A complete installation of an electric car charger will cost between £1,050 and £1,945. However, there are many varying factors that may affect this cost.

Electric vehicles (EVs) were something of a futuristic novelty at one point but they are fast becoming a standard and preferred mode of transportation in the UK. At the end of January 2024, the UK was home to 1.6 million electric cars. A further projection predicts that by 2030, over 80% of new cars sold in the UK will be electric.

As such, the needs surrounding the ownership of these cars have evolved. Electric car charging points are not a scarce commodity but many eco-conscious drivers are opting to have chargers installed at work or home. So, how much does it cost to have an EV charging point at your disposal? Eco Happy is here to answer all your electric car charger-related questions.

Cost Of Installing An EV Charger At Home

At a glance, the installation of an electric car charger will cost anywhere between £1,050 and £1,945. There are, however, many factors that are considered when calculating these costs.

Having an EV charger at home is already commonplace for UK EV drivers. In 2021, it was estimated that over 300,000 homes housed their own personal charging points. Access to these points not only saves you time and money but is also a source of convenience, and reassurance, and can see an increased ROI on your property value.

Labour costs

The average labour cost for an electric car charger installation will be between £300 and £400. This will vary by the company you purchased your EV charger from. Companies will have dedicated professionals to assess your property (usually free of charge) and install your charger. Although buyers are not obligated to use them, it is highly recommended.

It may be tempting to hire an independent electrician for the installation, but it is not advised and any installation error will end up costing you more in the future.

Type of charger

With many options to choose from, you may be wondering are all electric car chargers the same? Deciding which type of charging point is best suited for your home is another important factor. There are three main types of chargers commonly used in home charging point installations.

3 kW electric car charger

Excluding installation, a 3 kW charger can cost between £250 and £500. The price will vary depending on your supplier, brand and whether or not you opt to buy it second hand. The 3 kW charger may be the cheapest option but users will spend a longer time powering up their battery. Charging a low battery to 100% can take up to 36 hours.

7 kW electric car charger

A 7 kW charger is recommended for home installation and is the most commonly installed charger. This charger suits any battery size and charges faster than the 3 kW. Excluding installation, this charger ranges in price between £450 and £800.

Smart chargers

Smart chargers will be on the higher end of the pricing spectrum and can cost you anywhere in the region of £1,150. While they are more expensive initially, smart chargers have many benefits and could potentially save you money in the future.

Different EV charger levels and what they mean

If you have been researching electric car charges, it’s likely that you have come across chargers being referred to in both levels and kilowatts (kW). The levels refer to the output of kilowatts and are ranked from 1 to 3:

• Level 1 is the slowest charge and gives an output of 1 kW – 3 kW.
• Level 2 is the medium charge and is what is recommended for home installation. The output of a level 2 charger is between 4 kW and 7 kW.
• Level 3 chargers use direct current (DC) and are usually found at large dedicated DC public stations. Chargers with this kind of current are usually not suitable for home installation.

Cost Of Installing An EV Charger At Work

Electric car chargers can also be installed at your place of work. In a 2022, report by Transport and Environment, it was reported that around 33,000 charging points were in workplaces in the UK. But what kind of charger is best suited to this type of location?

If your work premises are on the smaller side, with fewer employees using electric vehicles, a level 2 or 3 kW charger should suffice. However, if you have more employees and a suitable property structure, a level 3 charging point will allow more people to charge their cars in a shorter amount of time.

The costs and requirements for installing a charger at work will be the same as they are for installing one at home.

What Is Required To Install An EV Charger

In the UK, installing an electric car charger at home or your place of business is not something that can just be done. Various requirements need to be met for the installation to go ahead safely and legally.

For example, you need to be the property owner where the installation is taking place or have written permission from the landlord. The property would also need to have a Wi-Fi or 4G connection. Other requirements, however, may add to the cost of the charger being installed.

• Off-street parking: This is not an absolute must, but having an EV charger in a secure enclosed environment would prevent it from being tampered with or stolen.
• A fuse box or electric panel: This needs to be equipped to handle the added load. If your electric panel is on the older side, a new one could cost you upwards of £350.
• An isolator switch: All EV chargers that are fully compliant require an isolator switch which costs between £100 and £200.
• A rapid charge cable: This is also not an absolute must but it may be required if you are away from your home charging station. These cost between £150 and £500, depending on the length.

Factors That Affect EV Charger Installation Costs

Several factors can affect the cost of car charger installation both at home and at work. Having these factors in mind when calculating installation costs will allow you to be more financially prepared.

1. The location of your electric panel

The proximity of the electric panel to the car will be relevant when determining the length of cable that is required during installation. The need for a longer cable to reach your charging point will cost more. There is usually a standard amount of cable that comes with the installation, so be sure to check how much is required and how much is provided.

2. Brand of EV charger

This comes down to personal preference. The brand of EV charger that you opt for will differ in price.

More affordable brands:

• Rolec WallPod: £485
• Wallbox Pulsar: £599
• Ohme Home Pro: £649

Mid-range brands:

• Hypervolt: £749
• EO Mini Pro: 2 £779
• Easee One: £795

Premium brands:

• Andersen AZ: £1,045
• BP Pulse: £1,049
• Rolec HomeSmart: £1,249

3. Your preference for aesthetics

If you prefer a sleek-looking charging point with designated space for cables, the make, model and design of the charger may be sold at a slightly higher price.

4. Tethered or untethered cables

Before installation takes place, you will have a choice of using tethered or untethered cables. Your preferences will be based on what is most convenient and economical for you. Tethered cables are fixed and more suitable for home charging and are in the price range of around £649.

Untethered cables are the preferred option, as they offer more flexibility, can be attached to more EV car models and are cheaper at £599.

Benefits Of Installing Your Own Electric Car Charger

The benefits of installing an EV charger at home or work will far outweigh any costs that you may incur during the installation process.

• Convenience: Having your own charging point at home allows you to charge your car while you sleep or get chores done around the house. Likewise, a charge point at work would ensure that your car is adequately powered up for your drive home.
• Safety: The safety aspect of a home EV charge point is twofold. The safety and familiarity of your own home and surroundings cannot be found at public charging stations, and the installation of the charging units has lower risks of electrical fires.
• Efficiency: Home points have a faster charge time than 3-point pins. You also won’t have to stand in a queue at busy public charging points or feel rushed by the person behind you.
• Cost-effective: Home EV charge points run on lower tariffs than public charge points and will cost you significantly less to charge your vehicle than public ones.

Government Grants For EV Chargers

As of April 2022, the UK’s Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant (EVCG), formerly the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS), allowed for 75% off of the purchase and installation of a socket up to the value of £350. To be eligible for the grant you must:

1. Have an electric vehicle that is on theOZEV-approved electric vehicle list.
2. Be the owner of the property or have consent from the owner.
3. Have dedicated off-street parking for your electric car.
4. Make use of the OZEV-approved installers and ChargePoint models.
5. Be located in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales. The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are exempt from the EVCG.

Similar grants are available for workplace charging points under the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) and cover more charging points per grant, with the same 75% off. For a comprehensive understanding of these grants and eligibilities, check out The UK Government’s Electric Vehicle Charging Device Grant Scheme Statistics.

FAQs

Can I install an EV charger myself?

Unless you are a certified EV charger installer, then you can’t install an EV charger yourself. Electric car charge points require a person who knows how to safely and securely fit the unit. Any wrongdoing or small mistakes could lead to catastrophic results.

What do you need to know before installing an EV charger?

Before you install an EV charger, you need to know what your needs are in terms of levels or kW, and you need to be mindful of your property and any permits or restrictions that may be in place. Many companies will guide you through this installation process but having the stats of your usage will be to your advantage.

Can you plug a car charger into a normal socket?

It is possible to plug your EV charger into a normal socket but it will charge very slowly. You also run the risk of overloading your fuse box and may end up with a higher-than-usual electricity bill. It is not the safest or most efficient way of charging your electric car.

What is the lifespan of an EV charger?

The average lifespan of an electric car charger is estimated to be between 5 and 10 years. You would also need to factor in your usage of the electric car charger and allow some legroom for wear and tear.

How much money could I save with an at-home EV charger?

Charging your electric car at home means that your charging point will run off the standard residential electricity tariff, which is cheaper than the public charging stations. Charging at home costs around 28.6p per kilowatt hour (kWh), and you could benefit from off-peak tariffs for electric vehicle drivers.

These off-peak tariffs mean that you could fully charge your vehicle overnight for less than £5. But how much are you saving? Project EV found that, on average, charging your car at home could save you up to £3,000 each year.

How much does it cost to use a public EV charging point?

In January 2024, Zapmap calculated that public charging stations cost EV drivers 56p per kWh on slow and fast chargers and 80p per kWh on rapid chargers.

What is the difference between a standard EV charger and a smart charger?

Smart EV chargers cost more but run more efficiently than normal EV chargers. The smart chargers monitor your car’s charging session, allow for remote stop and start functions, manage your energy load and consumption, provide restricted access, and provide valuable data feedback to allow for more research and better functionality.

What is ChargePoint?

ChargePoint is a brand of the world’s largest system of Electric Vehicle charging stations. They have public charging points across Europe and North America.

Conclusion

Whether or not you are eligible for an EVCG or a WCS, installing an electric car charger will cost you anywhere between approximately £1,000 and £2,000. This number is not set in stone and can be reduced or even increased depending on your circumstances.

As an eco-conscious driver, the long-term environmental and financial benefits of a home or work EV charging point cannot be refuted. If you have any further queries about how electric car chargers work, contact Eco Happy – we have all the information you need to get from point A to point B.