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Frequently asked questions
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Electric driving - Charging
What do I need to charge my electric car?
To charge your electric vehicle, you will require a recharging station, a charging cable, and a charging card.
Do I need to change my fire insurance if I have a charge point installed at home?
No, but you will have to inform your insurer about it.
Can I include a home loading system in my lease contract?
LeasePlan offers two charging solutions for charging your electric vehicle:
- Home Pro fixed cable: charger with 4.5m cable and Dynamic Load Balancing. Strd incl: relocation, working hours, wall installation, 1 penetration, 10m power and 15m UTP cable, small equipment, extra cabinet, fuse, (ready for) 3-phase and inspection
- Home Pro socket: charger with 8m loose cable and Dynamic Load Balancing. Standard incl.: relocation, working hours, wall installation, 1 penetration, 10m power and 15m UTP cable, small equipment, extra cabinet, fuse, (ready for) 3-phase and inspection.
Can my partner use the charging station that LeasePlan has installed at my home address?
It is possible to give other charge cards access to the charging station using a technique known as 'whitelisting'. Whitelisting makes sure the charging station is able to recognise the charge card and launch a charging session.
You can arrange whitelisting with Shell easily on their online portal. Whitelisting can be requested from Blue Corner by emailing service@bluecorner.be.
Note: Only one charge card can be linked to the 'Repayment' service. Charging sessions with an additional charge card will not be reimbursed, and will therefore not be invoiced to the partner (if using a private charge card) or to the employer (if the employer has provided the charge card). The energy consumed using the second charge card shall be invoiced through the household's electricity bill. Should the costs incurred using second charge card be eligible for reimbursement by the employer, the user may export the consumption from the online platform and submit an expenses report to the employer.
Does my electricity network at home have sufficient capacity for a home recharging system?
Your existing power supply will probably be sufficient, because your car is recharged mainly at night when you are not using other electrical appliances. Your recharging station can be programmed to operate at the right power and at the right time so that any potential overload to your electricity network can be avoided as much as possible.
I can't recharge at home. Are there alternatives?
If you do not have the possibility to recharge at home, you can use a public recharging point. You do not need a home charger to drive electrically. More and more charging points are being added in Belgium. Via the charging app you will find a handy overview of all charging points in Belgium and Europe.
Would you like to charge at a public recharging station? Then you have to bring your own cable. You can pay with your charging card. In some places you also have the possibility to pay by text message or via the bancontact app.
Can't find a recharging point in your local area? Then you can lodge a request for one based on the Flemish government's "recharging point follows car" principle. According to this principle, recharging points will be installed in locations where people need them. With each request, the authorities come to see whether recharging at the person's own premises is possible or not. If it's not, they will check on the presence and occupancy rate of existing recharging points within a radius of 500 metres. If they then find there is insufficient recharge infrastructure, a new recharging point with access for the public will be installed. You will find more information about this at www.paalvolgtwagen.be .
What is the difference between a fast-charger and a standard recharger?
Fast-chargers are quite similar to standard rechargers. As the name suggests, it is a faster way to recharge. One main difference is the use of direct currents. With direct currents, the vehicle's transducer is not used but rather the battery is directly charged by the recharging terminal. This allows for much higher charging speeds than with alternating currents.
The main differences:
- Charge to 80% within half an hour
- Cable is attached to the recharging terminal, so you're not using your own
- Charging with direct currents rather than alternating currents
How long will it take to charge my vehicle?
This depends on a number of factors: the type of car, how empty the battery is, how fast your car can charge and at which charging point you will charge. If you charge your car at a regular power socket, you should be able to count on 24 hours. At a public charge point this is about 4 to 8 hours. If you are going to charge your car with a quick charger (you will find this mainly along the motorway), your battery will be 80% charged in 30 minutes. Keep in mind that charging at such a quick charger is more expensive than at a normal charging point.
Can I travel abroad with my electric car?
Plan ahead – Before you hit the road, it is important to know where you are going and to check whether your destination has access to a charging station. As an alternitive, we offer the possibility to temporarily exchange your electric car for a petrol or diesel car during your holidays abroad. With your employer's permission, you can add a Holiday Car to your lease contract.
You can choose between 3 categories:
- Luxury (cat E-EB): Mercedes C, Mercedes C Break
- Business (cat MC-DB-1): Citroën GRD C4 Picasso, Renault Grand Scenic, Opel Insignia ST, Skoda Superb Combi
- Economy (cat C-CB): Opel Astra, Renault Captur, Seat Arona, Peugeot 2008
Where can I charge my car?
**At home you can charge your car in 2 ways: **- at a home charging station: the plugs are specially designed for charging electric vehicles, allowing for larger currents and thus charging the car faster.
- at a regular socket: to ensure that the socket is correctly protected, a safety device has been built into the charging cable. One condition, however, is that the socket must be equipped with a compliant earthing system. **
On the road, you have the following options: **- public charging point that you can find in the charging app.
- Fast-charger: this can be found mainly along the motorway. They allow you in certain cases to charge the battery up to 80% within about 30 minutes.
My employer provides a home charging station and reimburses me for the electricity used for my home charging. Does this increase my benefit in kind?
No, the provision of the home charging station and the reimbursement of the electricity do not have an impact on the Benefit in Kind of the vehicle. However, to ensure that the reimbursement only applies to the company car, the home charging station must have a communication system that allows the amount of electricity used to be passed on to the employer.
How does a public charging station work?
You connect the electric car to the charging station via the charging cable. With your charging card you can log in and start charging. The costs of charging will be charged periodically by the provider of the charging card.
How much does it cost to charge my electric car at a public charger
Prices differ per loading point. Depending on the operator of the charging station, prices may be based on:
- 1.
Starting fee (one-off) The operator charges a fee for the start of a charging session. Starting charges can be combined with other pricing models.
- 2.
Minute based charging The operator creates the invoice based on the time your car is connected to the charging station. This means that you pay as long as you are parked at the charging station, even after charging has been completed. For charging stations that use this system, you will see the following note in our app: "charges apply as long as your car is connected to the charging station, even when the charging process has already stopped".
- 3.
Charging per kWh and based on time This operator invoices its charging sessions on the basis of the kWh consumption in combination with the parking time at the charging station.
In all cases, the costs of recharging your car are charged to your employer via LeasePlan. We recommend that you check the prices on our app or our website before every recharging process. Charging with fast chargers, for example, is much more expensive than charging at normal charging stations. Before connecting to a fast charger, check whether the speed advantage is worth it compared to the higher costs. Also agree with your employer what is allowed and what is not.
I'm moving, what happens to my charging station?
The home charger remains LeasePlan's property for the duration of the lease contract. However, in the event of a move, LeasePlan will transfer ownership to you or the owner of the property where the charging station is installed. Any remaining payments for the charger will be settled with your employer. Check with your fleet manager how these costs will be further settled, or consult your car policy for this.
Can I take over the home charger from my colleague, just like the car?
Ownership of the charging station will be transferred to your colleague or the owner of the property where the charging station is installed. If you want a charging station yourself, a new charging station will be installed at your home.
Do I have to return the smart cable at the end of the lease?
The smart cable is included in the lease contract. It's an accessory that must be returned with the car.
I want to have my charge point removed. Who can I contact for this?
The charging station is the property of LeasePlan. If you you move or return your car, the ownership of the charger will be passed to you or to the owner of the home where the charger is installed. You will receive an e-mail confirming the transfer of ownership.
If you object to this automatic transfer of ownership, you must inform LeasePlan by e-mail within 10 working days. In that case, LeasePlan will order the removal of the charge point. Please note, the costs for removing the charging point are for your account. Neither LeasePlan nor the Charge Point Operator who will remove your charge point can be held responsible for any damage (e.g. drill holes) that remains after the removal of the charge point.
Do I have to return the home charger at the end of the lease?
The charging station is the property of LeasePlan. At the end of the lease contract of the vehicle, the ownership of the charging infrastructure will automatically transfer to the property's owner. With the transfer of ownership, the Reimbursement & Connectivity service will cease.
Are you taking delivery of a new EV from LeasePlan? Then LeasePlan can start up the Reimbursement & Connectivity service for your new EV, as agreed with your employer. Are you not taking delivery of a new EV from LeasePlan, but would you like to continue using the Reimbursement & Connectivity service? Then you will have to request this service yourself from the Charge Point Operator of your charge point.
What happens to the charging station if I return my car before the end of the leasecontract?
The charging station is the property of LeasePlan. If you you move or return your car, the ownership of the charger will be passed to you or to the owner of the home where the charger is installed. Any remaining payments for the charger will be settled with your employer. Check with your fleet manager how these costs will be further settled, or consult your car policy for this.
How does reimbursement of my home charging sessions work after ownership of the home charger is transferred to me?
With the transfer of ownership, the Reimbursement & Connectivity service will be discontinued. Are you receiving a new EV from LeasePlan? Then LeasePlan can start the Reimbursement & Connectivity service for your new EV, in accordance with the agreements made with your employer. Are you not taking delivery of a new EV from LeasePlan, but would you like to continue using the Reimbursement & Connectivity service? In that case, you must request this service yourself from the Charge Point Operator of your charge point.
What is the Reimbursement and Connectivity service?
Connectivity ensures that the home charger is online and can be monitored by the charge point operator (CPO). It gives the driver access to the online platform of the charge point operator, which provides an overview of the charging sessions. Connectivity also allows the charge point operator to provide remote technical support. Connectivity also makes it possible to record and reimburse home charging sessions.
What is Dynamic Load Balancing?
Dynamic Load Balancing ensures optimal energy distribution on the network, so that overloading does not occur and the vehicle can always be optimally charged. You can determine the charging speed yourself.
What happens if I leave my electric car at a charging point for a few days?
The charging session usually stops as soon as the car is fully charged. Attention: some providers have a price structure that you charge per minute. This means that even after your car is fully charged, you will have to pay the price per minute (often considered a "parking fee"). Consider this before you park your car for a longer period of time. It's better to move your car as soon as charging is complete. This will free up the charging point for the next driver.
I can't disconnect my cable from the charging station
If the charging cable is attached to a charging station, follow these instructions:
- 1.Wait a moment and start again
- 2.Use the emergency release button in the car. The location of this button is described in the car manual.
- 3.Search for an emergency release button on the station (only a few station models have this button)
- 4.If all the above steps do not solve the problem, call the charging station operator. You can find the hotline number at the charging station or in our app. Please note that we do not own or operate any charging stations and that we do not have external access to these stations. Only the operator has remote access to the station.
How can I start a charging session?
Hold the charging key at the marked connection point and the charging session starts after a few seconds.
Our tips before charging:
- We recommend that you check the prices on our app before every charge.
- Charging with fast chargers is much more expensive than charging with normal charging stations. Before connecting to a quick charger, please check whether the speed advantage is worth it compared to the higher costs.
How can I end a charging session?
When your car is fully charged, the charging session will automatically end.
To end a charging session earlier:
- If you are using the charging key: hold the charging key to the station again to end the charging session.
- If you are using the app: click the "stop" button to end the charging session.
Our tips before charging:
- We recommend checking the prices on our app before each charging session.
- Charging at fast chargers is much more expensive than charging at normal charging stations. Before connecting to a fast charger, check if the speed advantage is worth it compared to the higher cost.
The charging station is not working, what should I do?
Before reporting a problem, check if:
- The cable is correctly positioned. If this is the case and the car is still not charging, stop the session and start again.
- The internet connection works when you use the app.
Still having problems?
- Please contact the provider if the drive station does not work or if there is a problem with the drive station itself. The hotline number can be found directly on the station or in our app.
- Please contact us if you have any problems with the app or with your charging key.
What should I bear in mind when choosing a home charge point?
Do you have your own driveway, garage or private parking? Are you an owner or tenant? Can you take action independently as an owner or is this in consultation with an association of homeowners? In addition, it is best to take into account the mains voltage that is connected in your street. This has an influence on the charging speed of your car.
Is my home charging point publicly accessible?
Your home charger and charging card are registered in your name. In order to use the home charger, you must register with your charging card. A charging card other than yours will not be accepted.
Can I give others access to my home charging point?
You can add users or charge cards in the online platform of your charge point. Please check the manual or contact the operator of your charge point.
What is the standard rate at which the driver is reimbursed determined?
We apply the tariff of the average Belgian electricity price, published by the CREG ( Commission for the Regulation of Electricity and Gas). Because of the late publication of the CREG rate, you will be reimbursed at the rate two months before the charging period. For March charging sessions, the average tariff of January will be applied.
Why are charging sessions sometimes missing from my refund?
When you charge at home at a home charging point, the data from your home charging session is stored in the device. At the same time, the device communicates via internet with the Charge Point Operator (CPO), e.g. charging station supplier.
When the connection is poor or lost, it is possible that the CPO does not have all the data at that moment to make a full refund. Thus, there may also be a difference between what you are refunded and what you find (later) in the CPO portal or app. Stored data from a home charging session are not lost, however. Once the internet connection is there again, the home charger will send the missing data. The next refund will then include these missing sessions.
I already have a charger at home and I want to use that charger with reimbursement of all my home charging sessions. What are my options?
If you have a Blue Corner or Shell Recharge Solutions home charger, LeasePlan will reimburse you for this. You can tell if a charger is a Blue Corner device, because the name is visible on its exterior. If it is a Shell Recharge Solutions charger, there is a service hotline number on the side that you can call. Contact LeasePlan to request a reimbursement.
If your charger is neither a Blue Corner nor a Shell Recharge Solutions device, we recommend that you get in touch with your current service provider and speak to them about your reimbursement options. You may be able to set up a subscription enabling you to be reimbursed directly by your current provider – this applies whether you use a LeasePlan charging card or one issued by your existing provider.
If your current provider is unable to offer a reimbursement, our providers can replace the device and set everything up so you are reimbursed. Either some or all of the components in the current setup will be reused in the new device (known as a ‘component switch’). Be aware, however, that we need to evaluate the conditions for the switchover first. While LeasePlan has agreed on a fixed price for standard installations, any installation requirements that fall outside this scope shall be billed based on the situation. Contact LeasePlan to request a component switch.
I have no possibility to charge at home. Now what?
You can check in your charging application whether there is a public charging station nearby. And since charging infrastructure is constantly expanding, you can also request one yourself, according to the Flemish government's 'pole follows car' principle.
Why can costs differ for similar charging sessions?
Charging station owner differs Each charging station owner can set his/her own charging rate for his/her charging station. As a result, the cost of charging sessions may vary from charging station to charging station. **
The connection fee differs **Many places charge a fee (usually per minute) for the time you are connected while the car is no longer charging. This fee is called connection fee. The reason is that the number of public charging stations is still limited and a non-charging car is occupying the service, so to speak, preventing others from using them.
Can I have my home consumption reimbursed by my employer?
Your home consumption can be billed to your employer monthly and reimbursed to you.
How does reimbursement for my home charging sessions work?
Your charging station or cable is equipped with a "smart meter" that keeps track of consumption. This allows the settlement of charging sessions automatically, including to your employer or company.
Can the charging cable lie across the footpath when I charge my car?
According to the highway code, it is in principle forbidden to cause a nuisance to other road users, i.e. to simply lay charging cables across the pavement. However, municipal police regulations may allow this, subject to certain conditions. So check with your municipality.
Do I have to register my home charger?
If you have a home charger, the grid operator will oblige you to register it. For this you need to contact your grid operator directly. Please note, the grid operator is not the same as your energy supplier. In Flanders Fluvius is the grid operator, in the Brussels Region it is Sibelga. Several grid operators are active in Wallonia. Through this tool Trouver mon GRD | CWAPE you can easily find those of your region.
Important! Agreements made with your employer regarding your lease car always take precedence over our guidelines. The information below only applies when the service in question is included in your contract.