If you have an electric vehicle or you are thinking about getting one, finding the most cost-effective way to charge it is sure to be high on your list of priorities! Home charging is typically the cheapest way to charge your car, with more than three-quarters of all EV charging being done in this way.
If you don’t have a home charger, then you will be reliant on public chargepoints, which can be expensive and frustrating, especially when they are in use when you need them. The best way to proceed is to install an EV charger at your home, and we’ve got all the information you need to get started – take a look and start planning your new EV charger today.
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How to Charge Your Electric Car at Home
There are two ways to charge your car at home – via a traditional three-pin plug or an EV home charger. In reality, using a three-pin plug charger will not only take a long time to power up your car, but it will also require you to feed wires into your property from your car, creating a safety issue.
The best way to charge your car at home is to arrange a home charger installation with an EV charging company. This type of charger is installed outside and will simply plug into your car so that you can charge it whenever it suits you.
Choosing Between a Tethered or Untethered Home EV Charger
Before you can book your home EV charger installation, you will need to decide whether you want a tethered or untethered charger. A tethered EV charger comes with a cable that is attached and plugs directly into your car whenever you need to charge it. An untethered charger doesn’t come with a cable and requires you to use your car’s cable to attach to the unit to get the charge your need.
Tethered chargers come with Type 1 or Type 2 charging sockets which will fit the majority of electric vehicles and will stop you from having to lug your cables in and out of the car every time you need to charge up. However, if Type 1 and Type 2 chargers end up being upgraded, you may find that your charging unit becomes useless and needs to be upgraded to be used again. You’ll also need to have a cable tidy installed when you pick a tethered unit so that the wire doesn’t get damaged or pose a safety risk.
If you prefer the idea of a compact, tidy solution, then untethered could be the way to go, but you will need to have your own charging cables to use with the unit. The good news is that when you buy a new electric car, you can expect the manufacturer to supply the cables you need as part of the package. Should you need to replace the cables at any time, you can expect to pay over £100 to get the one you need.
The EV Charging Brands You Can Choose From
Choosing the best home charger can be dependent on the car you have or the deal you are offered by the car seller. However, before you jump into a deal that sounds great, take the time to shop around to check whether the offer you have is as good as it seems. There are plenty of different home charging companies to choose from; our favourites include:
| BRAND | PRICES FROM |
|---|---|
| Tesla | £425 |
| Pod Point | £750 |
| BP Pulse | £l,049 |
| Shell Recharge | £999 |
| Ohme Technologies | £449 |
| EV Meter | £500 |
| EO Charging | £260 |
| waEV | £467.75 |
| Wallbox | £540 |
| VoltShare | £650 |
| Myenergi | £779 |
| Hypervolt | £630 |
| GoCHARGE | £320 |
| Andersen | £1,199 |
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Arranging & Paying for Your EV Charger Installation
Once you have decided on the EV charge make and model that you want, you will need to arrange an installation date with the supplier. You will also need to pay for the installation of your new charging pod – which can work out to be quite expensive.
Rather than paying for everything yourself, there is a range of different grants available to help you get the charger you need without having to pay all the installation fees yourself. To find out more about the grants that are available, head over to the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles to find out how they can help you get the charger you need.
How Much Will EV Charging Cost at Home?
Before you install your EV charger, you will probably want to know how much you can expect to pay to charge at home in comparison to the public chargers you can opt to use instead. EV chargers at home are priced according to your energy supplier’s electricity tariff and charged on your energy bill, meaning that your cost per KWH for your home is the same as it is for your car. In reality, this tends to be much more affordable than the majority of public chargers, saving you cash without having to compromise your car usage.
Where to Locate Your New EV Charger
Once you have chosen your new EV charger and installation company, it is time to decide where you want to locate your new device. To help you make the best decision, we’ve shared some things that you will need to consider before forging ahead:
- First, you will need to think about whether you want your chargepoint on display or if you’d prefer it to be hidden away from prying eyes. If it’s a case of keeping your outside space tidy, you will need to think about where your charging wires will live if you choose a tethered model.
- Next, you will need to ensure that your charger box is close enough to your home to pick up a WiFi signal that it can offer smart support through remote charging.
- You will also need to think about the length of your charging cable to make sure that your chosen location can reach your vehicle with ease. Take into account the location of the charging port on your car to get the exact location right the first time.
Understanding Charging Speeds
Home chargers are always slower than the rapid options that service stations offer, but did you know that there are different speed home EC chargers so that you can get your car charged up as soon as humanly possible?
The most common charging rates are 3.6kW, 7kW, and 22kW, with the 3.6kW taking around nine hours to fully charge a car. The latest 22kW option sounds ideal, but be aware that you would need a three-phase electrical supply to make it happen at your home.
Invest in a Home Charger Today
If you are keen to invest in a home EV charger, then it is time to start trawling through the EV charger companies to decide which one is best for your needs. If you need some impartial advice and support, then our overview of the charging companies and their charger models should help – take a look now so that you can feel certain when you choose to buy.