80% of electric vehicle charging is done at home so we’ve put together a simple guide with answers to the questions you might have about charging your EV remotely.
As electric vehicles are becoming more of the norm, a 100% electric car future is becoming more and more likely. Also, according to energy.gov, electric vehicle charging at home accounts for over 80% of charging which stresses the importance of ensuring all-electric vehicle owners have the right charging technology installed in their homes. That is why we’ve put together a simple guide with answers to the questions you might have about electric vehicle charging at home.
What Electric Vehicle Chargers Can I Use?
The Charger That Comes With Your EV
When it comes to electric vehicle charging at home, you have a few options. The first option is to use the charger that comes with your electric vehicle which will be fairly slow, but not come at an extra price. These EV chargers are fitted with a standard 3-pin plug and will take power from your home’s electric supply. A positive is that they are known to be very simple to use and are portable.
However, you might have noticed electric vehicle battery sizes are ever increasing and the charger that comes with your electric vehicle could take over 24 hours to fully charge some EVs. Therefore, you will find that car manufacturers only recommend using these chargers in an emergency.
Wallbox EV Charger
If you are planning on using your electric vehicle a significant amount, then you will find that investing in a charger that gives quicker results is your best bet. In this instance, we recommend you purchase a wallbox charger for electric vehicle charging at home. A wallbox EV charger is a standalone charger that is installed onto the side of your garage or home and directly uses your home electric supply.
Wallbox EV chargers are faster, safer, more reliable and require less wires running from your house. You must ensure that you have off-street parking near your house when electric vehicle charging at home as the charging lead mustn’t trail along a road or footpath.
Smart Electric Vehicle Charger
There are many different types of wallbox charger for electric vehicle charging at home and one of these is a smart charger. A smart charger is an electric vehicle charger that you can connect to your smartphone and its apps using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Smart chargers are ideal for when electric vehicle charging at home as they allow you to control your EV’s charging schedule so you can choose when and for how long you want it to be charging for.
You can also control how much electricity is pumped into the electric vehicle when charging. For example, you could choose to charge your electric vehicle at home when electricity prices are the lowest or limit the amount of electricity the charger is using to avoid charger damage and overheating.
What Wattage Should My EV Charger Be?
Wallbox EV chargers usually all work fast and mostly produce 7kW of electricity. Alternatively, you can buy some that are cheaper and produce as little as 3kW of electricity which can increase charging time by about half. Small 3kW chargers can also still take 12 hours to charge something as small as a Nissan Leaf which has a 40kW car battery.
However, when choosing what wattage your EV charger should be, you should consider your vehicle model and the power of its standard charger, and the wiring of your home electricity first.
There are also 11kW and 22kW wallbox chargers available for electric vehicle charging at home but they require a three-phase electrical supply which you will usually only find in industrial premises as they are too powerful for domestic use. If you think your home might already have a three-phase electrical supply, you should get this checked by a qualified electrical engineer before buying your wallbox EV charger.
How To Get an EV Charger Installed at Home
The easiest way to get a wallbox charger installed for electric vehicle charging at home is through the company that sold you the charger. If you choose to use the EV charger company, the price of installation will usually be included in the price of the charger.
Alternatively, you could buy the wallbox EV charger and then hire a professional electrician separately, but they must have accreditation from the manufacturer that you got the charger from.
Whichever option you choose, we recommend that you get the fitter to assess the area you are going to use for electric vehicle charging at home first. If you want the wallbox EV charger to be fitted far away from your fuse box then prepare to spend a little more on installation!
What Is The OLEV Charger Grant?
The government is currently working on encouraging drivers to switch to electric vehicles so the Office Of Low Emissions Vehicles (OLEV) is offering a wallbox EV charger grant. The electric vehicle homecharge scheme is where anyone who buys a new electric vehicle can qualify for a grant that will account for 75% of the price of your wallbox EV charger and the cost of installation (up to a maximum of £350). You can apply for up to 2 electric vehicles that you own. Click here to find out more about the electric vehicle homecharge scheme.
Leasing an Electric Vehicle That Can Be Charged at Home
If you are interested in leasing an electric vehicle that is suitable for home charging, Cars2buy has a large range of electric model leasing deals available that have various battery sizes. As well as a huge range of electric vehicle deals, we will also compare prices to help you find the best electric vehicle leasing deal for you. For more information, contact the Cars2buy team here.