Table of Contents
The internal combustion engine has paved the way to an evolutionary path that has led towards the advent of the Electric Vehicle (EV).
Ever since we used petrol in our engines, motor experts have sought to make ore efficient, environment-friendly, and high-output vehicles. But we have always relied on fossil fuel to make it work. Until now.
The combustion engine has its limits, and while we have indeed come a long way from the first car engine, there are still drawbacks to the iconic internal combustion system. This is where Electric Vehicles come in.
Where we once relied on petrol stations, electric vehicles have revolutionized how we drive and fuel up our cars in the modern world. In this article, we will highlight how you can easily install an EV charger at home.
We’re seeing an upward trend in the shift to EVs due to their convenience, and most importantly, environment-friendliness. Perhaps one of the best-selling points of EVs is that they can be charged at home! No more getting in line and waiting at busy gas stations.
According to the Electric Vehicle Charging Device Statistics, there were 17,947 public EV chargers in the UK as of April 1, 2020, and the number keeps on increasing, which is testament to the growing demand.
These EV chargers can be installed anywhere such as homes, offices, and public places to make them more accessible.
If you wish to have an EV charger installed in your domestic or commercial property, you may have a few questions in mind such as:
This guide is made to help you better understand and be well informed with the process of EV charger installation and all the things associated with it. Read on to find out:
Charging an EV is a straightforward process where you simply plug in the EV to a charging station connected to the main power supply.
Knowing how much power an EV charger requires is very important since installing a charger that uses more power than is supplied can damage both the device and the EV and can result in some serious electrical damage as well, putting you and others at risk.
There are different types of EV chargers available where some can be installed on a wall, whereas others are mounted on a pole.
Determining the best installation point is key, keeping convenience and security both in mind. Ideally, an EV charger must be installed in the garage or parking area.
If the setup is too far away from the vehicle, the cable may have to be extended, which is originally around 15 to 25 feet long.
It is best to have a professional service do the EV charger installation for you since they have expertise in the field and can guide you better.
A professional installer will:
Each EV charger installation task is different but a typical one takes on average around 2 hours to complete.
The total time depends mainly on the type and number of EV chargers. For example, a simple residential EV charger would take much less time than a complex multi-charger installation in a commercial setting.
To make the process quicker and easier, what you can do is:
If you own an EV, your home is of the best places to install an EV charger since that’s where you come at night to rest and recharge, and so can your car.
Overnight charging at home is convenient where the EV can be fully charged at the advised capacity without any disturbance, which is crucial for the battery’s life and health.
Also, night time is the cheapest time to recharge, allowing home EV charger owners the best of both worlds.
A lot of homeowners ask if a regular 3-pin socket can be used for charging their EV. The answer is yes, it can be. But should it? No.
Domestic sockets are not designed for such continual use and doing so can put a lot of strain on the circuit, which can be very dangerous.
Also, the regular sockets are extremely slow as compared to proper domestic EV charging stations, resulting in a lot of wasted time.
For these reasons, EV charging stations are the best and safest choice when it comes to efficiently charging your EV. Let’s look at how much they cost.
HOW MUCH DO DOMESTIC EV CHARGERS COST?
The price of a domestic EV charger installation is around £800. It may vary depending on the installer, manufacturer, and speed of the charger.
A typical 3-kW system is priced at £250 – £500, while a 7-kW charger is priced at £450 – £800.
If eligible you can also get a government grant of up to £350 to offset against the installation costs, if you fall within the eligibility criteria of the EV Homecharge Scheme (EVHS).
To qualify for the EVHS, you must meet the following requirements:
The cost to charge an EV at home is about £8.40 for a full charge and is the most cost-effective and convenient way.
The price of a domestic EV charger installation is around £800. It may vary depending on the installer, manufacturer, and speed of the charger.
A typical 3-kW system is priced at £250 – £500, while a 7-kW charger is priced at £450 – £800.
If eligible you can also get a government grant of up to £350 to offset against the installation costs, if you fall within the eligibility criteria of the EV Homecharge Scheme (EVHS).
To qualify for the EVHS, you must meet the following requirements:
The cost to charge an EV at home is about £8.40 for a full charge and is the most cost-effective and convenient way.
The workplace is also one of the most convenient charging points for EVs, right next to home charging.
More and more people are expecting to see EV chargers at work because that’s where they spend most of their day, giving them ample time to charge their vehicles.
At present, 75% of EV users are unable to charge their vehicles at work, but the trend is changing with more companies, especially ones with dedicated parking lots, installing EV chargers to encourage the usage of EVs and promote sustainability among their employees and visitors.
In addition to regular businesses, those with an EV commercial fleet, or leasing firms with EVs, could hugely benefit from offering charging services on the premises.
The price for a commercial EV charger varies from a domestic installation due to the complexity and size of the system. Let’s look at the costs in detail.
The price of a commercial EV charger installation is around £1000 – £1500, depending on the number of chargers installed, the type, and other installation specifics such as cables, fixtures, etc.
Like the EVHS for domestic properties, businesses can be eligible for a Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS), which is basically a voucher-based scheme that helps with the up-front costs of installing a commercial charging point for businesses and organizations eligible for it.
It enables businesses to claim £350 per charging point installed to a maximum of 40 across all sites, and even includes a single unit that incorporates two charging ports so you would be eligible for a grant of up to £700 for this.
To qualify for the WCS, you must meet the following requirements:
Most businesses provide free of cost charging to their staff as an incentive, some have a time-based rate where the users are required to pay based on the amount of time they have used the EV chargers for, and some offer free services for a particular time (minutes or hours) and a fee after that to encourage employees to not hoard the chargers and give others a chance as well.
The time that it takes for you to charge your EV depends on the type of EV charger you are using. Currently, there are three types available:
Slow chargers are rated at 3kW – 6kW and take around 5-8 hours to fully charge an EV from a drained battery to a 100%, and around 12 hours or longer for EVs with longer ranges and bigger batteries.
Due to the amount of time they take, they are best suited for overnight charging in domestic properties, though they can also be found at places of work.
Fast chargers are the most common type of EV chargers in the UK at the moment and are rated at 7kW – 22kW, where a 7kW variant takes 3-5 hours to fully charge an EV, whereas a 22kW unit would get the job done in just a couple of hours.
They are ideal for home use as well as commercial areas such as businesses, supermarkets, and shopping centres.
As the name suggests, these are the fastest type of chargers in the market, available in both AC and DC variants.
Operating at 43kW – 50kW of power, they can charge an EVs battery to 80% in about 30 minutes to an hour, going up to 1.5 hours for EVs with larger batteries.
Rapid charger speed is calculated to an 80% charge, as opposed to a complete 100% charge because above 80%, the charging speed automatically decreases to prevent battery damage.
Rapid DC chargers are faster than rapid AC chargers, with DC-only ultra-rapid chargers powering at 100kW and above, and ultra-rapid chargers at 150kW – 350kW.
Rapid EV chargers are normally found at highways where users don’t have enough time to wait hours for a charge.
According to the law, as of 1st July 2019, to qualify for a government-funded grant, all charge points must use smart technology so that they can be remotely accessed and help reduce high demands of electricity for the consumer at peak times, and to encourage the use of solar and off-peak charging.
The main difference between a traditional charging system and a smart charger is that the latter enables the EV, the EV charger, and the EV charger owner/operator to share a data connection, allowing the owner/operator to remotely monitor, manage, and restrict the use of the chargers to optimize energy consumption.
Smart chargers require the users to identify themselves at the charging station, done either by logging in to the mobile application provided by the manufacturer or by showing their RFID tag to the charger and just plugging in their EVs to use the charger.
All the events are logged in to be viewed by the charger owner/operator, providing a seamless and extremely convenient service.
The benefits of smart charging are as follows:
While being informed about the type of EV chargers, the installation process, and the associated prices, it is also very important to follow certain etiquettes when using a charger, especially one in a commercial/public setting shared by many:
CONTACT CALDER ELECTRICAL
At Calder Electrical, we can install EV chargers for domestic and commercial premises in line with the current regulations and can offer a government incentive to reduce the installation costs.
We are an authorised and registered OLEV installer and our charge points come with a 3-year warranty.
If you own an EV or are planning to buy one, you will want to maximise recharge times and efficiency by installing an OLEV approved charger in your home. Our team can visit you and survey your house to help determine your needs and requirements.
There are various chargers currently in the market and it can be a little confusing to choose the best one for your home. We will take out the hassle and provide you with the most suitable and affordable option, ranging from the standard systems to the smart ones that are becoming increasingly popular.
Similarly, if you have a business that is looking to help employees or customers/clients charge their EVs at the workplace, you may contact us right away.
We offer all kinds of different options to choose from such as wall-mounted to freestanding pedestal units, with different kinds of charging speeds available.
Depending on the size and demand of the premises, our experts will help assess the best solution for your business’s needs.
Contact us right away for a quick consultation.
Photo by Waldemar Brandt on Unsplash
The internal combustion engine has paved the way to an evolutionary path that has led towards the advent of the Electric Vehicle (EV).
Ever since we used petrol in our engines, motor experts have sought to make ore efficient, environment-friendly, and high-output vehicles. But we have always relied on fossil fuel to make it work. Until now.
The combustion engine has its limits, and while we have indeed come a long way from the first car engine, there are still drawbacks to the iconic internal combustion system. This is where Electric Vehicles come in.
Where we once relied on petrol stations, electric vehicles have revolutionized how we drive and fuel up our cars in the modern world. In this article, we will highlight how you can easily install an EV charger at home.
We’re seeing an upward trend in the shift to EVs due to their convenience, and most importantly, environment-friendliness. Perhaps one of the best-selling points of EVs is that they can be charged at home! No more getting in line and waiting at busy gas stations.
According to the Electric Vehicle Charging Device Statistics, there were 17,947 public EV chargers in the UK as of April 1, 2020, and the number keeps on increasing, which is testament to the growing demand.
These EV chargers can be installed anywhere such as homes, offices, and public places to make them more accessible.
If you wish to have an EV charger installed in your domestic or commercial property, you may have a few questions in mind such as:
This guide is made to help you better understand and be well informed with the process of EV charger installation and all the things associated with it. Read on to find out:
Charging an EV is a straightforward process where you simply plug in the EV to a charging station connected to the main power supply.
Knowing how much power an EV charger requires is very important since installing a charger that uses more power than is supplied can damage both the device and the EV and can result in some serious electrical damage as well, putting you and others at risk.
There are different types of EV chargers available where some can be installed on a wall, whereas others are mounted on a pole.
Determining the best installation point is key, keeping convenience and security both in mind. Ideally, an EV charger must be installed in the garage or parking area.
If the setup is too far away from the vehicle, the cable may have to be extended, which is originally around 15 to 25 feet long.
It is best to have a professional service do the EV charger installation for you since they have expertise in the field and can guide you better.
A professional installer will:
Each EV charger installation task is different but a typical one takes on average around 2 hours to complete.
The total time depends mainly on the type and number of EV chargers. For example, a simple residential EV charger would take much less time than a complex multi-charger installation in a commercial setting.
To make the process quicker and easier, what you can do is:
If you own an EV, your home is of the best places to install an EV charger since that’s where you come at night to rest and recharge, and so can your car.
Overnight charging at home is convenient where the EV can be fully charged at the advised capacity without any disturbance, which is crucial for the battery’s life and health.
Also, night time is the cheapest time to recharge, allowing home EV charger owners the best of both worlds.
A lot of homeowners ask if a regular 3-pin socket can be used for charging their EV. The answer is yes, it can be. But should it? No.
Domestic sockets are not designed for such continual use and doing so can put a lot of strain on the circuit, which can be very dangerous.
Also, the regular sockets are extremely slow as compared to proper domestic EV charging stations, resulting in a lot of wasted time.
For these reasons, EV charging stations are the best and safest choice when it comes to efficiently charging your EV. Let’s look at how much they cost.
HOW MUCH DO DOMESTIC EV CHARGERS COST?
The price of a domestic EV charger installation is around £800. It may vary depending on the installer, manufacturer, and speed of the charger.
A typical 3-kW system is priced at £250 – £500, while a 7-kW charger is priced at £450 – £800.
If eligible you can also get a government grant of up to £350 to offset against the installation costs, if you fall within the eligibility criteria of the EV Homecharge Scheme (EVHS).
To qualify for the EVHS, you must meet the following requirements:
The cost to charge an EV at home is about £8.40 for a full charge and is the most cost-effective and convenient way.
The price of a domestic EV charger installation is around £800. It may vary depending on the installer, manufacturer, and speed of the charger.
A typical 3-kW system is priced at £250 – £500, while a 7-kW charger is priced at £450 – £800.
If eligible you can also get a government grant of up to £350 to offset against the installation costs, if you fall within the eligibility criteria of the EV Homecharge Scheme (EVHS).
To qualify for the EVHS, you must meet the following requirements:
The cost to charge an EV at home is about £8.40 for a full charge and is the most cost-effective and convenient way.
The workplace is also one of the most convenient charging points for EVs, right next to home charging.
More and more people are expecting to see EV chargers at work because that’s where they spend most of their day, giving them ample time to charge their vehicles.
At present, 75% of EV users are unable to charge their vehicles at work, but the trend is changing with more companies, especially ones with dedicated parking lots, installing EV chargers to encourage the usage of EVs and promote sustainability among their employees and visitors.
In addition to regular businesses, those with an EV commercial fleet, or leasing firms with EVs, could hugely benefit from offering charging services on the premises.
The price for a commercial EV charger varies from a domestic installation due to the complexity and size of the system. Let’s look at the costs in detail.
The price of a commercial EV charger installation is around £1000 – £1500, depending on the number of chargers installed, the type, and other installation specifics such as cables, fixtures, etc.
Like the EVHS for domestic properties, businesses can be eligible for a Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS), which is basically a voucher-based scheme that helps with the up-front costs of installing a commercial charging point for businesses and organizations eligible for it.
It enables businesses to claim £350 per charging point installed to a maximum of 40 across all sites, and even includes a single unit that incorporates two charging ports so you would be eligible for a grant of up to £700 for this.
To qualify for the WCS, you must meet the following requirements:
Most businesses provide free of cost charging to their staff as an incentive, some have a time-based rate where the users are required to pay based on the amount of time they have used the EV chargers for, and some offer free services for a particular time (minutes or hours) and a fee after that to encourage employees to not hoard the chargers and give others a chance as well.
The time that it takes for you to charge your EV depends on the type of EV charger you are using. Currently, there are three types available:
Slow chargers are rated at 3kW – 6kW and take around 5-8 hours to fully charge an EV from a drained battery to a 100%, and around 12 hours or longer for EVs with longer ranges and bigger batteries.
Due to the amount of time they take, they are best suited for overnight charging in domestic properties, though they can also be found at places of work.
Fast chargers are the most common type of EV chargers in the UK at the moment and are rated at 7kW – 22kW, where a 7kW variant takes 3-5 hours to fully charge an EV, whereas a 22kW unit would get the job done in just a couple of hours.
They are ideal for home use as well as commercial areas such as businesses, supermarkets, and shopping centres.
As the name suggests, these are the fastest type of chargers in the market, available in both AC and DC variants.
Operating at 43kW – 50kW of power, they can charge an EVs battery to 80% in about 30 minutes to an hour, going up to 1.5 hours for EVs with larger batteries.
Rapid charger speed is calculated to an 80% charge, as opposed to a complete 100% charge because above 80%, the charging speed automatically decreases to prevent battery damage.
Rapid DC chargers are faster than rapid AC chargers, with DC-only ultra-rapid chargers powering at 100kW and above, and ultra-rapid chargers at 150kW – 350kW.
Rapid EV chargers are normally found at highways where users don’t have enough time to wait hours for a charge.
According to the law, as of 1st July 2019, to qualify for a government-funded grant, all charge points must use smart technology so that they can be remotely accessed and help reduce high demands of electricity for the consumer at peak times, and to encourage the use of solar and off-peak charging.
The main difference between a traditional charging system and a smart charger is that the latter enables the EV, the EV charger, and the EV charger owner/operator to share a data connection, allowing the owner/operator to remotely monitor, manage, and restrict the use of the chargers to optimize energy consumption.
Smart chargers require the users to identify themselves at the charging station, done either by logging in to the mobile application provided by the manufacturer or by showing their RFID tag to the charger and just plugging in their EVs to use the charger.
All the events are logged in to be viewed by the charger owner/operator, providing a seamless and extremely convenient service.
The benefits of smart charging are as follows:
While being informed about the type of EV chargers, the installation process, and the associated prices, it is also very important to follow certain etiquettes when using a charger, especially one in a commercial/public setting shared by many:
CONTACT CALDER ELECTRICAL
At Calder Electrical, we can install EV chargers for domestic and commercial premises in line with the current regulations and can offer a government incentive to reduce the installation costs.
We are an authorised and registered OLEV installer and our charge points come with a 3-year warranty.
If you own an EV or are planning to buy one, you will want to maximise recharge times and efficiency by installing an OLEV approved charger in your home. Our team can visit you and survey your house to help determine your needs and requirements.
There are various chargers currently in the market and it can be a little confusing to choose the best one for your home. We will take out the hassle and provide you with the most suitable and affordable option, ranging from the standard systems to the smart ones that are becoming increasingly popular.
Similarly, if you have a business that is looking to help employees or customers/clients charge their EVs at the workplace, you may contact us right away.
We offer all kinds of different options to choose from such as wall-mounted to freestanding pedestal units, with different kinds of charging speeds available.
Depending on the size and demand of the premises, our experts will help assess the best solution for your business’s needs.
Contact us right away for a quick consultation.
Photo by Waldemar Brandt on Unsplash
If you have any queries or would like us to provide a survey and quote then please contact us and we will be happy to help.
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