Can you charge an electric car at home? Yes – and given that private cars are usually parked overnight, most electric car owners rely on EV charging at home to ensure that their electric car is ready for use each morning.
As well as being convenient, charging electric cars at home also has the advantage of being, in most cases, the cheapest time to recharge.
The Government provides financial support for electric vehicle buyers living in flats and rented properties to install an EV home charger through the EV Chargepoint Grant. Those eligible can receive either £350 or 75% off the cost to buy and install a socket, whichever amount is lower. You can see more details on electric car charging at home in the following section.
For information about EV charge points in the workplace, visit our guide to charging at work.
What EV home chargers are available?
More than 50 manufacturers provide charging units suitable for EV charging at home. Typically units are wall-mounted, and available either with a tethered Type 1 or Type 2 cable, which can be plugged straight into the car, or with a Type 2 socket for use with the vehicle’s charging cable.
Most suppliers provide two power rating options: 3 kW or 7 kW. Expect to pay more for the 7 kW option which reduces charge time significantly if the car has a fast on-board charger.
For example, a Nissan Leaf on a 3 kW EV home charger will provide a full charge in around 12-13 hours, whereas a 7 kW unit will give a full charge in around six hours.
How much do home EV chargers cost?
As per an announcement in November 2021, the Government-funded EV Chargepoint Grant (previously the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme), came into effect on 1st April 2022. The reformed scheme is intended to help accelerate the provision of EV charge points in flats and rented accommodation.
The EV Chargepoint Grant provides a 75% contribution to the cost of one charge point and its installation, with a grant cap set at £350 (including VAT) per installation. The main requirement is that a person owns, leases or has ordered a qualifying vehicle and has dedicated off-street parking at their property. They also must live in rental accommodation or own a flat.
In light of this, as of 1st April 2022, grants are no longer available for homeowners who live in single-unit properties such as bungalows and detached, semi-detached or terraced housing. This includes people with mortgages.
Cost of installing electric car charger at home
Prices vary depending on the EV home charger manufacturer and speed. Typically a 3 kW unit will cost between £250 and £500, while a 7 kW charge point will cost between £450 and £800 – though these costs are only guidelines and subject to change. It is worth remembering that new EV buyers may well be eligible for a discounted or free charge point as part of a manufacturer-backed perk. There also are EV-focused tariffs that offer similar schemes for electric car charging at home.
To be eligible to apply for the scheme, EV owners must provide evidence of keeper-ship, lease, be named as the primary user of an eligible electric vehicle (bought new or second hand), and have off-street parking facilities suitable for charge point installation.
The charge point must also be installed by an OZEV authorised installer. Choosing a supplier that is not on the list will most likely mean incurring the full cost of the unit and installation. Finally, the date of installation must not be more than four months ahead of the date of delivery of start date of vehicle.
For more details on the EV Chargepoint Grant and related schemes, visit the OZEV website.
To work out the cost EV charging at home, Zapmap’s Home Charging Calculator calculates charging costs for any new or used plug-in vehicle. You can personalise the results for different electricity costs and the level of charge required to help you find the true costs of electric car charging at home.
