How to Get a Home Charger Installed
A guide covering everything you need to know about how to install a car charging point at home
Last updated: Oct 21, 2022 • 5 min read
Summary
Getting a smart home charger installed is the most convenient way to charge your electric car, and it’s not as complicated as it seems.
These are some of the key things you need to consider:
Where you park and the location of your home charger.
Your home Wi-Fi connection
What kind of charger to choose
Cost of installation
What electric vehicle chargepoint provider to go with
Top 5 things to consider when getting a home charger
There are multiple benefits to having a dedicated home chargepoint, but before placing your order and proceeding to your electric vehicle charger installation, there are a few things to consider.
1. Where you park and the location of your home charger
Many charging providers will require dedicated off-street parking to ensure your new home charger can be installed in a safe and accessible location.
Tip: If you don't have a driveway, you can still have an electric car by making use of our extensive UK network of public and workplace chargers. If you live in a flat and need some help convincing your property manager or landlord to install electric vehicle charging in your apartment, use our letter template to kickstart the conversation.
Also, you’ll need to check your preferred charger location is close enough to where your vehicle actually parks, as there are different charging cable lengths (we recommend a compromise between ease of use and ease of storage). You may also need to consider where the charging socket is located on your car.
Another consideration is the distance between your home’s power supply and the desired location of the home charger, as providers may have different limits for their EV home charger installations.
Tip: Pod Point’s standard installation includes up to 15 metres of black cable, which will be neatly clipped to the wall between the distribution board/electrical supply meter and the chargepoint.
2. Your home Wi-Fi connection
Most home chargers come with features and functions that require a Wi-Fi connection to access. Wi-Fi enabled chargers are optional, but the smart features they include can be extremely beneficial.
Smart chargers require a stable internet connection to function, so you’ll need to ensure it can be within the field of the Wi-Fi router or a Wi-Fi extender. If it loses connection at any point, you are still able to charge, but may lose access to the charger’s smart features.
Tip: Pod Point’s Solo 3 is Wi-Fi enabled to ensure your charger is always up-to-date with the latest smart features, such as Charge Scheduling.
3. What kind of charger to choose
EV drivers also need to consider whether to get a tethered or universal chargepoint and what charging rate it should be.
Most EV drivers want the fastest charging rate possible, but there are some installation factors you should be aware of that limit charging speeds:
Maximum charging rate
Even if your car can accept a faster charging rate, it will only charge at the chargepoint’s maximum rate and vice versa. For example, an EV that can charge at 11kW will only charge at a maximum of 7kW on a 7kW charger and won’t charge faster than 11kW if plugged in on a 22kW charger.
Available power supply
Almost all homes in the UK have single-phase power which only allows for a maximum charging rate of 7kW. Although it is possible to upgrade to three-phase power and unlock a faster rate, this can be costly.
Tip: 7kW is more than sufficient as most charging takes place when the vehicle is parked. This is called top up charging.
For more information on the other factors that impact charging speeds, visit our guide on how long it takes to charge an electric car.
4. Cost of installation
You should always use an approved electrician to get your chargepoint installed. Depending on the chargepoint provider, cost of the installation may already be included in the price of the charger, but in some cases there may be additional works that need to be completed to enable the installation of a home charger. If standard installation is not included in the price, make sure to get a quote upfront.
If you live in rental accommodation or own a flat, you may be eligible for the Electric Vehicle (EV) Chargepoint Grant. Visit our OZEV grant to find out more.
Tip: At Pod Point you can get a home charger fully installed from just £799. Start your order today.
5. Which electric vehicle chargepoint provider to go with
There are dozens of electric car charger installation providers in the UK, which makes it tricky for drivers to choose the right one. Prices vary between suppliers, but there are many other things you should be mindful of including:
- Do they provide chargepoints with multiple charging rates?
- Do their chargers provide smart features?
- How safe are their chargepoints?
- Are their chargers compatible with all makes and models?
- Do their chargepoints adhere to regulations and standards?
- Is standard installation included in the price?
- Are they compliant with the Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021?
