A key thing to consider with electric vehicle ownership is how you plan to keep your battery topped up. With the number of public charging points rising every day, living with an electrified vehicle is set to become easier than ever before. There are now more than 35,000 connectors available in over 14,000 locations across the UK. This provision will only increase, with the £500 million investment pledged by the government to improve the electric charging infrastructure over the next nine years.
While you will still need to refuel a Land Rover PHEV, our range of Plug-In Hybrids feature a powerful Lithium-ion battery which can be recharged by plugging into an external power source. Fully topped up, Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque PHEVs deliver up to 34 miles of all-electric range – enough to complete the average daily commute, to and from work, (18.8 miles) – without needing to recharge.
Public charging points are readily available in destinations from workplaces, retail parks, gyms to motorway services. They provide added flexibility by allowing you to top up your battery while on the go without having to go home to recharge.
All our Plug-In Hybrids come with a Mode 3 charging cable as standard so you can connect to the public network when needed and are designed to lock into place as soon as the vehicle is locked and cannot be disconnected until the vehicle has been unlocked, meaning you are free to go about your day while your PHEV is on charge. Range Rover and Range Rover Sport PHEVs are only compatible with 3kW, 7kW and 22kW public charging points, the latter of which delivering up to 12 miles of range per hour.
The 50kW and 100kW Rapid public charging points use Direct Current (DC) to provide super-fast charging times. These can be used on Range Rover Evoque, Range Rover Velar, Discovery Sport and Defender PHEVs in place of 7kW and 22kW public charging points, to deliver a 0-80% charge in as little as 30 minutes, almost five times the speed of a home charging wall box.
Although some charge points are free to use, the majority are accessible via convenient pay-as-you-go methods, including mobile apps, membership accounts, or a contactless bank card. Other providers operate a subscription or pre-pay model so we recommend familiarising yourself with these via the Zap-Map EV charging network overview, ahead of travel to ensure the best coverage and convenience for your routes. Cost of charging is typically a combination of a connection fee, charging time (pence per hour) and/or the amount of energy used (pence per kWh).
For many drivers, the most convenient way to recharge your PHEV will be at home through a professionally installed wall box. All Land Rover PHEVs are compatible with 7kW wall boxes, which use Alternating Current (AC) from the UK electricity network to recharge your vehicle while it sits on the driveway or in the garage. A 7kW AC wall box will fully charge Defender PHEV in as little as 2 hours 30 minutes. This is reduced to 2 hours 12 minutes‡ on the Range Rover Evoque PHEV. Installation will require off-street parking such as a driveway or allocated parking space and is quick and simple to set up at your home or apartment with the relevant permits, permission of the landowner and appropriate electrical supply.
As well as being more cost-effective than public charging points, charging an electrified vehicle at home also equates to better value per mile than refuelling with petrol or diesel in most instances. Range Rover Evoque for example, can achieve fuel economy of 6 pence per mile driving 34 miles^ in EV mode. This cost increases to 18 pence per mile when driving a Range Rover Evoque petrol vehicle. There may be some instances where installing a wall box isn’t possible, such as if you live in a listed building or if you don’t have a set allocated parking space. While slower than a wall box, Land Rover PHEVs can be charged using a 3-pin plug socket by plugging in the optional Domestic Plug (Mode 2) charging cable. This comes with the peace of mind offered with a PHEV, knowing that if you run out of pure electric range, your engine will automatically switch to petrol to keep you on the move.
Land Rover PHEVs are equipped with highly advanced technology designed to make locating charging points completely effortless. For charging at home and on the go, the Land Rover Remote app allows you to plan charging based on the most cost-effective times, i.e. during off-peak tariffs, monitor your level of charge and stop and start charging from wherever you are.
If you’re on the road, the Pivi Pro or Touch Pro Duo infotainment systems will be an essential tool if you’re running low on power. Connected Navigation will signpost charging stations along your route, tell you if they’re available, what they cost to use, and an estimate of charging time.
If you want learn more about going electric with your new Land Rover, you can contact our team of experts here – they are always happy to help!
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