In this guide we explore EV charger installation cost and the things you need to consider before having a charging point installed at your home. Electric vehicles are becoming more and more popular and as a result, charging points at the home are now essential.
How Much Does an EV Charger Installation Cost?
There are many factors that can determine the EV charger installation cost such as the design of the power output, the type of charge available, location of the charging port, and site accessibility.
Additionally, who you hire to install the outlet and any availability of government funding will contribute towards your final cost too.
The table below gives a snapshot of what costs to expect when installing an EV charger.
| Cost component | Price (in £) | Notes |
| Charging point | £800 – £1,500 | Depends on the power and charger type |
| Installation cost | £1,000 | Assuming no government funding |
| Driveway (optional) | £2,000 | |
| Security light | £100 | |
| Driveway gate | £750 | |
| Fusebox | £350 | |
| Cable | £150 – £500 |
Let’s look at each component in more detail.
Supply costs
The main cost involved here is the cost of the charging station itself. These can vary based on the type of charger used and the power required. For example, you have the option of choosing between a universal socket, tethered connector, or even a Tesla specific charger. Accordingly, the cost can vary between £800 – £1,500.
Labor costs
EV charger installation cost is mainly labour charges which can vary depending on the site accessibility, location and model specifications. Accordingly, it could take approximately 2 – 3 hours and can cost anywhere around £1,000. This is assuming there’s no funding involved.
This cost can be brought down by up to £500 through OLEV grant that is eligible for certain vehicles and charging stations.
Additional costs
New driveway
If you want to install a charging station for your EV, but don’t have any off-road parking (roads, driveways, or garages), then a new tarmac driveway may be the solution. Installing a driveway could help you to conveniently charge your EV at home and also allow convenient access for deliveries and other vehicles. The good news is that before starting work we can check with your local council for any potential drainage impact on neighbouring properties.
Typically, the cost to install a driveway can be approximately £2,000 for a medium-sized one.
Security Light
Having a security light fitted to your home may be a worthwhile investment especially if having an external charging station fixed. If you want to use the charging point at night, the security light can definitely be a useful add-on.
Security light fitting starts at around £100, including installation.
Driveway Gate
A driveway gate can benefit you with securing your property and also the charging station that you wish to fix. You can choose between a manual and automated driveway which can cost around £750 and £1,500 respectively.
Fuse Box
The fuse box may need some amendments or replaced completely depending on the type of charger you choose (level 1 or level 2). Accordingly, the additional power requirement can be accommodated and this could cost around £350.
What Does Installing an EV Car Charging Station at Home Entail?
The car charging stations have 2 levels in the UK; level 1 is considered ‘slow’, and level 2 is considered ‘fast’.
A level 1 Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) is the older and slower way of charging. It can be plugged into any standard power socket (operating at 120 volts) within a house and does not require any additional work.
For faster charging, you will require a level 2, 240-volt power supply, similar to a washing machine or oven, and the installation process is quite similar too.
- Install two 120-volt buses that will be attached to a double pole circuit breaker. This is assuming the consumer units have the connections in place.
- Create space for the new isolated circuit in case the current consumer unit doesn’t have additional space. This will be at an additional cost.
- The cables will be connected from the fuse box to the required charging station. You would need to ensure the wires are properly insulated especially if the charging point is located outside.
- The charging unit will then be attached to the cable and thereby connected to the power.
Factors affecting EV Charger Installation Cost
Below are some of the determinants that can affect the EV charger installation cost.
Charging output
Prices can vary based on the power output. Models with a maximum of 3kW will be considerably cheaper than the higher powered models such as 22kW.
Charging lead length
If you have opted for a tethered or untethered charging unit and your car requires more cable than the 15ft standard length we supply in order to reach the charge point, an additional cost will be involved as per our standard charging unit costs.
Location of charging port
Most charging ports are external; however, if your walls are made of concrete or if the desired location is far from the consumer unit, there may be an additional fee incurred to cover the additional equipment and labor required to install the charger.
High-gain antenna
These are generally used together with some smart features built in the charging station. They provide more control through smartphone apps and wireless connectivity to the internet.
These antennas can range between £40-£150 depending on the model.
Consumer Replacement Unit/Circuit breaker
If you’re looking to have a charge point installed at home, and your house isn’t already equipped for additional electricity use, you’re likely to need an electrician to install and wire the charging point.
This is because the amount of electricity needed by a car charger is much higher than a standard electrical appliance. Typically it costs between £350-£500 for a six-circuit board swap, where an existing consumer unit needs to be removed and replaced with one rated for a six-way circuit (not including parts or labour).
Mechanical Protection
This refers to a casing or sleeve that basically provides protection to cables from abrasion, easy penetration or contact under IET BS 7671. The prices of these casings and sleeves start from £2 per metre.
Alternative Earthing System
For safety reasons, it is often necessary to have your charging point connected to the mains electricity supply via a ground wire. Since you’ll need a qualified electrician to install this, you should be aware that this will cost an additional £200 (approximately).
Benefits of installing an EV Charging Station at Home
Convenience
Simplify your life by installing a charging station at your home. By doing so, you’ll be able to charge your car whenever you are at your home and not have to rely on public charging stations. Dedicated chargers at home are also more convenient and much faster than using a 3 pin plug, which experts strongly advise for emergency only.
Avoid public charging stations
When you live in a suburban or rural area, public charging stations can be few and far between which can make longer road trips quite challenging. A personal charging station is therefore an ideal solution for that issue. You’ll be able to store all your plug-in cars in your garage or driveway so you’re always able to top-up as needed.
More cost effective
Both home and public charging is used to enable long journeys, but at a much lower cost. Using a domestic EV Charger from 10% to 100% from home would only cost an estimated £5 whereas using a public charging station can be around £11. As well as the cost, home charging also has other advantages over public charging stations as it offers speed and flexibility – stopping/starting when required.
Impact on battery life
Lithium ion batteries found within electric vehicles (EVs) are susceptible to extremes of temperature, and research shows that continuing to fast charge the batteries, which produces an excessive amount of heat versus an easy or slow charge, can damage their longevity. Fast charging is often necessary for safety reasons when it comes to highway travel or long distance driving, but a charging station at home will allow you to charge the battery when needed at the required level often and may decrease the level of temperature related damage.
EV Car Charger Grant
The UK government, in conjunction with the office for low emission vehicles (OLEV), is offering grants to EV owners. If you are eligible for the OLEV EVHS grant, it will be applied for directly by your installer on your behalf. OLEV grant eligibility dictates that only one charger per home per car is eligible for funding, meaning an upgrade in equipment at a later date would not be covered by the funding.
For example, EV owners who decide to upgrade from level 1 charging to level 2 or 3 charging at a later date may not be eligible for OLEV funding for any upgrades.
You can apply for the grant here.
Types of EV Charger
Cars without internal combustion engines use two different charging ports. The first is a type 1 connector that works with slow charging, and the other is a type 2 connector for fast charging. A car may also have a type 2 connector that works with charge de move chargers, as well as for combined charging system (CCS) rapid charging. These cars must also have a specialised Tesla adapter in addition to the two connectors.
Type 1 – American
This is the North American standard and favoured by Asian car manufacturers for EV charging. Installation costs average at £1,000 for a type 1 charger.
Type 2 – European
This is the most common domestic charging connection type in the UK, this has a current range of 3kW-7kW, depending on the compatibility of your charger and the power supply. Fast charging at 22kW is possible with a three-phase domestic supply, more commonly found in larger homes or places of work. Installation costs are around £1,000 for the equipment.
Tesla
In addition to the Type 2 electric car charging points, Tesla also offers a home charging point that can be installed by an approved electrician, this is capable of drawing up to 22kW for certain cars, depending on their model.
Cost of Removing an EV Car Charging Station
If your charging station needs to be removed, there are a few things that you need to know. Firstly, if you have already applied for OLEV funding for your charging port, you will not be eligible for further funding in replacing or upgrading your existing model, either at your existing address or a new address if you move.
Some EV owners opt to have their charging stations removed and relocated by a local, competent and trusted electrician, usually at the cost of around £220-300 per day in labour charges. Others simply purchase a new charging station for their new address.
Some upgrades may require an electrician’s service but those are generally only if you choose to upgrade the gearboxes for faster charge times.
How to Find & Hire EV Car Charger Installers
If you want a reputable electric vehicle (EV) charging point installed at your home, it’s important to choose the right installer for you, your needs and your budget. Regardless on whether you are eligible for a discount towards your installation, you will be required to use an approved electrician.
Contact our EV charger installation specialists for a free quote and consultation today!
