Yes, it’s easy to charge an electric car at home by using a home charger designed specifically to power your electric car’s battery. Before you plug in and go, there are a few things worth knowing about electric car charging at home. In this article, we’ll look at everything you need to know about installing and using home chargers for electric cars.

Before you can charge an electric car at home, you need to think about what method to use. You’ve two options when it comes to electric vehicle home charging points, each with its own benefits and disadvantages.

You can install a dedicated charging point, which can charge your vehicle faster but will come with an additional installation cost. It’s also designed for purpose and installed by professionals, making it safer to use. These may come with other features too, such as moderating power consumption and charge scheduling.

You can use a traditional, 3-pin, weatherproofed wall socket plug and charge your vehicle from the mains. This is cheaper, but it takes longer to charge your vehicle. These EVSE charging cables are easy to use, but you’ll need to take care when handling them. They work well as a backup but may not be as desirable for day-to-day use.

There are a few things to consider if you’re installing car charging points at home, as they can’t just fit anywhere or be installed by just anyone. You must:

• Find a suitable exterior charge point on your property. Look for somewhere close to where you normally park.

• Contact a recommended charging point installer to safely connect the system.

• Safely connect the electric vehicle home charging points to the main electric supply.

Chargers can vary in cost, depending on the chosen installer and the type of charger you want to install. Other unforeseen circumstances may need to be considered in some instances. In general, the average cost of installation for an electric car charging point at home can range anywhere from £784 to £1219.

Depending on your location, government support could be available to partially cover the cost of charger installation. While these can vary, your local government website should contain details about any grants or incentives.

Electric vehicle home charging points can vary in charge time due to their power output, as well as the size of your EV’s battery. Generally, compared to public charge points, electric car charging at home is slower because the chargers aren’t as powerful. Most EV owners charge their vehicles overnight, so they have a full battery the next day. Typically, the average electric car runs with a 60kWh battery – so, a 7kW charging point would take around 8 hours to fully charge your vehicle. However, a public charge point could generate as much as 50kW, charging your vehicle in minutes. So, even if you’re on the road for a long time you won’t be making overnight pitstops. For more information about electric car charging times, you can read our helpful guide.

It’s possible to speed up your electric car charging at home, and most installers will offer a range of charge point speeds depending on your needs. So, if you’re currently operating with a 3.7kW charging point, you could consider a 7kW or even higher. However, you should be aware of your vehicle’s innate charging time, as some have their charge rates artificially set to prolong and protect the battery life. Each vehicle has its own set charge times, so check with the manufacturer before you make any purchases. Also, while high-power charging points are available, many homes may not be able to support such high voltage on their native electrical supply.

Yes, electric car charging at home can be done by connecting the charger to a regular, 3-pin, wall socket plug. However, charging this way can be much slower than a dedicated charging unit, so it’s best used as a backup unless you are an infrequent driver.

The quick answer to this is no, you don’t need to charge your EV every night. In fact, if you get into the habit of leaving it on charge every night, ironically you can shorten/degrade the lifespan of the car’s battery pack. Just like a phone battery, you don’t want to let it sit at 100% capacity with the charger in for too long. Therefore, it can be better to avoid charging while you’re asleep. Every battery is different, so check your car user manual for the best advice and recommendations on battery charging.

Yes, there’s no immediate risk to the average person if they want to sit in an EV while it’s connected to a charge point. However, it’s advised that people with pacemakers don’t because the charging may disrupt their devices.

For more facts about driving with electric vehicles, visit our driving electric facts guide.