Recharging electric vehicles
Electric vehicle recharging and use
You need to recharge an electric vehicle (EV) regularly by plugging it into a charge point, to help maintain charge levels.
Each vehicle model has a specific charging process, so refer to the manufacturer’s owner manual or agency’s pre-start checklist for the procedure for your vehicle.
You can charge an EV at:
- work
- other government buildings
- publicly available charging stations.
Home-garaged vehicles can also be charged at home.
Charging an EV involves:
- connecting the charger to a power outlet (if charging from a 240V power point)
- connecting the charging cable to the EV.
In most cases, charging will start automatically, unless you need to pay a fee at a public charging station. To see whether the vehicle is charging, check the vehicle’s charging sensors or indicators.
How to recharge an EV safely
When a recharging station or wall-mounted unit is not installed, you can charge an EV via a standard 240V wall socket, using the manufacturer’s recharging cable provided with the vehicle.
Do not use an extension cord. Follow the guidelines in the EV manufacturer’s driver manual.
Before starting your EV journey
Before you start a journey, check that the vehicle is charged adequately for the travel.
If this is your first time driving an EV, attend an induction procedure or process to become familiar with the vehicle’s features before you go.
For example, all EVs have regenerative braking. As the EV slows, power is generated to charge the battery. On some models, you can adjust the rate of regenerative braking.
Some EVs also have a computer tablet-type dashboard display that can interact with media, rather than a standard dashboard. Avoid being distracted by the vehicle’s media apps while driving.
Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles and refuelling
QFleet has a small number of hydrogen-powered vehicles in its fleet. The vehicle’s interior and operation are similar to a standard vehicle, but the refuelling process is different.
If you book one of these vehicles, please speak to your fleet manager about completing driver familiarisation training.
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