If you have a private driveway or garage you will almost certainly be able to get a charge point installed at home. You can choose to have the charger installed in your garage, outside on the wall, or mounted on a free-standing post – we’ve seen chargers built into old whisky barrels and placed on trees. There are a couple of other criteria, but having off-street parking also gives you access to the £350 OZEV grant.
Without off-street parking, plugging in to a nearby public charge point can be a better option than installing a home charge point. There are examples where drivers lay their cable across the pavement to charge and cover it with a protective mat to reduce the trip hazard. However, it’s best to check with your local authority before choosing this option.
Why install a home charge point?
Installing a home charger is a no-brainer if you have a garage or a driveway. You will be able to charge:
- Faster
- Cleaner
- Cheaper
When your installer visits to install your new charger, they will also lay a new, high powered cable to your fuse box. This allows you to charge at up to 3x faster than using your a 3-pin plug, or 10x faster If you have a three-phase power supply (which some farm houses or large home do).
The smarter chargers on the market can time your charge to happen when the grid is at it’s cleanest, or when your off-peak electricity tariff kicks in. This way, you can save up to £200 per year, and reduce your carbon usage by an average of 25%.
How to install a home charge point
Charge points are installed by government-approved installers. They are approved by the ‘Office for Low Emission Vehicles’, or ‘OZEV’, who are also the body that administers the £350 OZEV grant.
Our partner Rightcharge has built up a network of the best installers across the UK, and you can connect with the cheapest for your choice of charger by requesting a quote.
The typical process is for an installer to ask for a couple of photos of your house, including your fuse cupboard, and where you would like the charger to go. They will use this to conduct a remote ‘survey’ and provide a quote for the charge and installation.
If you’re happy with the quote, you will book a date for your installation to go ahead. Installs are usually just a half-day job, but if there is some extra work required it could take up to a full day.
