Currently reading: Jaguar I-Pace 45min rapid charge time ‘not yet possible in Britain'

The public charging infrastructure is not yet ready for the I-Pace's rapid charging capability, but Jaguar says the correct charging points will be in place when the I-Pace goes on sale

British buyers of the Jaguar I-Pace will not be able to achieve the car’s headline 45min 80% rapid charge time because the UK doesn't yet have the infrastructure required to enable it, according to reports.

Since the start of 2018, some European countries including Germany have been receiving chargers with up to 350kW of energy, with 400 due across the continent by 2020. But, reports in the Sunday Times suggest that 100kW chargers, which enable that 45min charge, won’t be installed in the UK until long after the I-Pace arrives this July.

As such, British I-Pace owners will need closer to 90mins to replenish the car's 90kWh batteries to 80% by using a 50kW plug, which is the most common type of charger currently found here. The I-Pace will need about two hours to fully recharge from empty with 50kW charging.

Jaguar I-Pace concept first drive review

Unlike Tesla, which offers 120kW Superchargers to its customers, Jaguar won’t provide its own charging solutions for the I-Pace. Buyers wanting the fastest charge times will therefore have to rely on chargers supplied by other companies.

Chargemaster, one of the UK’s biggest charging point providers, is already working on 150kW chargers for its network but doesn’t expect them to be installed before the end of 2018.

The company’s spokesman told Autocar that the technology is in the “development pipeline” but that there are not currently any affordably priced connectors that can support multiple different car models with 100kW charging.

However, a Jaguar spokesman told Autocar that charging points offering 100Kw or more would be available to the British public by the time the I-Pace goes on sale in the summer, but could not confirm which company would provide such charging points.

I pace spies 1462 0

Chargemester added that addressing the shortage of more powerful charging points should be a priority for the Government in order to allow private charge point companies to roll out their latest technology.

Back to top

The spokesman said that while the Government’s commitment to provide £200 million for the rollout of charge points via its Charging Infrastructure Fund is welcome, the money would be better off going towards “investment in grid stability, upgrading existing networks and lowering costs associated with the connectors”.

He believes that the government money could actually “hinder the strong private investment we are currently receiving because investors will wait to see what effect the government money will have".

“The energy sector is really waiting for more government involvement,” he said.

The government has established an On-street Residential Charging Scheme that can be used to pay for 75% of charger installation costs, but the spokesman pointed out that councils may be unable to provide even 25% of money towards new chargers because of the Government’s ongoing austerity measures.

“If it will cost a council £100,000 to install some charge points, that means they still need to fund £25,000,” he said. “Charge points are unlikely to be as high of a priority as other issues, such as social care, so councils are less likely to do this.”

Although British I-Pace owners won’t be able to top up their cars at the fastest charge rate, the spokesman said that it should be of little concern to the vast majority of people. “Our data shows that most people use their chargers 17 times a month,” he said. “It shows that the very fastest charge times will only be of concern to a tiny proportion of people.”

More content:

Government to make EV chargers mandatory at large petrol stations and service stations

Shell Recharge electric car service launches first in UK forecourts

Tesla Model S P85D Electric GT racer driven

Join the debate

Comments
23
Add a comment…
Tornadorot 5 February 2018

It's not easy...

Don't underestimate the electrical infrastructure required to provide, on demand, enough electrical current to power more than a hundred microwave ovens at a single charging point, without making all the lights go dim in the surrounding houses...

Peter Cavellini 4 February 2018

How much.....???!!!!

Have you seen the projected list start price for this Car...?, North of £60K......!!!???

405line 2 February 2018

3 phase required...and congestion ULEZ zone charging..and utopia

Germany has a 3 phase electricity into every house as far as I know, which means 400 volts are available. As soon as more than 3 people are using this at the same time in the UK on the same substation there are going to be a number of underground electrical fires and explosions I suspect...I also suspect that using electric cars whether hybrid or exclusive in the UK will be the same thing as diesel..that is to say a scientific myth in reality.

Bob Cat Brian 2 February 2018

405line wrote:

405line wrote:

Germany has a 3 phase electricity into every house as far as I know, which means 400 volts are available. As soon as more than 3 people are using this at the same time in the UK on the same substation there are going to be a number of underground electrical fires and explosions I suspect...I also suspect that using electric cars whether hybrid or exclusive in the UK will be the same thing as diesel..that is to say a scientific myth in reality.

 

What evidence is this claim of fires and explosion based on?

 

Even if the grid couldnt cope, although ive heard more credible sources state otherwise, is this a reason not to move to BEVs or a reason to upgrade the (areas of the) network that will need it?

Rtfazeberdee 2 February 2018

3 phase required...and congestion ULEZ zone charging..and utopia

LOL.. no-one really needs a fast charger at home for overnight charging but i guess if you are loaded then you'll get one.

xxxx 2 February 2018

Suspect fires and explosions

405line wrote:

Germany has a 3 phase electricity into every house as far as I know, which means 400 volts are available. As soon as more than 3 people are using this at the same time in the UK on the same substation there are going to be a number of underground electrical fires and explosions I suspect...I also suspect that using electric cars whether hybrid or exclusive in the UK will be the same thing as diesel..that is to say a scientific myth in reality.

..and I suspect you're making it up as you go along

peetee 2 February 2018

I suggest that you visit the

I suggest that you visit the website of Podpoint and watch the video in which Eric Fairbairn explains that the situation you describe of multiple users stressing the local grid is easily managed. 

peetee 2 February 2018

I suggest that you visit the

I suggest that you visit the website of Podpoint and watch the video in which Eric Fairbairn explains that the situation you describe of multiple users stressing the local grid is easily managed. 

Bob Cat Brian 2 February 2018

peetee wrote:

peetee wrote:

I suggest that you visit the website of Podpoint and watch the video in which Eric Fairbairn explains that the situation you describe of multiple users stressing the local grid is easily managed. 

Here for anyone interested:

https://pod-point.com/electric-car-news/erik-fairbairn-on-fully-charged

13:30 onwards if you want the exact details, but the whole thing is worth watching.