31/05/2022
How much does it cost to get an electric charger installed at home?
Whether you already have an electric vehicle (EV) or you’re looking to get one for the first time, home charging is an important factor to consider.
How much is a home charger for an electric car?
A home charge point typically costs between £899 to £1,500. This price depends on which home charger installer you choose and the choice of charge model you opt for.
In April 2022 the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) which provided grants for home charger installation closed. However, the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles has announced that a similar scheme is available for people that live in flats or currently rent their home. Just like the previous scheme, the Government will contribute up to £350 of the cost for one chargepoint and its installation.
In a further stipulation, OZEV states that a qualifying electric vehicle must also have dedicated off-street parking at their property.
Therefore, if you qualify for the new grant this will significantly bring the cost down.
Can I charge my car through a regular plug socket?
It is possible to charge an EV by using a regular 3-pin plug, and most new vehicles will come with a cable for you to do this. It’s best to keep this option as a back-up though, rather than as your main method of charging.
This is because charging your car like this is slow at 2.3kW and puts strain on a regular electric circuit, as it runs close to its 3kW maximum for a long time. For example, it’ll take more than 17 hours to fully charge a 40kWh battery like the one in the popular Nissan Leaf. A 64kWh Kia E-Niro, meanwhile, will take almost 28 hours to charge from empty to full.
What’s the best home charger to get?
Home charge points are available in 3kW and 7kW forms, but 7kW chargers are most common. They come in a lot of different styles, whether you’re after a futuristic design to be a feature of your driveway, or a small, subtle covering to hide your charge point inside something like a wood-effect box.
There are plenty of different brands you can choose between, while you should look out for the type of connector your car has and the features on offer with different chargers, such as compatibility with apps and other energy-saving devices in your home. You can also choose between different cable lengths to suit your needs.
What is a smart charger?
The UK government is looking to introduce regulations which ensure all EV charge points sold or installed in the country have smart charging functionality, while only smart chargers qualify for the government contribution towards installation of a home charge point.
They allow you to charge up at times of the day when the demand for energy is low, meaning there’s less strain on the electricity grid. You can program your charger to come on overnight to take advantage of the lower energy prices you get on your tariff, while their safe, fast and easy nature makes them win-win all round.
