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The costs in this guide are accurate as of 2023
Many electric vehicle (EV) owners have an at home electric car charger, because it’s by far the most convenient way to ensure that your car always has energy.
If you recently bought an EV, or are thinking of doing so, you’re probably wondering whether installing a car charger in your home is worth it.
Two of the biggest benefits of having your own home charging point include:
- Convenience – you can charge your car whenever you want, and you won’t have to worry about finding charging stations when your car is low on energy
- Less expensive – public station electric car chargers usually cost over double the amount your home charger does. Charging your car battery at home for 10,000 miles a year will cost you £523.18, whereas charging for the same amount at a public charge point will cost you £1,297.78, according to the Energy Saving Trust.
The great thing about electric car chargers is that they’re incredibly easy to use – as simple as plugging in your mobile phone. As well as the charger, you will also need a charging station, that will be plugged into a main electricity supply.
This guide covers everything you need to know about electric car charger installations, and what getting one installed in your home could cost you. The average cost of an electric car charging point installation is of roughly £1,000.
You will need to hire a certified charging provider to install your electric charging point. The most convenient place to put your charger is either in a garage or an exterior wall of your home. It needs to be in reach of where you park your car, with most car charger cables ranging from 5 to 10 metres long. This means you need to have a garage or a driveway to have a car charger installed. Your provider will need to see proof of permission from your landlord if you rent your property.
Once everything is set up, you’ll be able to comfortably charge your electric car at night-time whilst you sleep, making it a highly efficient and convenient solution for EV owners.
What are the different types of EV chargers?
EV chargers come in two types, Type-1 and Type-2, otherwise known as ‘slow,’ and ‘fast’ chargers. (You can also find ‘rapid’ 50kW chargers, though these are not sold for domestic use). Rapid chargers can take as little as 30 minutes to charge and are usually found at gas stations.
Type-1 chargers can be plugged into standard 120-volt outlets, whilst Type-2 chargers need 240-volt outlets.
| 3-7KW power rating | 7-22kW power rating | Up to 50kW power rating |
| Type-1 or Type-2 connector | Type-1 (max 7kW) or Type-2 connector | CHAdeMO, Type-2 or CCS connector |
All electric vehicles are compatible with Type-1 and Type-2 connectors, though not all EVs are capable of accepting 22kW power ratings or rapid charges (it depends on the make of your car). Type-2 is now the most common socket for home-chargers.
There are several types of charge points and connectors:
You can also purchase universal chargers, which are compatible with all plug-in electric vehicles.
Because slow chargers usually come in 3kW- 7kW models, they’re only slightly faster at charging than a standard wall plug that has a charging speed of 2.3kW. Slow chargers can take up to 8 hours to recharge an EV battery to 80%. Most lamppost charge points on residential streets have a 3kW power output.
Type-2, ‘fast’ charging stations can deliver anywhere from 7kW to 22kW. The most popular AC model has a charging speed of 7kW. A 7kW-22kW fast charger will recharge an EV battery to 80% in two to four hours.
7kW chargers are the most popular and commonly found option. In order to charge your EV above 7kW, your property needs a three-phase electric supply. Most UK residential properties operate on a single-phase supply, so make sure you check your home can support a 22kW charger before you buy one. For more information on EV charging statistics in the UK, visit the Zap Map website.
We don’t recommend you frequently charge your car with a three-pin plug, as it’s both slow (a whole day to fully charge your car) and can put a lot of stress on your domestic power network.
Many new electric cars now come with a Type-1 or Type-2 charger cable included. You can get untethered charging points (that come without a cable), or tethered charging points, that have an attached, fixed cable.
| Pros of tethered chargers | Cons of tethered chargers | Pros of untethered chargers | Cons of untethered chargers |
| Cable is included with the main charging unit Attached to the unit so less likely to be lost or stolen No risk of forgetting the cable Offers convenient charging |
Can’t change the cable if you need a longer one or a different model or connector type
If the cable gets damaged, it’s more expensive to replace Tethered chargers are slightly more expensive |
Easier to replace cables and upgrade them
The unit itself looks tidier without the attached cable |
You have to plug and unplug the unit each time, making it less convenient
Sometimes have to pay for a charging cable separately to the main unit Less secure than tethered cables that can’t be stolen or lost |
You can calculate how many hours a charger will take to top up your car by dividing the energy of the battery in kWh by the speed of the charger in kW.
If you aren’t sure what charging station you need, get into contact with a skilled electrician who will be able to help you out.
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How much does it cost to fit a car charging point?
How much you end up spending on your charging point will depend largely on whether you want a slow or fast EV charging station, and where you live in the UK, as cost of labour rises in London and the South East.
The average cost of installing a home charging point is of around £1,000.
- 3kW chargers cost around £850
- 7kW chargers cost around £950
- 22KW chargers cost around £1,550
You could get…
| Provider | Model | Cost | What you get… |
| E.ON | Vestel EV04 | £949 | Type-2 socket 7.4kW 3-year warranty Wi-Fi/LAN cable RFID card Smart app control Open access mode |
| INDRA | INDRA Smart PRO | £1,099 | 7kW Solar matching, load limiting, load curtailment, charging schedule, and ready-by time features 3-year warranty Type-1 tethered, or Type-2 tethered cable, as well as universal socket |
| podPOINT | Solo 3 | £849 (tethered) £799 (universal – portable 5m cable sold separately for £179) | 3.6kW Tethered or universal Smart app and power balance Charge activity monitoring and scheduling WI-FI updates 3-year warranty |
| podPOINT | Solo 3 | £899 (tethered) £949 (universal – portable 5m cable sold separately for £179) | 7kW Tethered or universal Smart app and power balance Charge activity monitoring and scheduling WI-FI updates 3-year warranty |
| podPOINT | Solo 3 | £1,599 (tethered) £1,549 (universal – portable 5m cable sold separately for £179) | 22kW Tethered or universal Smart app and power balance Charge activity monitoring and scheduling WI-FI updates 3-year warranty |
| Ohme | Ohme Home | £899 | Type-2 or Type-1 connector Tethered 7kW 5m cable 3G/4G Smart app charging 3-year warranty |
| Ohme | Ohme Home Pro | £949 | Type-2 connector Tethered 7kW 5m or 8m cable 3G/4G connection Home power balancing In built earthing Smart app control/LCD screen |
| Wallbox | Kit Pulsar Plus | £1,337 | 7.4kW Type-2 Built-in earthing 3-year warranty Smart energy meter Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity 5m tethered cable Smart scheduling, voice control feature, and Smart app |
These prices include the cost of a standard installation.
Since 3kW chargers are only marginally cheaper than the faster 7kW model, they are less commonly sold, with the 7kW model being the most purchased (not all cars are compatible with 22kW chargers). A skilled electrician will be able to help you identify the type of charger you need.
For a more accurate quote (according to the model you want and where you live in the UK), let us know what you have in mind, and speak to a skilled tradesperson today.
Supply costs (without installation cost):
- Around £250 to £500 for a 3kW car charger
- Around £450 to £800 for a 7kW car charger
- Around £1,000 for a 22kW car charger
It will take an installer roughly between two and four hours to install your charging point, though the whole process could take upwards of three weeks, as background safety checks will need to be carried out on your property and permission gained from local grid operators to ensure your home is safe to install an electric charger.
How much does it cost to charge an electric car?
Charging an electric car at home can usually be quite cost-effective if you switch to an EV tariff (a cheaper, fixed-rate energy tariff of £0.14/kWh which lowers costs and rewards you for using energy during off-peak times, such as during the night). This could save you around £300 a year.
However, with the ongoing UK energy crisis, the Energy Saving Trust does not currently recommend attempting to switch to a cheaper EV tariff, as many providers have increased prices or removed this option entirely for new customers.
The formula to calculate the cost of charging an EV (based on battery capacity) is:
Size of battery (kWh) x Electricity cost (pence per kWh) = Cost of a full charge.
10,000 miles a year will cost a standard EV £523.18 if you charge it at home. In comparison, a petrol Nissan Micra will cost £1,554.64 in annual petrol cost.
Larger cars like the Tesla Model 3 and compact SUVs will cost around £850 for 10,000 miles.
Solar panels could help you reduce the cost of charging your car to nearly zero, lowering your carbon footprint considerably. Keep in mind that, if you do have or are considering getting solar panels, you will also need to purchase a solar battery in order to be able to charge your car.
This is because, unless you plan to keep your car at home during the day, you will not be able to take advantage of the free electricity generated by your panels, unless you have a battery to store that energy for you to charge your car at night.
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How to save money on your electric car charging point
- Get solar panels installed. Though not essential, in the long run, solar panels could help you save considerably on your energy bills. Newer EV charger models come with energy storing units which your EV can use (through your solar panels) as its primary energy source, thereby enabling you to avoid paying tariffs. You may also be eligible for a solar panel grant, which could help reduce cost of installation. You can find out more here.
- Use free charging stations to top up your car. Using free charging points, such as those offered by large supermarkets, could help you save on occasional top-ups, and you can do your shopping whist your car chargers, making it an efficient solution.
- Make the most of your smart features. Smart chargers have in-built features which can help you save money, by only charging your car when energy prices are lowest, thereby allowing you to get the best deal you can to charge your car.
- Buy the right charger for you. If you only plan on charging your car throughout the night, it makes little sense to invest in a faster charger, like a 22kW charger, since you won’t need the additional speed.
- Keep your battery charged between 20% and 80%. Both letting your battery drain completely, and charging it to the max, are things that can damage your EV’s battery life. Between 20% and 80% is an optimal amount to ensure the longevity of your vehicle. Outside of this bracket is also where prices for charging tend to build up as they take longer to charge, therefore increasing costs.
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Conclusions
An electric car charger is the cheapest way of charging your EV, costing you less than half the annual cost of charging it at a public charge point. If you own an EV, buying your own charging station is a worthwhile, cost-effective decision.
The most commonly sold chargers are 7kW, which cost around £950 to buy and have installed, and which can charge your car in as little as two to four hours (to a recommended 80% capacity).
How much you’ll spend will depend on the labour cost for the installation of your charger, which will range depending on where you live in the UK. Accommodate for the time it will take to have a professional inspect your property and ensure it is eligible for a home EV charger.
If you have or are in the process of buying an electric car, and want to purchase a home charger for it, let us know what you have in mind, and get some free quotes today.
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