eh?

Egg chargers are compatible with most EVs

At Egg, our chargers will work with almost all electric vehicles currently on the market. 

From Ford to BMW, Audi to TeslaNissan and everything in between, our reliable chargers will ensure your EV never runs out of juice. You can rely on us to make sure you’re always ready to go and with our tethered or untethered options we can suit your needs.

Discover the freedom of at-home EV charging

Installing an EV charger at home gives you the opportunity to get the most out of EV ownership. Say goodbye to waiting for a charging station to be free. With at-home charging, you can charge your EV as and when suits you. 

Save money by charging at home. Our handy smart app will tell you when the most energy-efficient time is to charge your EV. Sounds cool? We think so!

Quick and easy set-up

With Egg’s EV Charger Plan, you can enjoy the benefits of at-home charging by spreading the cost of your charger and standard installation for just £24 a month over 3 years with 0% APR (subject to credit check). Plus, by paying £3 a month for our service subscription, Egg Plus, you can sit back and relax knowing your charger is covered if anything goes wrong.

We’ll get you up and running in two simple steps. Firstly we’ll ask you a few questions to check your eligibility. We’ll set up your payment details, but don’t worry, we never take a payment until everything is up and running. 

All that’s left to do is for our team to visit your home to install your charger. While they’re there, they’ll show you how to use your charger and our app. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, - we’re always happy to help!

You’re fully covered with Egg Plus

With Egg, you get all the benefits of owning an EV charger with none of the hassle. If you buy a charger, on average, you’ll get a standard 3-year warranty. The problem with that is there are usually hidden fees and costs attached for diagnosing issues and re-installation. Not to mention that, when the 3 years are up, you’re left out in the cold. 

With our service subscription, Egg Plus, you're covered. For just £3 a month, you can enjoy hassle-free home charging. If you ever experience an issue, we’ll either repair or replace your EV charger – whatever it takes to get you back up and running.

Even after your 3-year contract has finished, you can continue your £3 a month to still be covered by our repair-or-replace promise. That's customer support you can rely on.

Whether you’re thinking about switching to an electric vehicle or you’re already an experienced EV user, an at-home charger offers flexibility and freedom like never before. 

We hope this has cleared up some questions you may have about EV chargers, with a little bit of extra information thrown in. Check out our blogs on EV & Solar if you found this useful and want more information and knowledge on your green energy transition.

Did you know we also offer Solar & Storage solutions with flexible finance plans including 0%* options? Check out our Solar & Storage journey for more information.

Feel free to reach out to us at any time if you have more questions. We’re always happy to help and we’d love to hear from you.

**Finance is only available to UK residents aged 18 or over, subject to status. Terms apply.