Types of Home EV Chargers Explained: Choosing the Best One for You
Are you considering an electric car through a salary sacrifice scheme or already own an EV? One of the most important decisions you'll make is how to charge it at home. With the electric vehicle market booming in the UK, understanding the different types of home EV chargers is essential for maximising convenience and cost savings.
What is a Home EV Charger?
A home EV charger is a dedicated unit installed at your property that provides a safe, efficient way to charge your electric vehicle. Unlike standard household sockets, purpose-built EV chargers offer numerous advantages:
Convenience
Having your own charger means waking up to a fully charged car every morning. No more detours to public charging stations or planning your day around charging stops. For EV owners, home charging typically accounts for 80% of all charging sessions, making it the backbone of the electric car ownership experience.
Cost Savings
Charging at home is significantly cheaper than using public chargers. By charging your electric car at home, especially when taking advantage of off-peak electricity tariffs, you can reduce your per-mile cost to a fraction of petrol or diesel prices. With today's energy prices, most EV owners save 60-80% on fuel costs compared to traditional vehicles.
Speed
A dedicated home charger delivers power much faster than a standard household socket. While a regular 3-pin plug might add just 8-10 miles of range per hour, even a basic home charger can deliver 15-30 miles of range in the same time.
Smart Features
Modern home chargers come with intelligent functions that allow you to schedule charging during off-peak hours, track energy usage, and even integrate with solar panels or home energy systems.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Home EV Charger
Budget
Home EV chargers range from basic models starting around £500 to premium options costing £1,200+, not including installation. Installation typically adds £300-£800 depending on your property's electrical setup and any additional work required.
It's worth noting that through The Electric Car Scheme's salary sacrifice programme, drivers save 20-50% on their electric vehicle costs, potentially freeing up budget for a higher-quality home charging solution. In addition, a charger can be bundled into your scheme - leading to savings on the cost of purchase and installation.
Tethered or Untethered Charger?
Tethered chargers come with a permanently attached cable, offering convenience as you don't need to retrieve your charging cable from the car each time. However, they're less flexible if you change your EV to one with a different connector type in the future.
Untethered chargers (sometimes called socketable) have no fixed cable. You use the cable that came with your car or purchase one separately. These offer more flexibility for future-proofing but require you to handle the cable each time you charge.
Power Output
The power output of your charger determines how quickly it can charge your EV. Here's a breakdown of the common options:
3.6kW Chargers
Charging speed: Adds approximately 15 miles of range per hour
Suitable for: Overnight charging for low-mileage drivers
Cost range: £450-£700 installed
Example model: Project EV 3.6kW charger
7kW Chargers
Charging speed: Adds approximately 25-30 miles of range per hour
Suitable for: Most domestic settings and the most popular choice for home charging
Cost range: £550-£850 installed
Example models: Smart Home Charge 7kW Pro, Ohme Home Pro
11kW Chargers
Charging speed: Adds approximately 35-40 miles of range per hour
Suitable for: Homes with three-phase electricity supply
Important note: Most UK homes have single-phase electricity, so check your supply before considering this option
Cost range: £650-£950 installed
Example model: Smart Home Charge 11kW Pro
22kW Chargers
Charging speed: Adds approximately 75-80 miles of range per hour
Suitable for: Commercial properties or very rare homes with enhanced three-phase supply
Cost range: £950-£1,500 installed
Note: Very few UK domestic properties can support this power level
It's important to understand that your car's onboard charger will determine the maximum charging rate it can accept, regardless of the charger's power output. Many electric cars are limited to 7kW or 11kW for AC charging.
Connectivity
Modern chargers offer various connectivity options such as Wi-Fi, or Mobile Data Connectivity. Wi-Fi allows your charger to connect to your home internet, enabling smart features like remote control, updates, and integration with energy management systems. Mobile Data is sometimes included in premium chargers, ensuring your smart features work even if your home Wi-Fi is unreliable.
Smart Features
Smart chargers offer advanced functionality that can significantly enhance your charging experience, with Energy Tariff Integration, Solar Charging, and App Control becoming increasingly sought-after features - especially in smart-home installations.
Chargers like the Ohme Home Pro can automatically schedule charging to take advantage of off-peak electricity rates or dynamic tariffs, potentially saving hundreds of pounds annually. If you have solar panels, chargers such as the Zappi can prioritise using solar-generated electricity to charge your car, further reducing costs and environmental impact.
Most smart chargers come with companion apps that allow you to:
Start/stop charging remotely
Schedule charging times
Monitor energy usage and costs
Receive notifications
Access charging history
Recommended Home EV Chargers by Category
Best Budget-Friendly Option: Project EV Pro Earth
Price: From £549 installed
Power: 7kW
Key features: Simple app control, scheduling, load balancing
Why we like it: Offers essential smart features at an affordable price point
Best for Energy Tariff Integration: Ohme Home Pro
Price: From £799 installed
Power: 7kW
Key features: Automatic tariff optimisation, dynamic pricing support, detailed energy insights
Why we like it: Can automatically find the cheapest electricity rates and adjust charging accordingly, potentially saving up to £600 annually compared to standard tariffs
Best Premium Option: Wallbox Pulsar Plus
Price: From £899 installed
Power: 7kW/22kW options
Key features: Power sharing, voice control (works with Alexa/Google Home), sleek design
Why we like it: Combines advanced features with attractive design and excellent build quality
What Your Home Needs for Installation
Before purchasing a home charger, consider these installation requirements:
Off-street parking - You'll need a dedicated parking space where the charger can be installed
Electrical capacity - Your home's electrical supply must have sufficient capacity; most homes can support a 7kW charger
Consumer unit/fuse box access - Installation requires connection to your consumer unit
Wi-Fi signal (for smart chargers) - Check signal strength where you plan to install the charger
Cable run distance - Longer runs between your consumer unit and charger location increase installation costs
Installation must be carried out by a qualified electrician with specific EV charger installation credentials. Most reputable charger suppliers will handle this as part of the package.
Final Thoughts on Choosing Your Home EV Charger
When selecting a home EV charger, consider your daily driving habits, your vehicle's charging capabilities, and your home's electrical setup. For most UK drivers, a 7kW smart charger offers the optimal balance of charging speed and installation practicality.
Remember that home charging is not just more convenient but also significantly more cost-effective than relying on public chargers. With electricity costs currently much lower than petrol or diesel prices, home charging is a key factor in realising the financial benefits of EV ownership.
The Charge Scheme: The Most Cost-Effective Way to Power Your EV
Want to make charging your electric vehicle even more affordable? The Electric Car Scheme offers The Charge Scheme – a salary sacrifice add-on specifically for EV charging. Similar to how our EV salary sacrifice programme saves drivers 20-50% on their electric vehicles (with the current Benefit-in-Kind rate at just 3%), The Charge Scheme helps you save on your charging costs through salary sacrifice.
By combining an electric car through salary sacrifice with The Charge Scheme, you can maximise your savings while enjoying all the benefits of home charging. Contact us today to learn how you can take advantage of the UK's most cost-effective way to drive and charge an electric vehicle.
Looking for more information on managing your EV? Check out our guide to the best EV charging apps in the UK to optimise your charging experience both at home and on the go.
ECS GUIDES AND ADVICE
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