Complete electromobility solution

What is electromobility anyway?

Electromobility is a complex solution for the movement of vehicles using electricity, or the operation of electrically powered vehicles. Recharging vehicles through the mains is an integral part of the system, either directly from the socket, via a special home station (wallbox), or via a public charging station. This includes not only the operation of electric cars, but also electric bicycles, electric motorcycles, and mass transit (such as electric trains, trams, subways, trolleybuses, electric buses, electric boats, electric airplanes).

Are there any health risks associated with charging electric cars?

Charging an electric car is completely safe for your health. Charging is via a very thick cable, the cable is magnetically locked in the electric car during charging. Both the electric car and the charging station have sensitive fuses and you can monitor the entire charging process on the display of the charging station, your electric car or in a mobile app. In fact you can take a break while recharging, which is good for your health.

How many charging stations are there in total?

There are now over 1,100 public places in the Czech Republic where people can recharge their car battery.

How long does it take to recharge an electric car battery?

The charging time of an electric car depends on the battery capacity and the type or power of the charging station. In general, you can recharge an electric car from a conventional 230V socket in 8⁠-⁠12 hours, ideally overnight. You can recharge your electric car in 3⁠-⁠5 hours from your home charger, called a wallbox.

Can I charge the battery even if it is not fully discharged?

Yes, the li⁠-⁠ion battery in an electric car (or electric bike or electric scooter) can be recharged at any time.

How do electric cars compare to conventional cars in terms of safety?

An electric car must pass the same tests and approvals as any other vehicle. Moreover, in the event of an accident, the high⁠-⁠voltage components of the electric car lose voltage, so the occupants are even better off than if they had 50 litres of highly flammable fuel in the car.

How many electric cars are there in the Czech Republic?

By mid⁠-⁠2020, there were around 4,000 electric cars on Czech roads. We expect that by 2040, electric vehicles will make up 35% of total sales of all cars in the Czech Republic. This should be helped by the decreasing price of electric cars, the expansion of the network of public charging stations, government support through subsidies or free parking for electric cars in large cities.

How are electric cars currently doing with range?

Smaller electric cars have a range of up to 150 km and more powerful ones can travel up to 500 km on a single charge. The range depends on the battery capacity of the electric car. The average range of an electric car from Hyundai, Volkswagen or BMW is around 250 km.

How does charging through a home charger (wallbox) differ from charging from a conventional socket?

The main difference between charging from a wallbox or a conventional socket is the speed of charging. From a conventional socket you can recharge an electric car in about 8⁠-⁠12 hours, while from the wallbox the recharging time is half that. The wallbox is adapted to carry higher charging currents and thus recharges the battery faster, while the standard cable line that your socket is connected to cannot carry higher charging currents. Another difference is safety, where wallboxes are specially adapted for everyday use in your home or business compared to conventional sockets.

How to charge? Overview of connectors for charging electric vehicles

You can find different types of charging connectors for electric vehicles. Each one looks different, of course, but there are special adapters that allow you to charge from a charger with a different plug. The most common connector is Mennekes, of which there are around 250 in the Czech Republic. Right behind it is a normal 16A CEE socket (with the necessary reduction) followed by a CHAdeMO connector. The least widespread are Tesla Superchargers. As we have already mentioned, there are only two of them. But there are also CSS connectors type 1 and 2, Combo2 or Yazaki.

Can the charging cable be stolen or disconnected without my knowledge during charging?

No. At public charging stations, the cable is usually attached to the stand and locks into your car's plug during charging. Only you can unlock it. Private wallboxes are usually installed in lockable spaces ⁠-⁠ like a garage.

How much will it cost me to maintain my electric car?

Because an electric car consists of fewer moving parts than a conventional car, maintenance costs are much lower and servicing visits are less frequent. It doesn't need oil, it doesn't have a gearbox or clutch, for example. In principle, we can argue that maintenance prices are one⁠-⁠third the price.

Why are electric cars still more expensive than conventional cars?

As mass production of electric cars is just getting underway, the cost per car is still relatively high. But they will drop significantly in the coming years, bringing down the price of the vehicle. In addition, electric cars are often fully equipped and therefore offer more comfort than conventional cars. For example, navigation systems and displays come as standard.

Can I use subsidies for accessories?

Yes, the purchase of a wallbox is now supported by the New Green Savings subsidy programme, which can save you up to CZK 30,000. It is possible to apply for the subsidy from autumn 2021, but you do not have to postpone the purchase of the wallbox, as purchases from the beginning of this year will be reimbursed. Support is provided for the acquisition and installation of an electric vehicle charging station and other equipment necessary for its operation.

How much you get

The maximum amount of support is CZK 30 000 and cannot be granted repeatedly for the same house.

How is driving an electric car economically advantageous?

Driving in electric cars is more financially advantageous compared to conventional cars with combustion engines and they can save tens of thousands of crowns a year on diesel or petrol. As a practical example, let's use the cost of driving 30,000 km, which takes about one year on average. With an electric car, the route will cost you CZK 10,800, but with an average diesel⁠-⁠powered car it will cost CZK 46,500, and with an average petrol⁠-⁠powered car it will even cost CZK 53,700.

Can I expect a financial incentive when I buy an electric car?

There are subsidy programmes in the Czech Republic, but only municipalities and municipalities or companies can access them. The Czech government does not currently offer any incentives to individual buyers. However, the Prague City Council at least allowed them to park in the blue zones for a symbolic fee.

Who can apply

•  Only charging stations that have the function of controlling the electricity consumption when charging the electric vehicle from the grid according to the agreed maximum power input are supported.
•  The charging station and the associated parking space must be located on land adjacent to the supported house construction and owned by the applicant, or within the house.
•  Supported charging stations are not intended for public or commercial use.

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