Woman says she wishes she'd known not all chargers were created equal four years ago before buying an EV
Published on Jul 13, 2025 at 12:07 PM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Jul 09, 2025 at 2:31 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
A woman has shared what she wishes she’d known before buying an EV, including the fact that not all EV chargers are created equal.
BBC weather and climate presenter Abbie Dewhurst made the switch to an EV four years ago.
While she’s happy with the move, she has since shared a clip on TikTok revealing what she wishes she’d known before buying an EV.
It makes for interesting reading for folks considering ditching their gas-powered car for an EV.
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Here’s what she wishes she’d known before buying an EV
As we’re seeing advancements to EVs and EV infrastructure, more people are considering an all-electric vehicle for their next car.
But after making the change four years ago, climate presenter and podcaster Abbie Dewhurst has revealed a list of things she wishes she’d known before buying an EV.
In a clip uploaded to TikTok, she started by warning would-be EV owners that not all public EV chargers were made the same.
She said they varied widely in terms of power, and therefore, how long it took to top up.
She advised checking the charger speeds and planning your route accordingly to make sure you don’t run out of range.
She went on to urge anyone thinking of buying an EV not to overthink home charger options and to ‘just think of it as another type of plug socket in your house’.
Abbie also suggested only charging your EV to 80 percent, rather than 100 percent, to help preserve the battery.
@abbiedewhurst ad. Pass it on and tell a friend who's making the switch this year…number 4 is my most asked question from friends and family without a doubt! 5 things I kinda wish I knew 4 years ago before I started driving an EV ⚡️ 1. Chargers vary in kW – some may be slower in locations such as shopping centres or long stay car parks to allow you to leave while you disappear but others allow rapid or ultra rapid charging which is perfect if you want a quick boost and to be on your way but you're best off checking before you set off and planning your charging stops. 2. If you see an @Osprey Charging you know you're going to be rapid or ultra rapid charging ⚡️and using their tap and go contactless is seamless and speedy. You can also download the app which shows all their charger locations and allows you to track charging and receipts. 3. Pretty much all EVs have a preheat function. Once you preheat, you never go back! Plus if you do it while you're still connected to a charger, it won't use your battery to get the car and battery to temperature. 4. If you go for a home charger, don't get too bogged down with the options out there. It is, ultimately, just a different kind of plug socket – they all do largely the same thing! 5. Plan ahead to love every minute of charging – there are some amazing facilities dotted around our wonderful country. My current fave is Elkstone Studios shown here with @knead bakery. If 2025 is the year you go electric, good luck and let me know how it goes! #ev #evtips #learnoninstagram #electriccar #charging ♬ Little Bitty Pretty One – Bobby Day
Sharing one of her favorite parts about her car, Abbie said the cabin preheat function was a game changer, but warned that it could have an impact on range.
Overall, she pointed out that EV ownership came with a little more planning, but that it was still totally worth it.
Europe is poised to get super-fast fast-charging
Abbie may have been keen to warn UK motorists that not all EV chargers were created equal, but range anxiety could be a thing of the past in the not-too-distant future.
Last month, BYD unveiled its Super e-Platform, which is twice as fast as Tesla’s Supercharger and can add around 250 miles (400km) of range in just five minutes of charging.
For now, the technology is only available in China, but BYD has revealed plans to bring its super-fast EV chargers to Europe in the coming months.
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
