All you need to know before getting into an electric car

Comunicato Stampa disponibile solo in lingua originale. 

Will your next Škoda be an all-electric car? You’re likely to have lots of questions about switching to eMobility. Škoda Storyboard is here to help.

What should you expect when you buy an electric car? Above all, a new driving experience. And initially, perhaps, the need to get used to new habits and behaviours. But go for it – there’s really nothing to worry about.

Is it necessary to start up a Škoda electric car?
No, that’s something you’ll never have to do again. Once you’re in, just press the brake pedal – and that’s it. The car is then activated, as indicated by a message displayed on the Virtual Cockpit. Then you just have to put the car in drive and set off. And it’s just as easy when you reach the end of your journey – just get out and the car deactivates itself.

Do you need to change gear when driving a Škoda electric car?
No. Of course, you still have to select forward or reverse motion, like in cars with automatic transmissions. But the car’s electric motor operates over a wide range of revolutions without the need to change gear, and with maximum torque available even at zero revs. 

What about the car’s range?
The range per charge is improving with each new generation of electric cars. The Škoda Enyaq iV provides a range of up to 547 kilometres, which is plenty for the vast majority of journey scenarios. Ideally, you can charge it regularly at home overnight or at work during the day. For longer journeys, it’s a good idea to check in advance to find charging stations where you can stop along the way to partially or fully recharge the battery. There are lots of factors that affect a car’s range, including driving style, speed and the temperature outside and inside the car.

How does charging work and how long does it take?
There are two charging methods: alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC). AC charging is not as fast as DC charging, which is related to the power supplied by the mains. In addition, 230 V or 400 V sockets in the household network supply alternating current, which the electric vehicle has to convert into direct current. Charging from a three-phase socket is faster due to the higher energy flow, but the current still needs to be changed from AC to DC. The fastest way is DC charging from a charger designed specifically for electric vehicles. Charging is a non-linear process – it takes just 36 minutes to charge a high-voltage battery from 10% to 80% capacity at fast-charging stations, but the remaining 20 percent can take about the same length of time.

What is a wallbox?
A wallbox is a wall-mounted charging device for electric vehicles. It is powered by alternating current. The Škoda iV Charger, the Czech carmaker’s official wallbox, is available in three models, each offering a different level of functionality.

Can I use any charger in town?
A wide network of charging stations across Europe can be used to charge electric cars – as long as the charger has a connector suitable for Škoda vehicles. There are several types of connectors, but in principle Škoda #ev drivers don’t have to worry about not being able to plug their car into any charging station they find. In Europe, a connector called CCS – Combined Charging System – has become the standard for DC fast charging. And this is just the widespread Mennekes connector, which is the standard for AC charging and is therefore found both in home wallboxes and in the cable supplied with the car, which can be connected to 230 V two-phase and 400 V three-phase sockets.

How do I pay? 
You might think that in Europe you could simply pay for charging with a credit card, just like you would when buying any other goods. But in fact it’s not that simple: you need to sign up to a specialist service like Škoda’s Powerpass. Then it’s no problem to register with most public charging providers

Does Škoda offer public charging for electric vehicles?
Yes, it’s called Powerpass. With a Powerpass card you can charge practically anywhere. You also have all your charging and payment details at your fingertips in one app. Available since the launch of the first Enyaq iV, this tried-and-tested system also gives you access to the IONITY fast charging network. On Enyaq iV series vehicles with the current ME3 software, charging can be conveniently initiated at compatible charging stations by simply connecting the charging cable, thanks to the new Plug & Charge function. Vehicle identification takes place completely automatically at the charging station. All new Škoda models based on the Modular Electric Vehicle Platform (MEB) will also feature this function in future.

Further information in the press release to download