A guide to electric car home charging and charger installation

In this article, we will talk about how much to install EV charging at home.

Although you may charge your car with a standard 3-pin socket, most EV owners choose to utilize home charging equipment. Your automobile will be charged at roughly 2.3 kW using a 3-pin connector. This indicates that a car with a 40kWh battery would take 17 hours to completely charge. A 7kW EV charger may shave 11 hours off of that charging period. 

How much to install EV charging at home?

On the low end, installing a home charging station will cost roughly $1,000, and on the high end, it will cost over $3,000. Your charges will, of course, vary based on the considerations. With the Smart Splitter, you may avoid the permission, electrical materials, and electrician costs if you already have a 240V outlet. This may save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on a home charging station installation.

Which home electric vehicle charger is best for you? - how much to install EV charging at home

When it comes to choosing an electric car charging station for your house, there are a few factors to consider.

• Charger power: 3kW, 7kW, and even 22kW chargers are available, however, 7kW is the most frequent. Simply divide the battery's energy in kWh by the charger's speed in kW to get an estimate of how long it would take a charger to completely charge your automobile.
• Cost: The average cost, according to the RAC, is roughly £8001 - but you may be eligible for a subsidy to help you pay. There's more on that later!!
• Cable: You must choose between a tethered (with a cable) and an untethered charger (without a cable). Tethered is more convenient but untethered offers the advantage of being able to connect to almost any electric vehicle.
• Design: After all, you'll be seeing the charger on your wall every day, so choose something you enjoy!
• Other features: There are a lot of fascinating EV charger options out there; for example, you might want to choose one that works with your solar panels.

What kind of charging power do you require?

Level 2 chargers are available in capacities ranging from 16 to 80 amps. However, your vehicle's charging capacity, or how rapidly it can absorb the charge, limits your speed.

• Every electric vehicle has a maximum charging capacity, which ranges from 3.3 to 10 kilowatt-hours, or 11 to 30 recovered miles per hour.
• Like a clothes dryer or other strong device, all Level 2 chargers operate on a 240-volt circuit. The amount of amperage you require may vary depending on the charger, but you must avoid overloading your electrical panel.

Charger plug-in or hardwired?

There are two sorts of chargers: plug-in chargers that connect to an outlet and chargers that are hardwired directly into your home's electrical system. Each form has advantages and disadvantages. Plug-in chargers are convenient since they can accompany you on the road, be taken with you when you move, and be unplugged if they break or need to be serviced. A plug-in charger is also easy to upgrade later. The disadvantage is that adding an outlet to your home will almost certainly be more expensive than wiring the charger straight into your panel.

You can't relocate the charger without the assistance of an electrician if it's hardwired. However, if your electrical panel is located in your garage, it will almost likely cost cheaper to install than an outlet. Provided your garage already has a dryer outlet, you might be able to connect straight into it if it has adequate amperage. Because various chargers use different plug types, your unit may or may not fit in your current dryer outlet. Furthermore, the National Electrical Code prohibits input cords that are longer than 12 inches, so your charger should be no more than a foot away from the dryer outlet.

Consider investing in a smart electric vehicle charger.

How much to install EV charging at home? Investing in a smart charger is the best option.

These are internet-connected chargers that can interact with both your car and the grid. This allows them to determine the best cost-effective and energy-efficient times to charge your vehicle. As a result, they not only save you money but also help conserve the environment. 

Charging an electric vehicle at home - How much to install EV charging at home?

You may have a charger placed in your house by following these steps:

• You either own the property or have permission from your landlord to do so.
• You should have your own off-street parking space.
• Make sure you have a WiFi connection at home. 

The cost of an electric car charger installation

• Getting a home charging device installation costs roughly £800 on average. How much to install EV charging at home? However, there are less expensive alternatives.
• If you choose a lower-powered charger, a 3kW device will likely cost you between £250 and £500. The most powerful 7kW chargers cost to install between £450 and £8002 – and extremely fast chargers can cost up to £1,500 or more if you're willing to spend extra.

Grants from the government are available for electric car charging stations

The Electric Vehicle Home charge Scheme (EVHS) was created by the government to assist EV drivers with up to 75% (£350) of the expenses of installing a home charger.

You're eligible if you acquired a qualifying electric car or plug-in hybrid car after October 1, 2016, and you fulfill the requirements listed below. The following are some of the conditions: 

• You're installing a smart charger

• You have off-street parking (a driveway or garage)

• The installation date isn't more than 4 months before the delivery date, or the date you became the registered driver of the EV

• You're installing an electric charging station and wondering how much to install EV charging at home? Then you are right place.

Setting up an electric car charger in your garage or driveway

How much to install EV charging at home? You'll need dedicated off-street parking to acquire a home EV charger. This indicates that you have a garage or driveway where you may park your car away from the street.

Installing a home EV charger will be more difficult if you don't have a driveway or garage. It might result in wires strewn across the sidewalk, which isn't very safe for pedestrians. Consult an installer about your possibilities, and check with your local government about the feasibility of installing EV chargers. 

Locating a secure location to build your electric vehicle charging station

Engineers must adhere to a few rules while installing electric car charging stations. This may have an impact on where you may hang the charger.

Engineers will look at some images of where you wish to put your charger before installing it. They may ask for the images to be emailed to them, or they may come to the site and take them personally as part of a site assessment. 

What occurs on the day of the installation of your electric vehicle charging station? 

Here's what to anticipate when you have the question of how much to install EV charging at home? In your mind:

• The engineers will inform you of the time you must arrive at home to meet with them.
  • They'll know where it needs to go based on the photographs they've previously viewed. They'll begin by placing the charger in that location.
  • During the following section, they'll switch off the electric vehicle supply equipment (for safety).
  • The final step is to complete installing the charger and connect it to your primary power source.
  • They'll re-energize the system and test it to ensure it's completely safe.
  • If you're getting a smart charger, give them the WiFi password so they can connect it to the internet at this point.
  • They will demonstrate how to utilize it!!

Read more: which chevy spark ev have dc quick charging

What you should do to be ready for your EV home charger installation

To avoid any unpleasant surprises on the day, it's a good idea to provide your installers with as much information as possible ahead of time.

They may do a site survey, which is sending someone to inspect your home before the installation date to ensure everything is in working condition. This will require you (or another adult) to be at home.

Make sure you're ready on the day by cleaning the space where they'll be working. Make certain that the path between the ChargePoint and your electrical supply meter or distribution board is free of obstructions. A wire will be installed here to link the two.

Conclusion - how much to install EV charging at home

So you've decided to buy an electric vehicle and are now thinking about how you'll charge it. Many electric vehicle owners will be unable to charge their vehicles at home, forcing them to rely on public chargers and even workplace charging. The price varies based on where you reside, whatever charger you choose, and whether the charger is hardwired or portable. The national average price range for a 240-volt outlet, charger, and wall-mounted system is $1,000 to $2,500, with most consumers spending about $1,200.