EV Glossary

EV charging terms explained

A simple UK electric car glossary for everyday drivers. Understand charging speeds, connector types, public charger prices and home charging terms before you plug in.

Quick answer

The two most useful EV charging terms are kW and kWh. kW describes how fast a charger can deliver power. kWh describes how much energy goes into the battery or how much energy the car uses.

kWCharging speed or power. A higher kW charger can usually charge faster, if your car supports it.
kWhEnergy amount. Battery size, charging used and electricity prices are often shown in kWh.
p/kWhPence per kilowatt-hour. This is the common way public and home charging prices are compared.

Charging speed terms

EV chargers are often described by their power output. The actual charging speed can be lower than the headline charger speed because it depends on the car, battery temperature, battery level and the charger itself.

Slow chargingLow power charging, often used for long stays or overnight charging.
Fast chargingCommon for home wallboxes, workplaces, hotels and destination chargers.
Rapid chargingHigher power public charging, useful for longer journeys and shorter stops.
Ultra-rapid chargingVery high power public charging. The car must support high charging speeds to benefit fully.

Connector types

The connector is the plug standard used by the charger and the car. Most drivers only need to know which connector their own car uses and whether the charger supports it.

Type 2A common connector for AC charging in the UK, often used at home, workplace and destination chargers.
CCSA common DC rapid charging connector used by many modern electric cars.
CHAdeMOAn older DC rapid charging connector found on some EVs. Availability can vary by charger network.
Tethered chargerThe charging cable is attached to the charger.
Untethered chargerYou normally bring and connect your own charging cable.

AC and DC charging

AC and DC describe how electricity is supplied to the car. The difference matters because it affects where the conversion happens and how fast the car can charge.

AC charging

Usually used for home and destination charging. The car converts AC electricity into battery-ready DC power.

DC charging

Usually used for rapid public charging. The charger supplies DC power directly to the battery system.

Public charging price terms

Public chargers may show more than one type of cost. Always check the operator screen or app before charging, especially if a charger shows free or unavailable price information.

p/kWhThe energy price. Example: 79p/kWh means each kWh delivered costs 79 pence.
Connection feeA fixed fee for starting a charging session, if charged by the operator.
Idle feeA fee that may apply if the car remains plugged in after charging has finished.
Session feeA fixed fee that may apply per charging session.
Free chargingSome locations list free charging, but it is still worth checking restrictions, parking rules and operator notices.

Battery and range terms

Battery capacityThe usable or total battery size, usually shown in kWh.
State of chargeThe current battery percentage, often shortened to SOC.
EfficiencyHow much energy the car uses per mile. It may be shown as miles/kWh or kWh/100 miles.
Regenerative brakingThe car recovers some energy when slowing down and puts it back into the battery.
PreconditioningPreparing the battery or cabin temperature before driving or rapid charging.

Home charging terms

Home charging is usually the cheapest and most convenient way to charge an EV, if you have suitable off-street parking and an approved installation.

WallboxA dedicated home EV charger installed at a property.
Smart chargingCharging that can be scheduled or controlled to use cheaper times or manage electricity demand.
Off-peak tariffAn electricity tariff with cheaper charging periods, often overnight.
Load balancingA feature that can reduce charger output if the home electricity demand is high.

Common EV charging questions

Why does a charger not always charge at the advertised speed?

The charger speed is only one part of the equation. Your car's maximum charging rate, battery temperature, battery percentage and charger availability can all reduce the real speed.

Is rapid charging always better?

Rapid charging is useful on long journeys, but destination or home charging can be cheaper and more convenient when you have time.

What should I check before travelling to a charger?

Check connector type, live availability, price, parking rules, opening times and whether payment requires a specific app, card or account.

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