Your EV is a bit different from filling up a petrol tank because some energy is always lost during the process. This phenomenon, known as transmission loss, is common in all electrical processes, where some energy is lost as heat during transfer.

It’s especially noticeable with AC chargers since your car needs to convert AC to DC power. Longer charging cables can also reduce efficiency, leading to about 10-15% energy loss.

Even while charging, your car uses some battery power, similar to using your phone while it’s plugged in. You can help improve efficiency by preconditioning your battery before charging to get it to the ideal temperature. At GRIDSERVE, we minimise energy loss with thick, liquid-cooled cables designed for High Power charging.

No matter which charger you use, you only ever pay for the energy supplied to your EV. However, because of the charging efficiency mentioned above, you may find that around 10-15% less energy is added to your battery than what’s shown on your receipt.

If you are ever at all concerned that the percentage is outside this expected range, please contact customer service.

The infographic below explains how charger efficiency works in a little more detail.