Table of Contents
Charging an electric vehicle (EV) is as easy as charging a mobile phone – simply plug it in and let it do the rest.
You will need an EV charging station, which is a dedicated structure made solely for the purpose of charging electric vehicles using electricity from the main supply.
There are three ways in which it can be done – at home, at work, and in public spaces.
Out of the three, home EV charging is hands-down the most convenient and cost-effective solution with most EV owners charging their vehicles at home.
Read on to find out all about home electric charging points, how and where they are installed, and their benefits along with their costs:
Since most private cars are parked at home overnight, it becomes extremely convenient for EV owners if they have EV charging points installed in their homes.
This ensures that the cars are fully charged and ready for use each morning without having to spend a few hours each morning recharging them.
Home electric car charging points need to be professionally installed by a certified charging provider, with the installation process including mounting the charging point on an exterior wall or garage.
The setup needs to be near to where the EV is parked since most cables run between 15 to 25 feet long. If the distance is more than that, the installer may have to extend the cables which might incur additional charges.
After all that is done, the charging point is connected safely to the mains electricity supply.
You must prepare for the installation process by ensuring that the area where the charging point needs to be set up is clean and obstruction-free, which includes the electricity supply meter and the route through which the cable will pass.
There are a few factors that determine the time it takes to charge your EV battery at home, such as the capacity and health of the battery, and the power of the charger.
The bigger the size of the battery and the slower the charging output, the longer it will take to charge it from empty to full.
To get a better idea of the relation, here are the battery capacities, charging powers, and times for some of the most common battery sizes:
With a home EV charger at your disposal, chances are that you will have most of your charging needs met at home without having to rely on commercial and public charging stations, unless you are on an extended journey and need to recharge repeatedly.
Most EV owners prefer to charge their cars when they are not planning to leave the house since the charging process requires some time ranging from 4 to 12 hours, depending on the type of charger.
Evening and night-time allow for adequate charging time and cheaper charging costs if the homeowner has cheaper night-time energy tariffs.
The total number of times you would need to charge your electric car depends entirely on your use of the vehicle and how often you need to use the car, the distances covered, along with your electric car’s battery capacity, with some EV owners opting to charge every night to ensure a full “tank” every morning, while others charge a few times every week to meet their needs.
There is some debate regarding how much the battery must be charged every time, with many believing that charging it to a full 100% may cause it to disintegrate faster, which is why most EV owners aim to charge their cars to around 80% capacity instead.
However, occasionally charging your electric car’s battery to 100% for when you need to use it for longer journeys should not have adverse effects on the battery’s health.
If you wish to install an EV charger point in your home, you need to have a basic understanding of each type of charger, its capabilities, and compatibility with your vehicle.
Home EV chargers come in two different levels; Level 1 and Level 2, where the former is considered slow and the latter is considered fast. The type of charger you will need depends on your electric car’s make and model.
Level 1 EV chargers do not require any special installation and come with your electric vehicle. All you have to do is plug your Level 1 charger into a standard 120-volt outlet and you’re good to go!
Level 2 chargers require a 240-volt power supply and offer the benefit of faster charging. However, they require a special installation procedure since a standard wall outlet provides only 120-volts. The process is similar to installing a washing machine or electric oven that use 240-volts as well.
It is also possible to charge your electric car using a regular 3-pin socket, however, it is not the recommended way to do it and must only be kept as a back-up option to be used very rarely.
There are several benefits of having EV charging points installed in your home which include:
Home electric car charging points give you the convenience to be able to charge your cars whenever you want. Forget waiting for your turn at a public EV charging station, you won’t even have to step out of the comfort of your home to recharge your battery.
Dedicated home charging points are also safer and generally faster than a regular 3-pin socket, which experts suggest to use very occasionally and only in times of emergencies since prolonged use can have an adverse effect on the battery’s overall health.
Since electric cars are relatively new and are slowly making their way into the mass market, there are not as many charging stations available. Though the numbers are drastically increasing, there is still a long way to go.
Some areas might have quite a few public charging stations, while others might have none at all. This is especially true for rural and remote areas where charging stations are still scarce. A personal charging station can be particularly useful if you live in such an area since most of your charging needs will be met at home, especially if you have a longer-range vehicle with a bigger battery.
Using a home electric car charging point can be considerably cheaper than using a public station. It would cost you less than half the amount using a home charger as compared to one installed for public use.
In addition, you can also schedule your charges based on the most cost-effective timings, typically night-time, allowing you to save a few extra pounds.
Home EV chargers are not just cheaper, but also faster than most public charging stations. Most charging stations installed in public spaces do not offer fast or rapid charging and are limited to a slower output, between 3 to 6kW per hour, as compared to the most common domestic outlet delivering between 7 to 22kW per hour.
Charging points at home are also faster in the sense that there is no waiting involved. You can plug in your vehicle absolutely anytime, with the charger only at your disposal. If you rely on public stations, you would have to consider the waiting time in addition to the charging time when planning to recharge your electric car.
Electric cars use lithium-ion batteries that are susceptible to extreme temperatures. Rapid charging produces excessive heat that can harm the battery’s life, as compared to slow and fast chargers that generate less amount of heat.
Although rapid charging can be beneficial at times when you are in a hurry, prolonged use might adversely affect your electric car. Having a charging point at home will enable you to charge your car whenever the need arises without having to depend on rapid charging stations in public spaces.
Home electric car charging points are extremely beneficial for people looking for convenience and cost-effectiveness when it comes to recharging their car’s batteries.
But how much does it cost to install a charging point at home? And is the cost justified for the benefits that it provides? Read on to find out:
The typical cost of installing an electric car charging point at home is around £800 to £1000. Several factors will affect the total cost such as the type of charger, manufacturer, installer, location of the charging port, along with possible additional requirements.
Due to the great environmental benefits provided by electric cars by producing zero emissions, the government encourages their use and the installation of private charging points in homes.
Under the Office of Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) EV Homecharge Scheme (EVHS), you can be eligible for a grant of up to 75% of the cost, capped at a maximum of £350 if you:
As mentioned above, numerous factors affect the cost of domestic EV chargers. They include:
There are various chargers with various output capabilities. The higher the charging output, the higher the cost. A model capable of handling a maximum of 3kW will be significantly cheaper than one with a 22kW power, and whichever you choose will have a huge impact on the total cost of your EV charging point.
Most cables run between 15 and 25 metres long and, to ensure that your car reaches the charging point, if you require more than the standard length, it will come at an additional cost.
The ideal location of the charging point is wherever you normally park your car and where the cable can easily reach the outlet. In most cases, this might be inside garages where reinforcements might be necessary to install the system properly, which naturally incur extra charges.
The cost of the installation process is divided between materials and labour costs, where they make up 80% and 20% of the total, respectively. A typical installation job takes around 2 to 4 hours to complete, though this may vary depending on the model specifications, site accessibility, and any additional work that needs to be done to ensure the system works efficiently.
Many other things add to the total cost of the charging point. These include a high-gain antenna, a mini circuit breaker, consumer unit replacement, mechanical protection, an alternative earthing system, a new driveway, security lights, and other safety features.
To reduce high demands of electricity at peak times and to encourage the use of solar and off-peak charging, the government announced that, as of 1st July 2019, to qualify for a government-funded grant, all charge points must use smart technology.
Smart chargers are capable of intelligent functions and use a data connection to enable the EV owners to manage and restrict their use to optimise energy consumption. All of this is done by using the charger’s mobile application, which is controlled by the owner.
It makes finding the nearest charging stations extremely easy where, in addition to locating it, you can also reserve your spot. The mobile application shows complete information about the charger’s capacity and price, along with its availability in real-time.
A smart charger is much safer as compared to a household socket. It automatically tests the connection before charging to see if the EV and EV charger are compatible.
Most smart chargers charge at a maximum power of 22 kW, with fast smart chargers going up to 150kW. They will charge your EV faster by automatically using the maximum amount of power available.
All events on the charging point can be tracked down, which helps avoid unnecessary disputes over power consumption and bills. Monitoring also allows the owners to remotely control charging events, view the statistics, and report any issues that may arise.
If you are an electric car owner looking to install a home electric car charging point, you’ve come to the right place.
At Calder Electrical, we install EV chargers in line with the current regulations and can offer a government incentive to reduce the installation costs for both domestic and commercial properties.
There are various chargers currently in the market and it can be a little confusing to choose the best one for your needs.
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.
We are authorised and registered OLEV installers and our charge points come with a 3-year warranty. We offer all kinds of different options to choose from such as wall-mounted to freestanding pedestal units, and with different types of chargers and charging speeds.
Contact us right away for our expert opinion and professional services!
Image by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay
Charging an electric vehicle (EV) is as easy as charging a mobile phone – simply plug it in and let it do the rest.
You will need an EV charging station, which is a dedicated structure made solely for the purpose of charging electric vehicles using electricity from the main supply.
There are three ways in which it can be done – at home, at work, and in public spaces.
Out of the three, home EV charging is hands-down the most convenient and cost-effective solution with most EV owners charging their vehicles at home.
Read on to find out all about home electric charging points, how and where they are installed, and their benefits along with their costs:
Since most private cars are parked at home overnight, it becomes extremely convenient for EV owners if they have EV charging points installed in their homes.
This ensures that the cars are fully charged and ready for use each morning without having to spend a few hours each morning recharging them.
Home electric car charging points need to be professionally installed by a certified charging provider, with the installation process including mounting the charging point on an exterior wall or garage.
The setup needs to be near to where the EV is parked since most cables run between 15 to 25 feet long. If the distance is more than that, the installer may have to extend the cables which might incur additional charges.
After all that is done, the charging point is connected safely to the mains electricity supply.
You must prepare for the installation process by ensuring that the area where the charging point needs to be set up is clean and obstruction-free, which includes the electricity supply meter and the route through which the cable will pass.
There are a few factors that determine the time it takes to charge your EV battery at home, such as the capacity and health of the battery, and the power of the charger.
The bigger the size of the battery and the slower the charging output, the longer it will take to charge it from empty to full.
To get a better idea of the relation, here are the battery capacities, charging powers, and times for some of the most common battery sizes:
With a home EV charger at your disposal, chances are that you will have most of your charging needs met at home without having to rely on commercial and public charging stations, unless you are on an extended journey and need to recharge repeatedly.
Most EV owners prefer to charge their cars when they are not planning to leave the house since the charging process requires some time ranging from 4 to 12 hours, depending on the type of charger.
Evening and night-time allow for adequate charging time and cheaper charging costs if the homeowner has cheaper night-time energy tariffs.
The total number of times you would need to charge your electric car depends entirely on your use of the vehicle and how often you need to use the car, the distances covered, along with your electric car’s battery capacity, with some EV owners opting to charge every night to ensure a full “tank” every morning, while others charge a few times every week to meet their needs.
There is some debate regarding how much the battery must be charged every time, with many believing that charging it to a full 100% may cause it to disintegrate faster, which is why most EV owners aim to charge their cars to around 80% capacity instead.
However, occasionally charging your electric car’s battery to 100% for when you need to use it for longer journeys should not have adverse effects on the battery’s health.
If you wish to install an EV charger point in your home, you need to have a basic understanding of each type of charger, its capabilities, and compatibility with your vehicle.
Home EV chargers come in two different levels; Level 1 and Level 2, where the former is considered slow and the latter is considered fast. The type of charger you will need depends on your electric car’s make and model.
Level 1 EV chargers do not require any special installation and come with your electric vehicle. All you have to do is plug your Level 1 charger into a standard 120-volt outlet and you’re good to go!
Level 2 chargers require a 240-volt power supply and offer the benefit of faster charging. However, they require a special installation procedure since a standard wall outlet provides only 120-volts. The process is similar to installing a washing machine or electric oven that use 240-volts as well.
It is also possible to charge your electric car using a regular 3-pin socket, however, it is not the recommended way to do it and must only be kept as a back-up option to be used very rarely.
There are several benefits of having EV charging points installed in your home which include:
Home electric car charging points give you the convenience to be able to charge your cars whenever you want. Forget waiting for your turn at a public EV charging station, you won’t even have to step out of the comfort of your home to recharge your battery.
Dedicated home charging points are also safer and generally faster than a regular 3-pin socket, which experts suggest to use very occasionally and only in times of emergencies since prolonged use can have an adverse effect on the battery’s overall health.
Since electric cars are relatively new and are slowly making their way into the mass market, there are not as many charging stations available. Though the numbers are drastically increasing, there is still a long way to go.
Some areas might have quite a few public charging stations, while others might have none at all. This is especially true for rural and remote areas where charging stations are still scarce. A personal charging station can be particularly useful if you live in such an area since most of your charging needs will be met at home, especially if you have a longer-range vehicle with a bigger battery.
Using a home electric car charging point can be considerably cheaper than using a public station. It would cost you less than half the amount using a home charger as compared to one installed for public use.
In addition, you can also schedule your charges based on the most cost-effective timings, typically night-time, allowing you to save a few extra pounds.
Home EV chargers are not just cheaper, but also faster than most public charging stations. Most charging stations installed in public spaces do not offer fast or rapid charging and are limited to a slower output, between 3 to 6kW per hour, as compared to the most common domestic outlet delivering between 7 to 22kW per hour.
Charging points at home are also faster in the sense that there is no waiting involved. You can plug in your vehicle absolutely anytime, with the charger only at your disposal. If you rely on public stations, you would have to consider the waiting time in addition to the charging time when planning to recharge your electric car.
Electric cars use lithium-ion batteries that are susceptible to extreme temperatures. Rapid charging produces excessive heat that can harm the battery’s life, as compared to slow and fast chargers that generate less amount of heat.
Although rapid charging can be beneficial at times when you are in a hurry, prolonged use might adversely affect your electric car. Having a charging point at home will enable you to charge your car whenever the need arises without having to depend on rapid charging stations in public spaces.
Home electric car charging points are extremely beneficial for people looking for convenience and cost-effectiveness when it comes to recharging their car’s batteries.
But how much does it cost to install a charging point at home? And is the cost justified for the benefits that it provides? Read on to find out:
The typical cost of installing an electric car charging point at home is around £800 to £1000. Several factors will affect the total cost such as the type of charger, manufacturer, installer, location of the charging port, along with possible additional requirements.
Due to the great environmental benefits provided by electric cars by producing zero emissions, the government encourages their use and the installation of private charging points in homes.
Under the Office of Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) EV Homecharge Scheme (EVHS), you can be eligible for a grant of up to 75% of the cost, capped at a maximum of £350 if you:
As mentioned above, numerous factors affect the cost of domestic EV chargers. They include:
There are various chargers with various output capabilities. The higher the charging output, the higher the cost. A model capable of handling a maximum of 3kW will be significantly cheaper than one with a 22kW power, and whichever you choose will have a huge impact on the total cost of your EV charging point.
Most cables run between 15 and 25 metres long and, to ensure that your car reaches the charging point, if you require more than the standard length, it will come at an additional cost.
The ideal location of the charging point is wherever you normally park your car and where the cable can easily reach the outlet. In most cases, this might be inside garages where reinforcements might be necessary to install the system properly, which naturally incur extra charges.
The cost of the installation process is divided between materials and labour costs, where they make up 80% and 20% of the total, respectively. A typical installation job takes around 2 to 4 hours to complete, though this may vary depending on the model specifications, site accessibility, and any additional work that needs to be done to ensure the system works efficiently.
Many other things add to the total cost of the charging point. These include a high-gain antenna, a mini circuit breaker, consumer unit replacement, mechanical protection, an alternative earthing system, a new driveway, security lights, and other safety features.
To reduce high demands of electricity at peak times and to encourage the use of solar and off-peak charging, the government announced that, as of 1st July 2019, to qualify for a government-funded grant, all charge points must use smart technology.
Smart chargers are capable of intelligent functions and use a data connection to enable the EV owners to manage and restrict their use to optimise energy consumption. All of this is done by using the charger’s mobile application, which is controlled by the owner.
It makes finding the nearest charging stations extremely easy where, in addition to locating it, you can also reserve your spot. The mobile application shows complete information about the charger’s capacity and price, along with its availability in real-time.
A smart charger is much safer as compared to a household socket. It automatically tests the connection before charging to see if the EV and EV charger are compatible.
Most smart chargers charge at a maximum power of 22 kW, with fast smart chargers going up to 150kW. They will charge your EV faster by automatically using the maximum amount of power available.
All events on the charging point can be tracked down, which helps avoid unnecessary disputes over power consumption and bills. Monitoring also allows the owners to remotely control charging events, view the statistics, and report any issues that may arise.
If you are an electric car owner looking to install a home electric car charging point, you’ve come to the right place.
At Calder Electrical, we install EV chargers in line with the current regulations and can offer a government incentive to reduce the installation costs for both domestic and commercial properties.
There are various chargers currently in the market and it can be a little confusing to choose the best one for your needs.
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.
We are authorised and registered OLEV installers and our charge points come with a 3-year warranty. We offer all kinds of different options to choose from such as wall-mounted to freestanding pedestal units, and with different types of chargers and charging speeds.
Contact us right away for our expert opinion and professional services!
Image by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay
