As the UK accelerates into a more sustainable future, the adoption of electric vehicles has risen. According to statistics from The Eco Experts ‘there are around 2.3 million electric vehicles (EVs) in Britain and that number is rising.’ There are various ways of charging your electric car but the most popular and convenient way is to charge your vehicle from home.
In this blog article, we will explain how charging an electric car from home works, and discuss the types of chargers that are currently available for home charging. We will also discuss the costs involved with installation, available incentives or grants, as well as the general benefits of charging your car from home.
The benefits of charging an electric car from home
Charging your electric car from home is the most practical and cost-effective way to charge your vehicle. Compared to the costs of charging your car from a public charge point the costs are lower, as well as being more convenient as you can charge your car while you sleep.
Home charging has become the go-to method for most EV drivers, there are no queues or waiting times, and some energy providers offer special tariffs where you can charge your car from home at reduced rates during off-peak times, making your money go further.
EV charger types and phases
In this section, we will explain the differences between single and 3-phase charging, so that you can decide which one is right for you.
Single phase charging
Most UK homes come standard with a single-phase electricity supply and therefore single-phase charging is the easiest and most affordable choice when it comes to charging your car from home.
Single phase properties are compatible with slow and fast EV charging cables which can charge anywhere up to a maximum of 7.2kWh. For instance, a 13A 3 pin UK plug charging cable will charge at a rate up to 3kW and is considered a slow charger. Many EV owners tend to have a 3-pin charging cable as a backup.
In contrast, a 32A type 2 charging cable has a charging output of 7.2kW and is classed as a fast charger. In order to use a 7.2kW charging cable you will need a dedicated home charging point installed.
All electric cars in the UK can make use of single-phase charging.
3 Phase charging
Most industrial and commercial properties come with a 3-phase electrical supply, and some homes may also have 3 phase power too. In most cases if 3 phase charging is required then it would be necessary to upgrade your current single phase electricity supply to 3-phase, which can be costly.
If you are unsure whether your property is single or 3 phase you can check this by looking in your meter box, single phase only has one fuse, whereas 3 phase has 3 fuses.
32A 3 phase EV chargers offer up to a 22kW charging rate, which is up to 3 times the speed of a single phase charger, and are therefore classed as faster chargers.
Before you consider upgrading to 3 phase charging it’s important to check that your vehicle is enabled for 3-phase charging, as not all electric vehicles currently offer this.
EV charging installation considerations
Before you consider having a home charge point installed at your property you will want to consider the following:
1. Location: is it important to have a suitable location for your charging point. The best place to have your charge point installed is usually where you park for accessibility. You will also want to consider the length of your charging cable and whether it will need to be fixed to the ground for safety reasons.
2. Amps: the capacity of your EV charger is measured in amps, higher amps equal faster charging whereas your home electrics can support higher charging speeds. A qualified electrician will first assess your electrical wiring and will be able to advise you on the appropriate charge point for your property.
EV charging installation costs
The costs of having an electric car charger installed at home depends on your chosen installation operative, your preferred charging box, and whether you would like to upgrade from single to 3 phase charging.
Checkatrade’s guide on electric car installation costs states that the average cost of having a charge point installed in the UK ‘is £1,000 (or £650 if eligible for a government grant).
Incentives and grants for EV charging installation
You might be entitled to one of the government’s grant schemes for EV charging which ‘provides funding of up to 75% towards the cost of installing electric vehicle smart chargepoints at domestic properties across the UK.’ Please see grant schemes for electric vehicle charging infrastructure for more information.
Charging your EV from home is the most practical and efficient solution for EV owners, and with different charging options to choose from, as well as the environmental benefits, we can accelerate towards a greener cleaner future. As electric vehicles and charging technology advances EV charging will become even smarter, making the transition from fuelled vehicles to electric even more sustainable and beneficial for drivers and our environment.
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