EV charging
Switching to an electric vehicle (EV) is one of the most effective ways to reduce your personal carbon footprint. While public charging is widely available, installing a dedicated home charger provides the greatest convenience and allows you to take advantage of the cheapest and cleanest electricity.
Most EV drivers do over 80% of their charging at home, typically overnight when demand on the grid is lower and prices are cheaper.
Why install a home charger?
- Faster charging: A dedicated home charger (Wallbox) is typically 3 times faster than using a standard 3-pin plug.
- Safety: Home chargers are designed to deliver high levels of power safely for long periods, unlike standard domestic sockets.
- Smart features: Most modern chargers allow you to schedule charging for when electricity is cheapest or when solar generation is high.
- Cost savings: Charging at home on a smart tariff can cost as little as 2p per mile, compared to 10-15p per mile for a petrol or diesel car.
The home charging setup
A typical installation consists of a compact, weatherproof unit mounted on an external wall or inside a garage, connected directly to your home’s electricity supply. You can choose between “tethered” units (which have a cable permanently attached) and “untethered” units (where you plug in your own cable).
Solar Integration: If you have solar panels, some “solar-aware” chargers can be configured to only use excess green energy that would otherwise be exported to the grid, allowing you to drive on 100% sunshine.
Tools
- Cost calculator — Compare the cost of home charging vs public charging and fossil fuels.
- Charging speed estimator — See how long it takes to charge different vehicles.
Guides
- Home charger types — Tethered vs untethered, and power ratings.
- Smart charging — Maximising savings with off-peak tariffs.
- Installation requirements — Fuse checks and DNO notifications.
- Grants and incentives — Support for renters, landlords, and workplaces.
- Public charging networks — Charging away from home and on long journeys.
- Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) — Using your car as a battery for your home.
- Charging for renters — Solutions for those without private driveways.
- Charging at work — Workplace Charging Scheme and employer benefits.