Charge Point at Home: Should you Have One in your Home?

The UK has committed to banning the sale of all petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030. New build homes will soon have electric car charging points as standard. This luxury used to be only possible for the top 1% due to affordability. Now, because of increased home innovation and technology, your EV charging dreams could become a reality.  So, how can you get a charge point at home?

What is the Current Situation?

Some people with electric vehicles in the UK are living without EV chargers in their home; they must take regular trips to their nearest EV charging station. However, there are now over 500,000 hybrid vehicles on the roads. As well, more of the population is considering a greener vehicle option. Due to this, the Department of Transportation has vowed to equip all new build properties with EV charging facilities. 

This proposition also stated that the new charge points should have a power rating output of at least 7kW. They should also be fitted with a universal socket to accommodate all-electric vehicles in the market. The Department of Transport estimates that each new home will be installed with the infrastructure to charge at least one electric vehicle. Although this may sound expensive, it’s worth it for the mere convenience of not travelling to charge your car. Electric cars are much cheaper to run than petrol or diesel too!

Where Does this Leave Older Homes?

Unfortunately, if you are buying anything aside from a new build, you will have to install EV chargers yourself. The government is offering a scheme to be able to assist older homeowners with the installation of charge points. Therefore, if you are looking at owning an eco-friendly vehicle and want the convenience of charging points at home, you may be able to save up to £350 on installation costs.

Alternatively, if you don’t want a whole new house just to get a charge point, or install your own, why not take a look at our Plug-In Promise? We’re offering businesses that take on 5 or more cars a 2-plug workplace charge point!

How to Prepare your Home

There are two standard charging outlets, including:

1. The single-phase: capable of supporting up to 7kW of EV charging.
2. The 3-phase: allowing up to 22kW of EV charging.

Single-phase outlets are commonly present in most households and do not require extra installations. However, the lowest charging range is 3kW. This means an electric car model, such as the Tesla S, would take 33 hours to reach full capacity. The 3-phase outlet is expensive and time-consuming. However, installing this type of charging point is recommended as it is unquestionably more efficient. With a charging range of 22KW, it would take only 6 hours to fully charge your Tesla S. This is significantly different from the single-phase outlet. If you are considering a 3-phase outlet, it is essential to locate and audit your power. This ensures you know how much energy your home is consuming and not overloading your electric panel. If your audit shows you have enough available capacity, you can call your electrician for installation. 

Having a EV charging port at home for your electric vehicle is an essential thing that every owner should consider. You’ll save yourself continuous trips to the nearest charging station! Not only this, you also get the satisfaction of knowing that you can start your day with a full charge No worries there! If like many others you still don’t have a charging point at your home, you can use apps such as Zapmaps to find your nearest charging station.

For more information on this, why not check out our article on How To Install An EV Charger At Home.

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