How Much Does It Cost To Install Electric Car Charger?

how much does it cost to install electric car charger
how much does it cost to install electric car charger

The average typical electric car charger installation cost in the UK is between £800 and £1,200. If you were googling “how much does it cost to install electric car charger?” and eventually had an idea about the expenses, then I would say you should know more. Do you know that you can typically save £467 per year by charging your electric car at home instead of in a public charging station? Yes, you heard me right. Though the cost of installing electric car charger seems high in the first place, you will realise over time that getting an electric vehicle charging point for your home can save you money and make your life much easier.

So, if you want to take this smart move, stay with me to know about the cost to install electric car charger, what affects installation costs, the available government grants, and if it is worth installing an EV charger.

How Much Does It Cost to Install an Electric Car Charger?

As I said earlier, for an electric car charger home installation cost in the UK, you have to pay around £800 to £1,200. This amount is the 7kW EV charger installation cost, which is the standard size for most UK homes. This price usually includes the charging unit, standard installation with up to 10 meters of cable, a link to the fuse box in your home, and testing and getting a certificate. However, the amount can be reduced to around £760 with applicable government grants. 

If you want more advanced or quicker charging choices, like 22kW units, or if the installation is not standard (for example, if you need to run long cables or modify your fuse box), the cost might go up to £1,500 or more.

You can get faster 22kW chargers, but they need three-phase power, which most UK houses don’t have. Depending on where you live and how the grid is set up, upgrading your power supply can cost somewhere between £3,000 and over £15,000.

Prices have gone down, and now home chargers come with Wi-Fi and smartphone apps as standard. Basic units cost about £600, while ones with LCD screens or solar panels cost between £900 and £1,100. Some users can still get government grants until 2026, although they are limited.

Now, let’s have a quick overview of the average cost of home EV charger installation in the UK.

Average Electric Car Charger Installation Costs

How much does it cost to install a charger for an electric vehicle? For a solid answer, look at the table below. 

Charger TypeEquipment Cost (Supply Only)Full Installation PackageWith Grant (if eligible)
3kW£250-£500 £700-£900£350-£550
7kW£450-£800 £800-£1,200£450-£850
22kW£700-£1,200 £1,200-£2,200£850-£1,850

These are the average estimates, but the cost may vary with several factors. Let’s look into the details.

Factors Affecting Electric Car Charger Installation Costs

The following factors determine how much to install EV charger at home UK.

Charger Type and Power Rating

The power output of a charger has a great impact on the electric car charger installation cost.

• 3kW Chargers: The simplest option, with a range of 8 to 15 miles per hour. If you are a low-mileage driver, this is the most suitable option for overnight charging.

• 7kW charger: The most frequent choice for home installations is the 7kW charger, which gives you 25–30 miles of range per hour. These work with single-phase power in homes. 

• Chargers from 11kW to 22kW: This faster charger needs three-phase electricity, which most homes in the UK don’t have unless they spend a lot of money to make changes. Installation costs escalate if you need to upgrade your electrical system.

Cable Distance

A longer distance between your internal electricity distribution board and the desired location for the chargepoint requires more equipment and labour. For each additional metre, you have to spend an extra £10 to £20.

Groundworks Requirement

Digging up walkways or driveways to run wires can cost an extra £200 to £500.

Wall Type

Some types of wall construction may need particular mounting solutions.

Upgrades for Consumer Units

If you need to upgrade your fuse box to use the charger, it will cost you an extra £300 to £600.

Electrical System Upgrades

If your home needs electrical improvement, replacing the consumer unit might cost £300–£600. Adding three-phase power to your home to charge devices faster will cost £2,000 to £5,000. You may also need to let your DNO know so that they can make sure there is enough capacity on the grid.

If your house requires further earthing, an earth rod costs £150–£300.

Smart Features

Smart chargers cost between £100 and £300 more than basic models, but they let you charge your phone at scheduled times during off-peak hours, control it from an app, and keep track of how much energy you are using. These features help you save money by allowing you to use less expensive energy over time. When picking a solution, think about whether these features will make up for the extra expense of these charges.

Besides, some chargers come with advanced features, including compatibility with household energy systems or solar panels and the capability of dynamic load balancing to prevent overloading. These elements really stand out in homes that use renewable energy.

When used with EV-specific electricity tariffs, these features will save a lot of money on long-term charging costs.

Brand and Model

Premium brands with advanced features will increase the price of installing electric car charger. For example:

• Affordable Options (£500–£700 installed): Project EV, Rolec

• Options in the middle range (£700–£900 installed): Ohme Home Pro and Smart Home Charge

• High-end choices (£900–£1,200+ installed): Wallbox Pulsar Plus and Zappi with solar integration

Regional Variations

The electric car charger home installation UK price will vary with your location. For instance:

• London and the Southeast: Usually 10–15% more than the national average

• Northern regions: Usually 5–10% lower than the national average

• Remote locations: Installers may charge extra for travel to these areas.

Aesthetics

If you want your charger to look exceptionally sleek or have a certain colour, it can cost you more.

When you buy a charger, it’s usually best to have the company install it, because their specialists will know how to work with that model. You should still receive at least two quotes from independent installers.

If you are wondering, “How much would an electrician charge to install an EV charger?”, then I can give you an average idea about it.

An electrician generally charges between £300 and £500 for installing a home EV charger in the UK for a standard installation, but the cost can change depending on how hard the task is and where you live.

Most of the time, the whole package that EV charger installers offer includes the labour cost. But if you buy the charger separately, then you’ll have to pay the electrician directly.

Now we will learn about the available government grants for installing electric car charger.

What Government Grants Are Available for EV Chargers?

The government grant for individual homeowners is no longer available. The original Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS), which helped homeowners by paying for 75% of the cost (up to £350) of installing home chargers, ended in March 2022.

The new EV Chargepoint Grant has been available since April 1, 2022. It still offers up to 75% funding (up to £350), but it is only meant for tenants, flat owners, and landlords who need off-street parking, not for private homeowners.

This change shows that the focus is now on making it easier for those who rent or live in apartments to charge their devices, rather than people who own their homes. If you’ve already used the EVHS or are upgrading or moving an existing charger, you can’t claim the grant.

An additional grant is now available for households with on-street parking if they install a permanent, council-approved cross-pavement charging solution. All grants will be available until March 2026, and you can only get them through an installation that has been approved by OZEV (Office for Zero Emission Vehicles).

What Do You Need to Install an Electric Car Charger?

Before you can get a home charger installed, you need to settle a few things:

• If you don’t have off-street parking, charge point companies won’t install points for you.

• You need to have wi-Fi access for the chargepoint and a smartphone to control the charger.

• Try to ensure a good household electricity supply. Well, it can be improved before installation, but it will cost more.

• Your parking spot should be within a specific distance of your electricity meter. Otherwise, you have to pay extra for longer, more complicated installations, like I said earlier.

• If you live in a rental house, you need permission from the landlord.

Where to Install an EV Charger: Facts You Need to Consider

While installing electric car charger at your home, there are a few things you need to consider first:

Safety: It will be best to keep your charger out of sight in a garage.

Convenience: The charger needs to be easy to get to so you can easily connect your electric vehicle.

Hazards: You also need to put it somewhere where the cables won’t get in the way.

Connectivity: Some systems need you to connect your charger to Wi-Fi, so pick a spot that works for you.

Cost: If you want to install electric car chargers for businesses, it will normally cost between £700 and £1,000 for each.

You can charge your car by plugging it into a regular home outlet, but it will take a long time. But I don’t think this is a good idea. A dedicated EV charger is faster, safer, and cheaper, as most devices can now charge your car when electricity is cheapest.

How Do I Install an EV Charger At Home in The UK?

Your installer will use a drill, screws, and maybe silicone sealant to mount the EV charger to the wall of your choice. They will then extend the connection to your consumer unit (fuse box) via the wall or around the outside of the house before wiring everything up.

The installer will talk to you about the potential locations for your charger in advance. Remember that it needs to be at least 2.5 meters away from any metal object that is linked to your power supply.

It is also a legal requirement to set up the charger at least two meters away from a public highway, monument, or listed structure. The timeframe for electric car charger installation is usually 2 to 3 hours.

Any electrician can install your car charger correctly, but you shouldn’t take that risk. I suggest you hire an installer who is certified by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles. By doing so, you will be eligible for any government grants that are available at the time.

Choose FutureCo

At Future Co, you will get top-quality EV charger solutions for both homes and businesses across the UK. Whether you’re looking for the best EV charger or the cheapest EV home charger, we have a range of options to suit your budget and vehicle type. From choosing top-rated EV chargers and the best EV home chargers to getting dependable EV charger installers, you will find it all in one place.

So, charge smarter, faster, and cheaper with Future Co.

Can I install an EV Charger Myself?

No. Installing an EV charger means working directly with the main electrical system in your home. As per UK law, it is a must to get it done by a qualified electrician and follow the IET Wiring Regulations (BS 7671).

How Much Does It Cost to Charge an Electric Car at Home?

The cost of charging electric car at home in the UK depends on your electricity rate, the size of your car’s battery, and how empty it is.

Kilowatt-hours (kWh) are used to measure the size of an electric car’s battery. Your energy provider’s tariff will tell you how much power costs per kWh.

To get an idea of how much it will cost to charge an EV from 0% to 100%, multiply the battery capacity (in kWh) by your electricity rate.

The battery size (in kWh) × your unit rate (in p/kWh) = Cost to fully charge

For instance, when fully charged, a 100kWh battery will use about 100kWh of energy. At 30p per kWh, it costs around £30 to charge. On the same note, an 80kWh battery like the one in the Skoda Enyaq would cost around £24 at this rate.

It’s not quite this easy in real life. Most drivers don’t let their battery die all the way down to 0%, and the manufacturers advise charging only up to 80% regularly to keep your battery healthy and long-lasting.

Another way to look at the efficiency is in terms of miles per kWh. This is shown on the dashboard or app of most EVs. A car that gets 4 miles per kWh is more fuel-efficient than one that only gets 2.5 miles per kWh. Using the 30p/kWh rate as an example, it costs about 7.5p per mile to drive a car that gets 4 miles per kWh, and it costs 12p per mile to drive a car that gets 2.5 miles per kWh.

Many people who own electric vehicles now get special energy rates that are better for them, with cheaper rates during off-peak hours, often overnight. If your home charger is smart and you use the car’s app or the charger controls to set these times for charging, your real-world charging costs may be much lower than normal rates.

Is It Worth Installing an EV Charger?

If your yard or garage is big enough, yes, it’s a good idea to buy a home charger. Here I am mentioning the main reasons in short:

•    Getting a home charger is a good idea if you have a driveway or garage.

•    You should be able to save enough to cover your £1,000 cost in about two years.

•    It costs 77% more to charge in public than to charge at home.

•    If you buy a home charging point, you’ll save about £467 a year.

•    Over a year, it costs twice as much to fill up a gas-powered car as it does to charge an electric car at home.

•    47% of Brits have bought low-carbon technology in the last twelve months.

Final Thoughts

So, how much does it cost to install an electric car charger? I hope you already know the detailed answer to this question.

Buying a home EV charger is a smart move in the UK if you already have an electric car or want to own one. Investing in a home EV charger is both practical and cost-effective. Though the initial average price to install electric car charger ranges between £800 and £1,200, you will save money in the long run, have more convenience, and even get potential government support.

FAQ

Can a normal electrician install an EV charger?

A qualified electrician can technically install an EV charger, but to get the government grant and make sure the installation is safe and legal, the installer must be OZEV-approved and have experience with EV installations.

Can I use a regular 3-pin plug?

Yes, but it is not recommended. It is relatively slow and not suitable for regular use due to safety issues.

Do I need permission to install an EV charger?

Installing an EV charger usually doesn’t require approval. As long as the charger is placed more than 2 meters away from a roadway, you can install one that is less than 1.6 meters tall without obtaining planning authorisation. Almost all slow and rapid charging stations fall within this category. However, certain rapid chargers do need approval as they are taller than 1.6 meters.

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