Fast charging: how to get your first charge right

Yes, charging your electric car at a public fast charger takes just a few steps, even the first time: choose the station, check the price, start the session, plug in, monitor, and leave. How long it takes varies from one car to another, depending on the power it accepts, its battery level on arrival and the temperature. This guide follows a session from start to finish, with tips for what to do if charging is slow to start.

Fast charging: what should you check before you set off?

A fast charger delivers direct current, which goes straight to the battery, whereas a standard charger supplies alternating current that your car's onboard charger converts. In Europe, the standard connector for fast charging is CCS, also known as Combo. A few older models use CHAdeMO, and some small cars only accept direct current as an option, like the Dacia Spring, whose availability depends on the version and the market. Your car's manual will tell you, as will our guide on checking your car's compatibility.

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Also keep in mind the maximum power your car accepts. A city car limited to 50 kW will not charge any faster at a 400 kW charger, because the car sets the pace. Before you leave, check on the operator's map or app that the station is available, what its price is and which payment methods it accepts.

How do you use a fast charger?

A session takes five steps. The exact order of identification and plugging in varies by network and charger, and the on-screen instructions take precedence.

1. Find a station. Spot a compatible station along your route using the operator's map or app, and check that charge points are available.

1. Check the charger, the connector and the price. Park in front of a free charge point, make sure its cable has your car's connector and look at the price per kilowatt-hour before you start.

1. Plug in and start charging. Identify yourself using the method provided (app, QR code, contactless bank card or badge), then insert the connector until it locks.

1. Monitor the level and the power. The charger's screen, your dashboard or the app show the battery percentage, the power delivered and the energy consumed.

1. Stop, unplug, free up the space. End the session, wait for the connector to unlock, hang the cable back on the charger and clear the bay.

At an Electra station, you open the Electra app, choose your station in the "Nearby" tab, then tap "Charge". Without the app, you can scan the QR code on the charger with your phone's camera, and the contactless terminal accepts bank cards. Electra recommends starting the charge before plugging in the vehicle, and not leaving more than sixty seconds between the two. The session stops from the app, on its own if a charge target has been set, or by presenting your bank card or badge at the charger again. For regulars, Autocharge, which is free and activated once and for all in the app, removes the identification step on compatible cars. After a first synchronization charge, all you have to do is plug in, and charging stops when the connector goes back into its place on the charger.

How long should you stay plugged in?

The power shown on the charger is a ceiling, which the car only reaches at best for short moments. The car requests the power its battery can absorb, and that depends mostly on its charge level. High when the battery is nearly empty, it drops as the battery fills, to protect the cells. A cold battery also accepts less power. Many recent cars preheat their battery when you set a fast charger as your destination in the navigation, a setting that shortens the stop, especially in winter.

On a long trip, stopping at around 80% is often the most efficient, because beyond that each percent takes noticeably more time, and two short stops can beat one long stop. Before a stretch without stations, or to arrive with a margin, it can still make sense to go higher. To estimate the duration for your model, our guides to understanding charging time and our charging time table by car give you the useful figures.

How much does fast charging cost?

Fast charging is most often billed per kilowatt-hour, and the price varies depending on the operator, the payment method and sometimes the time of day. Some networks offer subscriptions that reduce the unit price, and idle fees may apply if the car stays plugged in after charging.

On the Electra network, the price per kilowatt-hour is shown in the app and on the Electra charging prices page before you start charging. It varies depending on the market, how busy the station is and the payment method. To estimate the cost of a session, multiply the energy charged by the displayed price per kilowatt-hour: going from 20 to 80% on a medium-sized battery represents around 40 kWh. Idle fees only apply above 80% battery, when the station is busy, after a short grace period. The amount is shown in the app. The Electra+ subscription lowers the price of every charge:

Electra+ Essential: €1.99/month with no commitment, a €0.10/kWh discount on every charge on the Electra network.

Electra+ Smart: €4.99/month with no commitment, a €0.20/kWh discount on every charge on the Electra network.

With Smart, a 40 kWh charge costs €8 less.

Why does charging not start or slow down?

A failure to start almost always comes down to a practical detail: connector not pushed in far enough, payment declined, charge point unavailable, session started too early or too late relative to plugging in. On some models, charging only kicks in once the doors are locked, and it will not start if the car has already reached the target set in its settings.

If charging does not start	What to do
Is the connector properly in place?	Push it in all the way until it locks, then restart the session by following the screen
Did the identification or payment go through?	Check the method you chose and the order (start, then plug in) requested by the charger
Is the charge point responding?	Try another charge point at the station, then call the support number shown on the charger, or use the online chat

Slow charging is not necessarily a fault. A battery that is already quite full or that stayed cold for lack of preheating, a car that deliberately limits its power, or, on some installations, a charge point that shares its power with its neighbor can explain it. In persistent cases, only the operator's or the manufacturer's support can settle the matter.

Where can you find a fast charging station?

To plan your stop before hitting the road, the Electra station map and the app show where stations are, whether charge points are available and the price charged. Our fast chargers deliver up to 400 kW to cars that can accept it. As for payment, the European AFIR regulation has required since 13 April 2024 that every new public charge point of 50 kW and above accepts bank cards. At these chargers, no subscription is needed to plug in.

Before your next trip, find a charging station along your route.

Frequently asked questions about fast charging

Do all electric cars accept fast charging?

The vast majority of recent models do, with a CCS connector. Some small cars only offer it as an option, depending on the version and the market, and a few older models use the CHAdeMO connector.

Do you need a subscription to use a fast charger?

No. New charge points of 50 kW and above must accept bank cards, and at Electra the app works without a subscription.

Is it necessary to charge to 100%?

Rarely. Above 80%, power drops sharply and the stop gets longer, and idle fees may apply at a busy station. Charging higher is justified before a long stretch without chargers.

The key takeaways

A first fast charge comes down to three checks: a compatible connector, an available station and a known price. At the charger, start the session, plug in, monitor progress and set off again at around 80% on a long trip. If charging does not start, check the connector and the payment method, try another charge point, then call support.

To find Electra stations near you, download the app from the App Store or Google Play.