EV charger installation requirements: what you need to know

As consumers look for ways to lower the cost of travel and live more environmentally friendly lives, electric vehicles have grown in popularity.

Despite still being relatively expensive compared to petrol vehicles, the cost of the car can be offset by the savings made on fuel costs and electric car road tax exemptions.

But one of the most common areas of confusion around EVs is charging, which is not surprising given the many myths and misconceptions. 

In this guide, we’ll take a deep dive into everything you need to know about EV chargers and, more specifically, the installation requirements for having one at home.

We’ll cover:

• What Is An EV Charger?
• EV Charger Installation Requirements
• EV Charger Installation
• How Much Does EV Home Charger Installation Cost?
• Where Should An EV Home Charger Be Installed?
• EV Charger Types
• Tethered
• Untethered
• How Long Do EV Charger Installations Take?
• How Long Does It Take For EVs To Fully Charge?
• How Far Will A Fully Charged EV Go?
• Why Choose An Electric Car?
• Cheap to run
• Cheap servicing
• Environmentally friendly
• How Do EVs Work?
• What Types Of EVs Are Available?
• What Is An EV Tariff?
• Where Can EVs Be Charged?
• Home
• Work
• Public charging points
• EV Chargers From BOXT

What is an EV charger?

An EV charger is quite simply, what EV owners use to charge their car. 

Think of it the same as your phone charger, just for your car, although it’s more than a cable in most instances. Whilst it is possible to charge an EV using a standard 3-pin plug, this is only recommended in emergencies, and a dedicated charger is the best solution for most.

A home electric vehicle charger can offer the car owner a great level of convenience with minimal hassle or upheaval during the installation process.

EV charger installation requirements

There are some requirements to be able to install an electric car charger at your home, including;

• Property Ownership - To get an EV charger installed, you must be the homeowner or get permission from your property’s landlord.
  
  
• Off-street parking - Off-street parking such as a driveway is required for an EV charging point installation at your home.
  
  
• A Wi-fi connection - EV home charger installation will also require a Wi-fi connection to accept instructions, adjust the charging rate, and record the energy consumption.

New UK legislation has moved forward, stating that any new home built from June 2022 with associated parking must have an electric vehicle charging point installed at build.

EV charger installation

Arranging installation is easy with BOXT. 

We provide high-quality chargers that are at least 7.2kw and compatible with all type-2 electric vehicles. 

You can get your fixed price quote instantly and book your installation today.

You will be able to select a convenient date for your installation, and we can usually do this within five working days.

You will be able to find out who will be coming to install your EV charger by viewing their online profile, and they will also thoroughly test the installation to ensure there are no issues after the job is complete.

How much does EV home charger installation cost?

Prices can vary depending on the type of charger and other variables, but the average cost is around £1,100 for both the product and installation. That said, expect to pay more for faster EV chargers. You can get an accurate quote for the best charger for your home, including installation, using our easy online quote tool.

Where should an EV home charger be installed?

The most common installation locations for an EV charger are on the outside wall on the driveway or a garage wall.

A home EV charger will typically be attached to a brick or plaster wall, and you will be able to offer suggestions as to where you would prefer the charger to be located.

EV charger types

Everyone is different, and your charging habits might differ from your neighbour. Because of this, here at BOXT, we offer different EV charger types to suit your lifestyle.

Tethered

A tethered EV charger means the cable is connected to the wall box charger. You will be able to wind up the tethered cable and store it in the wall box.

Untethered

An untethered cable will need to be connected to the car at one end and the wall box at the other. They can be stored in your car boot or home, and the wall box is slightly smaller as it does not need to house the cable.

How long do EV charger installations take?

The installation process can be completed in as little as 2-3 hours, but your friendly and experienced installer will be able to provide a better timescale when they visit.

How long does it take for EVs to fully charge?

Different factors will impact how long it will take for your car to charge fully. On average, it can take around eight hours for the average electric vehicle to charge from empty using a 7kW charge point.

For many electric cars, using a 50kW rapid charger found at public charging points can add up to 100 miles in approximately 35 minutes.

How far will a fully charged EV go?

Depending on the make and model of the vehicle and other factors like traffic, the weight in the car, and the roads being driven, you can expect an electric vehicle to travel between 100 and 300 miles on a full charge.

The age of the car battery will also contribute to how far you will be able to travel. It has been estimated that the average electric vehicle battery will lose around 2.3% of its capacity each year. This means a vehicle with a range of 150 miles can expect to lose approximately 17 miles of capacity over five years.

New electric vehicles will not have the concern of battery deterioration, but the size of the battery will make a difference. This will be a consideration for anyone looking to buy a new electric car.

Range anxiety is the name given to the concern drivers have that they might run out of power before reaching their destination. This used to be a much more significant concern, but there are lots of public EV chargers available to use. You will also be able to see the range displayed by your vehicle, giving you plenty of time to recharge.

Why choose an electric car?

There are many reasons why you might want to buy an electric car rather than a traditionally fueled vehicle. One of the biggest reasons people consider this is the government plan to ban the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030. While this won't be an outright ban, and these vehicles will gradually be phased out, it is still an incentive to change now.

With new-build houses having electric car charging points installed, government schemes and incentives in the last few years for homeowners to install them, and many more public EV charge points being built, it is fast becoming a convenient option.

Here are some other reasons you might want to consider switching to an electric vehicle.

Cheap to run

As fuel prices have consistently risen, consumers have looked for cheaper ways to travel. Public transport is not always an option. Having the convenience of charging your car from your power supply and being considerably more affordable than petrol cars is an excellent option.

The cost to charge an electric car will vary depending on the vehicle, battery size, and energy costs. On average, electricity in the UK costs 28p per kWh. So, a standard Nissan Leaf with a 40 kWh battery will cost approximately £11.20 to fully charge at peak time. 

Cheap servicing

Electric cars require fewer moving parts and do not rely on a combustion engine, which means that servicing an EV can work out as much as 30% cheaper than traditional vehicles.

Environmentally friendly

Though you will still leave a carbon footprint when using an electric vehicle, it will be considerably less than a petrol car as they release fewer greenhouse gasses and pollutants into the atmosphere.

How do EVs work?

By plugging an electric vehicle into a charge point, you will be able to take electricity from the national grid. This power is then stored in the vehicle's rechargeable battery.

The electrical energy is then converted into the power used to move the vehicle by the electric motor. Electric cars produce more torque and don't need a traditional transmission, resulting in faster acceleration and a lighter drive.

What types of EVs are available?

There are three types of electric vehicles that are available to purchase. 

The first is the fully electric vehicle that relies solely on electric power and needs to be charged at EV charge points.

The second is the hybrid vehicle that uses an internal combustion engine powered by fuel and an electric motor that generates its energy through regenerative braking to charge the battery.

The final option is the PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle). These versions require fuel such as petrol and need to be plugged in to charge their batteries.

What is an EV tariff?

Though using an electric vehicle is cheaper than a petrol or diesel vehicle, it is still worth shopping around for the best tariff for your energy bills.

Some energy companies offer unique EV tariffs that consider higher energy usage and offer preferred rates for charging your vehicle overnight.

Energy companies can offer this better rate for overnight charging because of the low demand for energy during these hours.

Smart charging will also help you keep track of off-peak hours that can let you charge your vehicle for less.

Where can EVs be charged?

As electric vehicles grow in popularity and the UK government encourages people to explore more energy-efficient ways of living, electric cars are easier to charge.

Home

As previously mentioned, installing an EV charge point in your home is the most convenient way to charge an electric vehicle.

At BOXT, we offer a great selection of EV chargers to suit your needs. Using our simple online journey you can find prices for chargers that suit your home and vehicle, choose an installation date that suits you, and if you have any questions our team of experts are here to help via LiveChat. 

Work

In addition to helping people install a home EV charger, the UK government also offers the WCS (Workplace Charging Scheme) that supports businesses that want to install an EV charging station.

A voucher-based scheme is used to reduce the upfront costs of installation. This can be beneficial for workplace morale and even help to reduce business costs if they rely on electric vehicles.

Public charging points

The number of public charging points in the UK continues to rise every year as the government invests in the infrastructure to support the growth of electric car ownership.

As well as the government, garages, shopping centres, and local councils are also investing in EV charge point installation as a way to encourage people to travel to certain areas.

EV chargers from BOXT

The smart chargers available here at BOXT are a great way to reduce the cost of charging an electric car. You will be able to monitor the progress of the charge, energy usage, and your carbon footprint when you use an EV charging app.