Switching to an electric car is the easy bit. Working out which home charger to fit, and where, can feel more confusing than it needs to. If you're driving to Farnborough, Camberley or Guildford and back, getting the right charger at home changes everything. Here's a straightforward run-through of what actually matters.
1. Charging speed: 7kW is the sweet spot
Most home chargers are 7kW, which adds around 25 to 30 miles of range an hour, plenty to fully top up overnight. Faster 22kW charging usually needs a three-phase supply that most homes don't have, so 7kW is the practical choice for the vast majority of properties.
2. Tethered vs untethered
A tethered charger has the cable permanently attached, so you just plug straight in. An untethered unit has a socket you connect your own cable to, which looks tidier and is more future-proof if cable standards change. Both work well, so it comes down to what suits you. Whether it's an Easee, a Zappi or another leading charger, we'll guide you from start to finish.
3. Smart features worth having
Smart chargers let you schedule charging for cheaper overnight electricity rates, monitor usage from an app, and in some cases balance the load so you don't overload your supply. If you're on an EV tariff, scheduling alone can save a fair bit.
4. Is your home ready?
For a home charger you'll ideally need off-street parking such as a driveway or garage, access to your fuse box, and Wi-Fi if you want the smart features. If you're not sure whether your home is suitable, that's exactly what the free assessment is for.
5. Check your supply first
Before anything goes on the wall, your electrical supply and consumer unit need checking. Occasionally a property shares a supply cable and needs it 'unlooped' by the network operator first. It sounds technical, but a good installer will spot it early and handle the application for you.