With the surge in electric cars, the day is not far-off when you will say goodbye to petrol stations. As of now, it seems that public charging stations will replace them, but the fact is that they will also have less demand in years to come.

The reason is you can install the electric car charges at home. Once it is installed, all you need to do is just plug it in, and then you will wake up to a fully charged car. Why wait in a long queue at public charging port when you can recharge the battery of your electric car at home?

When it comes to charging your electric car, you have two options: a domestic three-pin socket or a dedicated EV charge point. The former option is not suitable for regular use. Charging at domestic sockets should be reserved for emergencies or occasional uses or when you call on your relatives or friends and stay overnight.

You should have a dedicated EV charge point, as it is safer than a domestic socket.

Two types of EV charging sockets

There are two types of EV charging sockets – tethered and universal socket. The universal socket is compatible with all plug-in electric cars. This is the perfect socket if you have got a car with different connector types. You will get portable cable separately when you buy this socket.

A tethered charger comes with a permanently attached charging cable that you can wrap around the pod point. It is convenient to use. As a tethered charger comes with a cable for a type 1/2 socket, you do not need to carry an additional saving.

Other features that a charger may include:

• The charge can be available in 7KW or 22KW.
• Wi-Fi and app connectivity, charge scheduling, and auto power balancing
• You will obtain an assurance for up to 5 years.
• Easily mountable on a wall and compact

Tips to get a home charger installed

Here are the guidelines you should follow to install a charger:

• Choose the right place to put a home charge point

Choosing the right place for your EV charge point is quite tricky. You cannot just choose any point that you think will be suitable. First off, you ask yourself whether you want the point to be hidden or visible. Whether you have a tethered charger or not will make a difference here. Of course, you would not like the cord to look like a coiled garden hose at your entrance.

The charging port on your car may vary by the model you have. Some cars have it on the right side, while others have it on the left side. However, some have it on the further back where you have a fuel filler cap.

Do not forget to consider the length of the charging cable. Make sure that you are able to plug in smoothly. Overstretching can damage the cable. Moreover, you should also ensure that the charger can take advantage of Wi-Fi signals.

There are many things you need to consider when picking the place for the charging point for your electric car. Deliberation is a must in choosing the spot. However, this is not the only thing that you need to think of at the time of installing a home charge point.

• Speed

The speed at which the charger will charge your car’s battery is another factor you need to think about. Chargers come with different kinds of speeds. For instance, if you use a charger with 3.6KW, it will take eight to nine hours to charge your car. This is practical only when you let it be charged overnight.

Similarly, when you use a home charge point with 7KW, it will take half of the time to charge your car because this is twice as powerful as a domestic socket. You can use this port to charge your car at any moment of the day.

A home charger with 22KW will be more powerful and effective, but unfortunately, it needs a three-phase electricity supply. So, this is not a realistic option for most homeowners. However, you can upgrade to a three-phase electricity supply when you are modifying or extending it or installing high-power equipment.

Before jumping the gun, ensure your car accepts the 22KW charge. Though such chargers are available, most of the electric cars are actually unable to accept power with a high supply. It is advisable that you consult your nearest dealer before upgrading it to 22KW.

Do not forget that upgrading will cost you thousands of pounds, and if you are already looking to refinance car loans from a lender, try to ignore it. At the time of refinancing your car loan, a lender will check your credit score and income. At that time, you should be able to have a solid repaying capacity.

How much will the installation cost you?

Installing a charge point can be very expensive. Expect to pay at least £1,000. Further, the type of chargers you choose for charging your electric car also matters. Slower chargers are cheaper while fast chargers are expensive.

You may end up paying more money if our wiring is too old. You may have to get wiring again. This is the direct cost of installing a charger. Electricity expenses will also go up when you charge your car at home.

The takeaway

You can install a charger at home but do not forget that there are various things you need to think about the installation of EV charge points. The first thing you need to consider is the type of charge point, and then you need to think about the speed at which the power supplies. In addition, you will need to choose the right place for the charge point at home.

You cannot ignore the cost of installation. You will also see a hike in energy prices as you start charging your car at home. Before taking the plunge, try to know how much it would cost you in total.