EV Charging and Installation

A guide to electric car home charging and charger installation

The majority of electric vehicle charging will take place at home.
The charging method will be dictated by where you are able to
park, and your access to an electricity supply.

If you have a driveway or garage
Charging cars overnight at home is usually cheaper
and more convenient for consumers than charging
in public. There are two options for charging your electric
vehicle at home: using a regular UK three-pin socket
or having a dedicated EV chargepoint installed.

As an estimated 80% of electric car charging takes
place at home, it is recommend that EV drivers
install a dedicated EV chargepoint, which is a much
faster and convenient method of charging

How to choose the right EV charger for you

here are a few different things to think about when picking your home electric car charging point.

Power: 7kW chargers are the most common. Up to 22kW is achievable if you have a three phase supply.
Cost: The chargers we work with vary in cost from £600-£1100. We do not work with the lower end chargers, as they're generally inferior products, and require more electrician time and materials, negating their cost benefit.
Cable: You’ll need to decide if you want a tethered charger (with a cable) or an untethered one (without a cable). Tethered is less fuss, but untethered has the bonus of being able to connect to pretty much any electric car.
Design: You’ll have to see the charger on your wall every day, after all – so get something you like the look of!
Other features: There are a ton of cool EV charger features out there – you might want to get a charger that’s compatible with your solar panels, for example.

What is an EV smart charger?

The smartest choice is to get a smart charger.

These are chargers that are internet-connected, so they can communicate with your car and with the grid. This means they can work out the cheapest, most energy-efficient times to charge your car. So they not only save you money, but help save the planet, too.

Can I get a home car charging point installed?

You can get a charger installed in your home in the UK if you:

How much does an EV charger cost?

The average cost for getting a home charging unit installed is around £800. But there are cheaper options.

If you go for a charger with less power, you’ll find a 3kW unit will probably cost you between £250 and £500. The more powerful 7kW chargers tend to be between £450 and £800² – and if you’re ready to splash out, super speedy chargers can go up to £1,500 and more.

That might sound like a lot, but don’t worry: There are government grants to help you cover the cost.

Are there any government grants for EV home chargers?

Yes! The government has an Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS), which exists to help out EV drivers with 75% (up to £350) of the costs of installing a home charger.

If you’ve bought an eligible electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle since 1st October 2016, and you meet the list of conditions below, you’re quids in! Conditions include:

You’re installing a smart charger
You have off-street parking
The date of installation isn’t more than 4 months ahead of the date of delivery, or the date you became the registered driver of the EV
You’re using an OLEV-approved charge point installer

How long will it take to install the charger?

All in all, it’s usually about 2-3 hours on average. More complicated installations will take a bit longer.

If there are any major hiccups, you’ll be able to reschedule the installation for a day that’s convenient for everyone.