Life on the GRIDSERVE Electric Highway is a breeze, but there’s a few terms that are handy to learn before charging your electric vehicle (EV). If you want to go more in-depth then check out our glossary of EV charging terms.
These are the two types of power your electric vehicle can accept: Alternating Current (AC) and Direct Current (DC).
AC is the type of charging that happens at home or when you are parked at work. You may even use it at the gym or supermarket. It’s not particularly quick, but it’s the right option when your car is parked up for a long time and isn’t being used.
DC enables faster charging and it’s what we use on the GRIDSERVE Electric Highway for our Medium Power and High Power chargers.
These are the types of connectors you’ll find on the GRIDSERVE Electric Highway. Type 2 is for use with Low Power AC chargers, while the Combined Charging System (CCS) and CHAdeMO connectors are for Medium Power or High Power DC chargers.
Most EVs use Type 2 or CCS cables, with some electric cars (such as the Nissan LEAF) using CHAdeMO connectors.
Tethered GRIDSERVE Chargers:
Most of our GRIDSERVE chargers come with tethered cables. This means the cables, which have either CCS or CHAdeMO connectors, are permanently attached to the charger and cannot be removed.
You’ll find these tethered chargers at all our Electric Super Hubs (up to 350kW) and many of our Medium Power sites.
If you’re using these chargers, there’s no need to bring your own cable.
AC Type 2 GRIDSERVE Chargers:
Our AC Type 2 chargers are untethered, meaning they come with a socket, and you’ll need to plug in your own charging cable.
Some of our Medium Power chargers have both an AC Type 2 plug and tethered CCS and/or CHAdeMO connectors. There are also some units that only have an AC Type 2 plug.
Important: If you’re driving an AC Type 2 vehicle, always remember to bring your own charging cable.
Click here to find out why we support CCS, CHAdeMO and AC connectors.
Instead of a car being defined by its engine capacity, expressed in litres, it’s now defined by its battery size – the unit of this is kilowatt hours (kWh). EVs have a battery that can have a capacity anywhere between 30kWh and around 100kWh, with the numbers indicating the total of the battery’s energy storage over a specific time.
Chargers are rated in kW – that’s the power that they can deliver and therefore the speed that your electric car will charge. Higher-powered chargers will have a higher kW rating and will add charge to your vehicle faster.
The GRIDSERVE Electric Highway provides a versatile range of EV charging options to suit your journey or activity. We’re adding new charging options with additional grid connections all the time to expand the network.
For the fastest charging available, use our up to 350kW High Power chargers at our Electric Super Hubs and Electric Forecourts® on the strategic road network, these will get you back on the road in the quickest timeframes. You’ll also find some of these High Power chargers at our Electric Retail Hubs, if they are near to major roads, to support passing traffic. The other chargers we are installing at our Electric Retail Hub sites are up to 180kW dual chargers, these are placed across two bays, each sharing 90kW or Medium Power speeds when in use.
The remainder of our charging network consists of either Medium Power chargers providing 30kW to 60kW or Low Power AC chargers supplying up to 22kW. Whether you need a fast top-up on a long journey or are browsing retail options for a few hours, our GRIDSERVE Electric Highway keeps you connected and on the move.
This is the amount of energy you have in your battery. You’ll see it displayed as a percentage on the charger screens, on the infotainment system of your vehicle while charging or on your vehicle’s dedicated app.
Additionally, you can also monitor your battery’s SoC through our GRIDSERVE app. While your vehicle charges, the app will display the battery’s current percentage, allowing you to conveniently track the charging process while you grab some refreshments.
We're here to help
You can chat to us at any time via the Contact us form or by live chat.
And why not follow us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok or Facebook to join the EV conversation:
Twitter: @gridserve_hq @elechighway
Facebook: gridserve.energy
Instagram: @gridserve.hq
TikTok: @gridserve
Get in touch with GRIDSERVE
Tell us what you think
Help us deliver the best charging experience by joining our EV community.
Our 24/7 helpline:
Call us on 0800 240 4242 for real-time help at one of our charging locations.
Follow us on Twitter
Get the latest news and updates on the GRIDSERVE Electric Highway.
Real-time troubleshooting
Call our expert team for 24-hour support at a charging location across the GRIDSERVE Electric Highway.
Contact usDo you still have questions?
Send a message to our customer support team and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Contact us