When making the switch from an internal combustion engine (ICE) to an electric vehicle (EV), a key concern for a lot of drivers is charging and all the other aspects associated with charging.
For this reason, many new EV drivers choose to install a charger at home as it can make EV charging far more convenient. However, it’s been widely reported in the last few months that the EHVS grant is set to expire for homeowners in just a couple of days on March 31st 2022, so many people who are looking to install a charger at their home are curious as to how much installing one would now cost without the grant and whether or not it’s worth it.
Why should I install an electric home charger?
So, what are the benefits of having a home charger and why should you consider installing one? There are two main reasons, convenience and price. Many people choose to install a home charger as it’s convenient to charge it overnight from the comfort of your own home and then in the morning you’re full charged and ready to go.This also means you won’t have to constantly be on the lookout for a charging station as you can start off your journey with a fully-charged battery.
Additionally, smart chargers are also much faster and more effective compared to using 3- pin plugs (these typically come with most EVs), which can make charging take hours longer compared to a dedicated smart home charger. In fact, the cheapest EV home charger, charging at 3.6kW, will still be 1.6 times faster when compared to a standard 3-pin socket.While it is ok to charge your EV using a 3- pin socket from time to time, it’s not recommended for daily use.
Another key benefit of a dedicated home charger is that you can also set a charging time beforehand which could make charging even cheaper, as a lot of smart chargers can be set to charge during off-peak hours when less people are using electricity. In fact, Rightcharge estimates you could save up to £200 every year if you install a charger, both due to scheduling your charging as well as if you switch to an energy tariff that’s been specifically designed for EV drivers in mind.
Can anyone get a home charging point?
You’ll be able to get a dedicated home charging point if your home is in mainland Great Britain and you have a dedicated off-street parking space. It’s important to note that if you’re renting your home, you will also need permission from your landlord to install a home charger.
Can anyone install a charger at home?
No, home charging points can only be installed by government approved installers.
Electric Vehicle Charging Point Installation
So, what does the installation process entail? If you’d like to get a quote from our partner Rightcharge, all that’s needed is a few images of your home, including your fuse cabinet and the location where you’d like the charger to be installed. Based on these images Rightcharge can then carry out a remote 'survey' and provide an installation quotation. If you're satisfied with the quote, you can book a time for your installation. The installation itself is typically a half-day process, but if further work is necessary, it may take up to a full day.
If you choose to go with Rightcharge you’ll get access to a network of home charger installers in the UK and because they have such a large network, you’re able to filter by price, so you can get the best deal.
Cost of Installing Electric Car Charging Point
Loveelectric have partnered with Rightcharge, which is a comprehensive service that compares both home chargers and energy tariffs, ensuring you have all the information needed to make the best choice for you. But how much will a charger cost? Well, the cost will depend on what kind of charger you chose.
There are a few reasons behind the different price points, like whether you’d like a untethered or tethered charger, with the latter being cheaper. (If you’re unsure of what the difference is, check out this article on charging) Additionally, you may also be able to get a cheaper price depending on what energy tariff you have, which you can also compare on the Rightcharge website, the easiest way to get an estimate for how much it might cost is to use the charger comparison section on Rightcharge’s website and you will get a couple of different options.
What kind of charger should I get?
The kind of charger best suited to you will depend on a couple of factors, including what kind of car you have and the area where you live. While the world of home chargers can seem a bit daunting at first as there is a plethora of different home chargers available on the Rightcharge website, Rightcharge do a great job at narrowing down your choices to be filtering the ones that best suit you. On their website there’s a really helpful tool where you can fill in your details and you’ll be matched with the top three chargers that will suit you best, so you’ll have a couple of options to choose from. Additionally, Rightcharge users can review the chargers, so not only will you get a comprehensive overview from Rightcharge but you’ll also get to read other users' opinions and personal experiences.
Electric Car Charging Point Grants
You may be wondering at this point if there are any extra ways you could save on the installation of a home charging point and there are a few grants currently available that could decrease the price.
Electric Vehicle Homecharging Scheme (EVHS)
You may have seen the EVHS grant (sometimes referred to as the OLEV grant) on the news in the last couple of months as it is ending on March 31st of 2022 for homeowners (including owners who are paying a mortgage). However plug-in vehicle drivers who live in a flat or rented accommodation can still access the £350 grant to help cover the cost of their home EV charger.
Energy Saving Trust Grant (Scotland)
If you’re based in Scotland, you have access to another grant, namely the Energy Saving Trust (EST) grant. If approved you could get £250 off the installation of a home charging point (or even up to £350 if you live very remotely). This grant is claimed after the charger is installed, but this can only be done if you have been approved for the grant prior to the installation. If you’d like to learn more about how to access this grant, click here.
