Charging an electric car at home

If you have an electric car and you want to charge it conveniently in your own home, then you need to install a home EV charger. There are a couple of requirements needed to get a home charging point installed, but most of the time it’s achievable. As long as you have off-road parking and a suitable, safe wall space for a charger to be placed, then you’re ready to go. 

In this guide, we’ll go through the process and the cost of charging an electric car at home. Making the switch to a more environmentally friendly vehicle and charging at home can have a number of lifestyle benefits - convenience being one of them. 

How to charge an electric car at home.

Charging an electric car at home can be a very easy process if you know what you’re doing. Many electric vehicle owners choose to have a dedicated home charging point installed by an engineer, simply because it’s faster and more convenient. They also have some helpful, built-in safety features for added peace of mind.

A home charging point is a unit which is mounted onto a wall, usually including a charging cable or socket to ensure you can connect it to your vehicle. They’re space-saving and weatherproof, meaning that they can be installed in a variety of places to suit your living space.

To ensure your charging station is installed correctly and safely, you’ll need a specialist to install it for you. At BOXT, our team of expert engineers can install your charging point for you and show you the ropes, so you’ll always know how to charge your vehicle and understand how to attach and detach your cable. 

It’s worth noting that you’ll need a Type 1 or Type 2 connector when charging an electric car at home and a charger that is compatible with it. It’s also a good idea to purchase a spare cable if you can to ensure you can always charge your car. This is especially important when visiting a public or workplace charging station. 

How much does it cost to install an electric car charging station at home?

Before you go ahead and purchase your home charging station for your electric vehicle, it’s worth knowing about the OLEV grant. With the OLEV Grant, drivers of electric vehicles get a £500 grant when they purchase a home charging point and get it installed. This helps with the upfront costs.

Once you have your home charger installed, you only need to pay for the electricity you use for each charge. There isn’t an ongoing monthly or yearly charge for using your charger, so in the long run, it will be a very worthy investment. The cost of the electricity you use will obviously vary depending on the tariff you’re on and the electricity company you’re with. 

How fast will a home charging point charge your car?

It can take time to charge an electric car. Depending on the size of your vehicle's battery and the speed of the charging point, it could take as little as 30 minutes from a rapid charging station, to over 12 hours from a standard charging point.

Your EV charging speed will be measured in kilowatts. A home charging point charges your car either 3 or 7 kW. This means you’ll get about 15 to 30 miles of range per hour of charge. 

Here are some important points to keep in mind:

• A standard electric car with a 60 kW battery can take around 8 hours to fully charge from empty. 
• Many drivers of electric vehicles top up their charge regularly instead of waiting for their batteries to recharge from empty to full.
• A rapid 50 kW charger can give you 100 miles of range within around 35 minutes.
• If you have a big car and vehicle battery, it will take longer to charge, so ensure you always make time before a longer journey. 

What can affect the speed of your charge?

Sometimes, charging an electric car at home may take longer than it should. 

• The bigger your battery, the longer it will take to charge.
• If your battery is empty, it’ll take longer to charge than it would if you still had power.
• Your vehicle can only charge to its maximum charge rate.
• Your charging point also has a maximum charge rate which it must stick to.
• Changes in the environment can also make charging less efficient. 

How often should an electric vehicle be charged?

Of course, depending on your vehicle, you may need to charge it more or less often than another. It’s not a necessity for you to charge your vehicle every night. A lot of the time, drivers tend to plug in their vehicles whenever they leave them, enabling maximum flexibility for a journey.

Charging your vehicle overnight can be cheaper and can ensure that your car’s battery is full every morning before a daily commute or a longer trip. A lot of electric vehicle drivers use charging facilities at their place of work or at a number of public stations. 

Need help charging an electric car at home?

Without an electric charging point in your home, it can be inconvenient to power up your vehicle. Thankfully, it’s incredibly easy to have a charging point installed in your home from one of our engineers. At BOXT, we have expert engineers who can not only recommend the right charger type for you and your vehicle, but we can even deliver and install it for you the very next day. 

Simply answer a few questions on our ‘Find An EVC’ tool, pick your perfect electric vehicle charger and arrange to get it delivered and installed the next day. Not only that, but we’ll also make sure you’re fully confident in using it, too. 

For more information about our EVCs or to speak with a member of our team, use our live chat to be paired with an engineer instantly.