According to government data from June 2023, there are around 2.3 million electric vehicles (EVs) in Britain. That number is rising, and they all need somewhere to recharge. (Eco Experts)
So, whether you’re an electrician providing home EV charging installation, or investing in EV charger installation for your own home, we’ve compiled this ultimate guide to home EV charger installation.
What is an EV charger?
Electric vehicles (EVs), such as electric cars or electric bikes, run on electricity stored in batteries. (For the purposes of this blog we'll be using an electric car as the prime example.)
Just like conventional vehicles need to refuel with petrol or diesel, electric vehicles need to recharge their batteries to keep going.
An EV charger facilitates this recharging process by supplying the car with electricity.
EV charger types
There are three levels of chargers available in the UK:
Level 1 Charger:
- The simplest form of EV charge - it usually comes with your electric car
- It is essentially a cable you’re able to insert into a household plug socket
- The slowest charger type, it can take anywhere from 8 to 20 hours to fully charge an electric car
Level 2 Charger:
- Requires a 240-volt electrical supply, which is similar to what large household appliances use
- Usually the charging level of a home charger or those installed in workplaces, and some public charging stations
- Faster than Level 1, it might take around 4 to 8 hours to fully charge an electric vehicle depending on its battery capacity the charging rate of the charger
DC Fast Charger (Level 3 Charger):
- DC fast chargers are the fastest type of chargers available, using direct current (DC) to rapidly charge EVs
- Typically found at motorway service stations
- Depending on the vehicle's battery capacity and the charging rate of the charger, it could take anywhere from 20 to 60 minutes to achieve an 80% charge
The UK government also categorises Level 2 and Level 3 charge points into the four following bands, depending on the connector rate (charging power) they’re able to supply:
- Slow Charging Devices: 3 kilowatts (kW) to 6 kW (Level 2)
- Fast Charging Devices: 7kW to 22kW (Level 2)
- Rapid Charging Devices: 25kW to 100kW (Level 3)
- Ultra Fast Charging Devices: 100kW plus (Level 3)
9 benefits of home charge points
1. Convenience
The ultimate benefit of EV chargers is their convenience.
You never have to queue or spend time driving to a charge point then waiting for your car to charge.
And because you're charging your car at home, you get to choose when that happens - whether during the day or overnight.
2. Faster charging
The standard Level 2 home charger is much faster than plugging into a household socket.
This allows you to charge your car battery more quickly, making it ready for your daily commute or other driving needs.
3. Optimal charging speed
On a similar note, home EV charge points are usually set up to match your vehicle's charging capacity, ensuring optimal charging speed and battery health. This is important for extending battery life.
Using a Level 1 charger is not as safe or efficient long term, as the current required for an electric vehicle is often more than a household socket can supply.
4. Cost savings
Charging your electric vehicle at home is often more cost-effective than using public charging stations, especially if you have access to lower off-peak electricity supply rates.
EV-friendly tariffs are also available.
These can offer discounted prices in general, or they specifically offer lower electricity supply rates at night when you’re most likely to be using the charger.
5. Smart charging features
Most modern EVs come with mobile apps that allow you to
- monitor and control the charging process remotely.
- schedule charging sessions
- receive notifications straight to your phone
If you invest in particular brands, they also have the potential to link up to other renewable energy technologies in your home.
7. Safer environments
Charging your vehicle at home means you don't have to brave adverse weather or unfamiliar locations to charge. Additionally, home charging can provide a safer and more secure environment for your vehicle.
8. Add to your renewable ecosystem
EVs themselves don't run on fossil fuels, so are considered a more eco-friendly mode of transport.
But if you really want to be running your car with the lowest carbon footprint, you need to be sure the electricity you charge from is also renewable.
In the case of public charge points, there’s no way to be sure. With your home charger, however, you can create a whole ecosystem of renewable energy by using solar panels or wind power to use for your charger's electricity supply.
Certain energy providers may also offer tariffs which promise energy that’s 100% renewable and comes from sources such as solar and wind power.
9. It probably increases your home’s value
A study in 2021 by Rivervale Leasing found that homes with an electric vehicle charge point sold for 30% more than the local average.
While there isn’t enough data to fully understand the effects of home charge points on property value in 2023, the experts reckon it will ‘probably’ add value to your home. This is down to:
- The government’s push for electric cars and future bans on purchasing diesel and petrol cars
- The growing number of homeowners already looking for charging points with their next home
Are taxes for electric cars cheaper?
According to Pod Point, road tax is calculated based on the CO2 tailpipe emissions of your electric vehicle, its list price and which year it was registered in:
- Pure battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are exempt from VED until April 2025.
- Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) currently pay reduced VED.
- Any vehicle (excluding BEVs) with a list price of £40,000 or above will incur an additional premium rate for 5 years (starting from the second time the vehicle is taxed).
So, whether you will incur less tax depends entirely on the car, its features and price.
Home charger installation cost
If you’re an electric car driver wanting to install a charge point, you might be wondering about the cost of installation.
The exact expense depends on the make and model of the charge point and the cost of fitting.
But in general, data shows that a 7kW wall box charger (a fairly fast charging point) will cost anywhere from £600 - £1000 in 2023.
How much does it cost to charge an electric car?
How much it will cost to charge the car itself from a new home charging point depends on the electricity source, electricity rates and type of charger used.
To estimate the cost of charging your electric car, you can follow these steps:
- Determine the vehicle's battery size in kWh
- Check your local electricity rate (usually in cents per kWh)
- Multiply the battery size by the electricity rate to calculate the cost of a full charge
Government grants available
When it comes to government grants, there is the OZEV (Office for Zero Emissions Vehicles) grant.
With this grant, homeowners can receive up to 75% of the cost of the purchase price and installation of an EV charge point at home. The grant is capped at £350 for each installation.
There are some eligibility criteria. The person must:
- Either live in a flat/apartment or rent their home
- Own or lease (or have submitted an order for a qualifying vehicle) the EV
- Have dedicated off-street parking
- Only apply for two charge point installations if they have two qualifying EVs
- Use an accredited, qualified installer
How to become a qualified installer
With accredited expert installers a requirement for homeowners wishing to take advantage of the OZEV grant, it’s a great idea to become qualified if you’re already thinking of offering this service!
Our EV Charging Point Installer Course is a 2-day programme for qualified electricians.
With a mixture of theory and practical, hands-on training, you’ll learn:
- Installation methods for different types of EV chargers
- How to conduct pre-site surveys
- The hand over process for completion of works
- Overview of safety equipment and devices used
- Earthing arrangements and pen fault detection
- Application and design requirements for small scale EV installations
As one of the UK’s leading training providers for the energy sector, you’re in good hands!
And we’re conveniently located just off the M1 for easy access wherever you are in the UK.
Explore the EV Charging Point Installer Course now
