Investing in an electric vehicle charging point for your home can bring you multiple benefits such as cost savings, convenience, and peace of mind.

By using a home charger, you can save up to £555 per year in recharging costs compared to public chargers, which is particularly valuable in times of economic difficulty.

Moreover, comparing prices for home chargers has never been easier with our assistance. Simply provide us with some basic information, and our qualified installers will supply you with free quotes to compare.

What's on this page?

01 - How much does it cost to install an electric car charger?
02 - How Long Does It Take To Charge?
03 - Cost of charging an electric car at home
04 - Factors affecting the cost
05 - Tethered or untethered Electric Car Charger
06 - Benefits of having your own Electric Car Chargers at home
07 - Is it worth getting a home Electric Car Charger?
08 - Find The Best Electric Car Charger Supplier

How much does it cost to install an electric car charger?

As per Checkatrade, an average 3kW electric car charger costs £375, while a 7kW charger costs £625. However, the price of installation varies depending on the company you select.

The overall cost of purchasing and installing a charger starts at £449 after applying the Government grant. The average cost to install an electric car charger without a grant is around £1,000.

The EV chargepoint grant has replaced the previous Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) starting from 1st April 2022, as stated by Gov.UK.

How Long Does It Take To Charge?

Several factors contribute to the time required to charge an EV battery at home, including the battery's capacity and condition, as well as the charger's power.

Charging time increases with battery size and lower charging output. A larger battery and slower charging output will require more time to charge from zero to full.

For a clearer understanding of this correlation, below are the battery capacities, charging powers, and corresponding charging times for several of the most prevalent battery sizes:

Cost of charging an electric car at home

To charge an electric car at home, the typical driver can expect to spend an average of £724 annually. This translates to a yearly savings of £555 compared to the cost of charging in public, which comes to around £1,279 per year.

By charging your car at home, you can take advantage of a more affordable rate of just 11p per mile, as opposed to the higher cost of 19p per mile charged in public. This price difference is unlikely to narrow in the near future.

Factors affecting the cost

The cost of home electric vehicle (EV) chargers can be influenced by various factors, including:

Charging output

There are chargers available with varying output capabilities, and the higher the charging output, the more expensive it is. Selecting a charger model that can handle a maximum of 3kW will be considerably less expensive compared to one that can handle 22kW. The choice of charger will significantly impact the total cost of your EV charging point.

Charging cable length

Typically, cables are between 15 to 25 meters in length, and if you need a cable longer than the standard length to reach the charging point, you will have to pay an extra cost.

Location of charging port

For the charging point, it's best to choose a location where you typically park your car and where the cable can easily connect to the outlet. In many cases, this location may be inside a garage where additional reinforcements are necessary to install the system correctly, which can result in extra charges.

Labour costs

The installation cost is divided into materials and labor costs, with materials accounting for 80% and labor for 20% of the total. Typically, the installation process takes between 2 to 4 hours to complete, although the duration may vary based on the model specifications, site accessibility, and any extra work required to guarantee the system functions efficiently.

Other costs

Several other factors contribute to the overall cost of the charging point, such as a high-gain antenna, a mini circuit breaker, consumer unit replacement, mechanical protection, an alternative earthing system, new driveway, security lights, and additional safety features.

Tethered or untethered Electric Car Charger

The cost of untethered chargers is lower compared to tethered ones, typically around £20 less for the cable alone. Additionally, the versatility of an untethered charger allows for use in a wider range of scenarios.

Despite the advantages of untethered chargers, some installation companies may not offer the option and instead provide a tethered charger as part of the installation package.

While untethered chargers may be more susceptible to theft, many models now come equipped with security features such as cable locks or the ability to add a PIN.

Benefits of having your own Electric Car Chargers at home

Installing EV charging points in your home provides several benefits, including:

Less dependency on public charging stations

As electric cars are still new and charging stations are limited in some areas, having a personal EV charging point in your home can be particularly useful. This is especially true for rural and remote areas where charging stations are scarce, and it can be inconvenient to travel to a public charging station. In such areas, a personal charging station can meet most of your charging needs at home, particularly if you have a longer-range vehicle with a larger battery.

Costs Saving

Using a personal EV charging point at home can be significantly cheaper than using a public charging station. On average, the cost of charging an electric car at home is less than half the amount charged at public charging stations. Additionally, you can schedule your charges during the most cost-effective times, such as during off-peak hours at night, resulting in additional savings.

Faster charging

Home EV chargers are not only cheaper but also faster compared to most public charging stations. Public charging stations are typically limited to slower outputs of between 3 to 6 kW per hour, while most domestic outlets can deliver between 7 to 22 kW per hour.

Battery life preservation

Lithium-ion batteries used in electric cars are vulnerable to extreme temperatures, and rapid charging can produce excessive heat that can harm the battery's life. Slow and fast chargers generate less heat and are therefore better for preserving the battery life.

While rapid charging can be beneficial in urgent situations, prolonged use can have an adverse effect on the electric car's battery. Having a personal EV charging point at home allows you to charge your car whenever needed without relying on rapid charging stations in public spaces, thus preserving your car's battery life.

Is it worth getting a home Electric Car Charger?

The answer is definitely YES! On average, the upfront cost of installing a home EV charger is around £1,000, but the savings on charging costs over the year can make up for this expense. Our calculations show that charging an electric vehicle at home is 43% cheaper than refuelling a petrol car over a year. Plus the government grant reduces the cost of a new charging point by 75%, up to £350 (including VAT).

While public charging points are an option, charging in public is around 50% more expensive than charging at home. This significant price difference means that purchasing a home charging point can save you an average of £550 per year. So, in less than two years, you will have broken even on the cost of your charger, and any savings beyond that will be a bonus.

Find The Best Electric Car Charger Supplier

It's always a good idea to compare quotes from different installers to ensure you get the best deal for your home EV charging point installation.

Luckily, we have a convenient comparison tool that can help you with that. Just provide some basic information about your home, and we'll connect you with our trusted installers who will provide you with competitive quotes.