5 tips for faster charging with your electric car

With the tips below, you won't have to wait as long during a charging session.

• Tip 1. Choose the right charging station
• Tip 2. Use a fast charger
• Tip 3. Turn on preconditioning
• Tip 4. Don't stay in the car
• Tip 5. Choose a warm or sheltered spot

Do you charge your car via a socket? It'll take 26 hours on average to fully charge your car. With a charging station, you can do this in 6 to 8 hours. For faster charging at home, choose a charging station with a high charging capacity like 22kW. You can also adjust the electricity connector in your fuse box. With a 3-phase connector, you can charge faster than with a 1-phase connector.

Many charging stations now have fast chargers. With these, you can charge your car in 30 minutes. That's useful if you quickly need a full battery on the go. Make sure if your car can handle such a high charging speed. Keep in mind that the charging rate of public fast chargers is higher than other fast chargers.

Some electric cars have preconditioning or preheating. With this function, you can heat up or cool down the battery before you get to a charging station. The battery charges faster and better at the right temperature. That way, you won't have to wait for a full battery as long. Certain cars do this automatically when you drive to a charging station via the navigation system.

Are you charging your car? When you keep the seat heating or air conditioning on, your car consumes more energy. Make sure you leave your car while it's charging so your battery fills up faster.

When it's very hot or cold outside, charging your battery takes longer. That's why you should charge your car in a warm or sheltered place, like a garage or a sheltered charging station. This is also better for the lifespan of your battery and car.