Electric vehicle drivers using public charging points are receiving as little as 37 per cent of the maximum charging speeds promised, according to damning new research.
An investigation tested a variety of cars at 15 EV charging stations across England operated by five different networks.
The findings reveal a significant gap between advertised and actual charging speeds, with most sites failing to deliver the rates claimed by operators.
The research found that at eight of the 15 sites tested, chargers delivered power at less than two-thirds of the stated maximum rate, while just two charging locations actually achieved the advertised speed.
Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailingmotoring@gbnews.uk
Some public charging stations failed to meet minimum charging speeds
GETTY
What Car? measured the charge speed delivered against the rate each car should accept at any state of charge, taking into account vehicles' charging limitations.
These results could have significant implications for fleet operators and drivers on longer journeys who rely on predictable charging times.
The drop-off in real-world speed compared to advertised rates means vehicles may take longer to charge than expected.
Claire Evans, consumer editor at What Car?, said: "Our results highlight the fact that it's almost impossible to predict how fast a car will charge up at a public charging point.
"The Government needs to make it mandatory for both the charging companies and car makers to provide EV owners with information on the charging speeds they should be getting.
"Charging companies should also be compelled to publish average charging speed data so EV owners can see which sites are providing charging at the expected rates."
There are a number of factors which affect charging rates at public points, including the maximum speed of the vehicle's onboard charger.
Issues with the vehicle or charge point can also impact performance, and the wider electrical infrastructure and ambient temperature play roles in determining actual charging speeds.
Vehicles also restrict the amount of charge they accept to prevent battery overheating, following parameters set by their "charging curve".
The poorest performance was recorded at an InstaVolt charger in Twickenham, Middlesex. Despite advertising a maximum charging rate of 125kW, it delivered just 48kW to a Renault Scenic test car capable of accepting the full rate when its battery was at four per cent capacity, which represents just 37 per cent of the figure stated.
A Peugeot e-208 at a Shell Recharge point in Tytherington, near Macclesfield, received only 48kW (49%) despite the charger claiming a 150kW maximum.
Not all sites delivered slower charging than advertised, however. Two Fastned sites in Basildon, Essex, and St Albans, Hertfordshire, both provided power at 100 per cent of the expected rate for a Vauxhall Astra Electric hatchback.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
There are more than 75,000 public EV chargers around the UKGETTYMeanwhile, an InstaVolt charger in Bromley, Kent, gave a Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer a top speed of 98kW.
What Car? warned that fleet managers who schedule vehicle usage based on expected charging times may face disruptions when actual charging takes considerably longer than anticipated.
