The big question how to charge?
When I first started learning about EVs I thought charging would work exactly like petrol you drive, you stop at a garage, you fill up litres and you’re done. I had to shift my mind. With an EV you don’t have to go to a station every time; you can charge at home. That changes how you plan and live with a car, and that’s what this post is about.
How energy is measured and what it means for driving.
The way to measure EV energy not in litres but kilowatt‑hours (kWh). A kilowatt‑hour is the standard unit of energy for electricity and it tells you how much energy the car uses. When people talk about cost, they usually mean R per kWh for example, an average electricity price might be around R3 per kWh (use the calculator on my site to check exact numbers for your area and car). Knowing kWh and your car’s consumption helps you work out how far a charge will take you and how much it will cost.
The ways to charge your EV
1. The 3‑pin plug
The first is the three-pin plug. Every electric car comes with one. You plug it into a normal wall socket the same socket you use for your kettle.
Pros: It works anywhere you have a socket; no special installation.
Cons: It charges very slowly, so it’s best for emergency top‑ups or if you only drive a few kilometres a day.
Tip: Don’t use an extension lead; plug directly into a properly installed socket.
2. The 7 kW wallbox at home
This is my personal favourite. Some dealers throw one in for free. A wall box charges your car much faster, typically five to six hours for a full charge depending on your car. Check the EV comparison table it shows the maximum charge speed for every car. Get an electrician to install your wall box properly. Some cars even have an app where you can schedule charging to start at midnight when rates may be lower and stop automatically when full.
Pros: Much faster than the 3‑pin plug; most small EVs will fully charge overnight on a 7 kW unit.
Cons: It costs to buy and install, and some dealers include it while others don’t if your dealer doesn’t, buy one yourself.
Reality check: Each car has a maximum AC input. Even if your wallbox is 7 kW, some cars won’t accept the full 7 kW, so check the car’s spec.
3. Public charging
Public chargers come in AC (slow) and DC (fast) varieties. For quick top‑ups or long trips you want DC fast chargers. This is what you use on road trips or in an emergency away from home. Platforms like PlugShare, GridCars, Rubicon, and Chargify show you where every charging station in South Africa is. Download PlugShare it is free and shows live availability. AC public chargers run at eleven to twenty two kilowatts. DC fast chargers can go from fifty kilowatts all the way to one hundred and fifty kilowatts depending on your car, check the comparison table on the website.
Pros: Fast charging on the go; useful for long trips or emergencies.
Cons: More expensive per kWh than home charging; availability varies.
Tip: Treat DC charging like an emergency or long‑trip tool charge at home for daily use and use public DC chargers when you need to.
Real‑world charging behaviour
Most people with short daily trips don’t need to charge every night. If your daily driving is under 60–80 km, you might only need to charge a few times a week. With a 7 kW wallbox many small EVs will recharge overnight; with a 3‑pin plug you may need many hours. DC fast charging fills the battery quickly but is best used sparingly to save cost and battery stress.
Charging etiquette and practical tips
- Ask before you plug in at someone’s house. Don’t just plug into a neighbour’s or friend’s socket without permission.
- Use apps and networks. Public chargers usually have apps or provider networks; check prices and availability before you go.
- Charging stops automatically. Most EVs stop charging when full, so you won’t keep “funnelling” electricity.
- Watch the car’s max input. A big wallbox won’t make a slow‑charging car charge faster than its limit.
My advice — charge at home every night. Use public charging for long trips and emergencies. That is how you save money and never stress about range.
Thank you for reading. Hope this guide helped you. There will be more posts where I break down specific models, charging cost, and budgeting tips. Let’s take this journey together and see how an EV could fit into our lives.