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How to install an EV charger at home?
Getting a home charger installed at home is the easiest and most convenient way to charge your EV. Plus, with a little helping hand, it’s actually quite straight forward. We are here to help, with everything you need to know and everything you should consider before getting a home charge point installed!
Things to know before you install a charging point at home
How much does it cost to install a charge point at home
Just like the cost of any other hardware appliance, the cost to install a charge point for an electric vehicle can vary hugely and there are a few variables to consider. Make an enquiry below or request a quote from your local electrician or dealership. If you’re eligible for a government grant, this could bring costs down by £350 per grant, but more on this later.
Fill in the form to make an enquiry
Make an enquiry for more accurate costs
It's always better to make an inquiry to determine more accurate costs, as every house is different. The size of your house can increase the costs, as the larger it is, the more cabling you may require. Plus, depending on the condition of your electrical situation at home, additional installation services may be required. For example, if the charge point cannot be mounted on the wall, a concrete base and pole must be installed. Or if you have a garage away from your home, this could impact your electrical set-up. As you read on, you’ll discover that most UK homes qualify for standard home installation, which comes at no extra cost.
Shell Recharge promise
- No charge, until you’re charging. We only ask for payment after your charge point has been successfully installed.
90% of UK homes qualify for standard home installation
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What does standard EV installation include?
Installation and mounting
Installation of charge point onto solid fire-proof wall or permanent structure
Standard warranty
2-year warranty, or 3 with OZEV
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Charge point cabling
Up to 15 meter of surface mounted cabling between the charge point and the electricity meter
Cable routing
Routing the cable through (up to) 2 walls and (up to) 60 cm
We ask for quite a lot of information in the initial phases, but it means we fully understand your requirements and always give you a realistic quote. After you have completed the online installation survey, keep an eye on your inbox, as we will drop you an email to confirm we have received it. Then one of our experts will review the information. We may also reach out if we have any other questions about your survey response. After this, we aim to send the tailor-made quote over to you within four weeks.
Your personalised quote will always include any additional work. We will also ask you to accept this before we proceed. It should make later phases quicker, plus there will be no nasty surprises.
Getting a home charger installed at home is the easiest and most convenient way to charge your EV.
Getting a home charger installed at home is the easiest and most convenient way to charge your EV.
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Benefits of installing a home charge point
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Faster
A charge point with a standard 7.4kW output will charge a vehicle with a medium-sized 40kWh battery in between 5 and 6 hours
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Easy
A private EV charge point means you can arrive home in the evening and be ready to drive off in the morning, fully charged
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Reliable
Plug in when you’re relaxing on the sofa, walking the dog, or even whilst you sleep. It’s there, at your beck and call, 24 hours a day
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Cost-effective
You can save money by charging during off-peak hours, when the demand on the grid is reduced and energy prices are cheaper
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Convenient
Clever features, like charge scheduling, let you pre-programme charge sessions to start and stop whenever you want
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Safe
They are designed with the requirements of an EV in mind, in built with safety features, many specifically for taking the higher load
EV Charging speeds at home
Most EV drivers also want the fastest charging speed possible. However, there are some installation factors you should be aware of that limit charging speeds at home, namely your power supply and max charging capacity.
Almost all homes in the UK allow for a maximum charging speed of 7.4kW. This is because the majority of homes have single-phase grid connections. In some rare cases, homes may be equipped or may be upgraded with a three-phase connection. This can enable charging speeds of up to 22kW, but comes at an additional cost.
As a general rule of thumb, the higher the power output a charge point is capable of, the more expensive it will be. So, as mentioned, installing a 22kW charge point will be more expensive and, apart from the shorter charging time, does not bring any other additional benefits compared to a 7.4kW charge point. It is also worth remembering that the charging speed can also be limited by your car’s maximum charging capacity. If your EV can charge at a max speed of 11kW, it will still only charge at a speed of 7kW on a 7kW charger. Additionally, it won’t charge faster than 11kW, even if plugged into a 22kW charger.
Shell Recharge top tip
- 7.4kW power allows you to charge a medium size battery in 5-6 hours. This is great for home charging, as most charging takes place when your car is parked for longer periods of time, e.g. overnight.
How to order and install an EV charge point at home
Step 1
Make an inquiry
Show your interest and start the process by completing the charge point form. We will put you in touch with one of our certified sales partners.
Step 2
Tailor-made quote
You will then be asked to fill in an online installation survey asking questions, so we can understand your personal needs. Our experienced home charger experts will review and then provide a tailor made quote based on your specific setup.
Step 3
Installation
Once you accept the tailor made quote, our installation partners will schedule an installation date and time that is convenient for you.
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The survey helps to paint a better picture of your home setup. It helps us to understand the kind of electricity supply you have and the best place to install your new charge point. The information you provide will help us determine your exact needs, so that we can tailor a more accurate personal quote. You can take a look at our home installation survey checklist. Here, we give you a heads-up on the kind of information you will need to provide for the survey.
It might seem like a lot of information, but the more detail you provide, the more likely it is that your installation will go smoothly.
We ask that you complete the survey within 2 weeks of receiving it.
Interested to hear more about the installation process?
Home charger installation grant
The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) provides grants to help with the costs of charge points and installations. This grant is for flat owner-occupiers and people living in rented properties. The grant covers up to 75% of the cost to buy and install a charge point socket, up to £350 per grant.
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The main criteria for the OZEV charge point grant are:
Property
You own and live in a flat OR rent any residential property
Parking
Your home has its own private off-street parking space
Vehicle
You own a qualifying vehicle. To be eligible for the grant, the vehicle must be listed on the EVHS eligible vehicles list at the time of installation.
First timers
You have not already received this grant or a grant under the Electric Vehicle Home charge Scheme
Buying the right home charger: customise it to your needs
With our leading charge point, Advanced, you have the option to combine technology and design. For a small additional cost, customise your charge point to meet your exact needs. Firstly, EV drivers should consider whether to get a tethered or socketed charge point. You can also choose what colour you would like, match your car colour, front door or, keep it classic.
Some consider the socketed version to be more future-proof because of its universality. If there are multiple users, perhaps with different connectors, the socketed model may be the best option. Anyone can then plug in with their own cable. Are you the only user? Get the charge point with a tethered cable, it will save you time and is more convenient. You can rely on the affixed cable when charging at home and keep your personal cable in the car for public use. It is entirely dependent on your preference.
You can always buy a separate Type 2 cable if you do decide you want one and store it in the car boot or your garage.
Tethered chargers
This means the charging cable is permanently attached to the charge point, see the illustration below. EV drivers often find this more convenient as the cable is always at hand - you just plug it straight in to your car. You could liken this to the cable on a petrol pump.
Socketed chargers
Socketed chargers have no cable permanently attached, rather they just have a socket for a cable to be plugged into, see below. It is important to mention here that if you have a socketed unit (universal charger), then you will need your own Type 2 charging cable to charge at home. A universal EV charger means it is just the socket, with its “universal” port, any vehicle can plug in and charge.
What to consider before installation: Tethered or socketed?
Convenience
Tethered chargers already have a cable permanently attached
Flexibility
You can use any cable with a socketed charge point, although, it is more than likely you will have a Type 2 cable.
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Cable length
With the Advanced, a Shell Recharge tethered charger cable will be either 5m or 7.5m in length.*
Cost
Tethered chargers cost more upfront because they include the charging cable, whereas you can buy a socketed charger without a cable.
*If you purchase a universal charging cable from Shell Recharge, you have the option to choose either 6 or 8 meters.
Plug types - sometimes called connectors
Fully electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles need to be charged and like charging any other device, a plug needs to fit the charging point at one end, and your EV at the other. EVs all vary in the type of plug they use, the main differences are in the design, compatibility and charging performance of each.
Not all charge points use the same plug, which charge points you can use will depend on which charging plug your car is compatible with. Think about trying to charge an Android phone with an iPhone connector. To make things easier, lots of charge points either support a Type 2 plug or have the connector built in. This is the tethered charger we mentioned above.
You’ll probably rely on your home charging to do the bulk of your charging, but when charging on-the-go or at work, you’ll need to make sure the chosen charge point is compatible with your electric vehicle. Luckily, you can filter for this in the Shell Recharge app.
Charge point plug types
As standard, Shell Recharge charge points come with a standard Type 2 plug. As Type 2 is the European standard, our charge points are compatible with the majority of current EV models via a Type 2 charging cable. It’s important to be aware that other plug types do exist.
Type 2
This is the most common. You will find Type 2 plugs at most homes and public charging points, as they are the European standard. The difference is, whether they are single or three-phase installations. Almost all home charge points will use a Type 2 single-phase plug with maximum AC charging power of 7.4kW.
CCS
The CCS plug consists of a Type 2 plug with two additional contacts for the fast charging function. It supports AC charging as well as DC charging with up to 350kW power.
ChadeMO
ChadeMO is a Japanese fast charging system that is mainly installed in older Asian cars. It supports DC charging and enables outputs of up to 150kW - but only approx. 50kW at public charging stations.
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Can I use a domestic wall plug?
The wall plug is the conventional domestic plug you'll find in your home. It is where you plug in other household appliances, offering up to 3.7kW of charging power.
Sometimes charging cables with domestic wall plugs are supplied with the vehicle. Whilst you can use an EVSE cable with a wall socket as an occasional back-up, it is not advised, it is unsafe and time consuming.
Type 2 charging cable
European-wide, universal socket
This cable connects the vehicle's socket to the charge point's standard Type 2 plug.
Single-phase or three-phase versions
The phase will have an effect on the maximum charging power.
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For socketed units
If you decide to get a "universal” charger you will need to purchase one of these cables.
Public charging
These cables are also needed when charging on-the-go
Buying an EV charging cable
You’ll need a separate charging cable to plug in if you choose a home charge point with a socketed cable. Plus, a cable will let you charge from any socketed home chargers, on-the-go charging points and at work, because the majority require you to bring your own cable.
Whilst you will get lots of use out of a charging cable, it is not always essential. If you choose to get a tethered charge point installed at home, it can still be possible to use public DC chargers without buying an additional cable. In some cases you can even use AC chargers, a few also have tethered cables attached.
Shell Recharge top tip
- Check with the car retailer whether it comes with a charging cable. In some cases, the cable will only be compatible with a domestic 3-pin plug. So make sure to select either a Type 2 charging cable or a tethered charge point when making an order.
What’s the difference between 1-phase & 3-phase?
In electricity, the phase refers to the distribution of the load. Generally, a single-phase current is referred to as the “residential voltage” because it is mostly used in homes. Homes use single-phase because most of the appliances we use; television, lights, toasters and fridges, have a lighter load. Basically, they need less electricity to work.
A three-phase current is used in industrial cases because the power is delivered at a constant rate, without any fluctuations. Single-phase is more than sufficient for domestic use.
AC for home charging
- AC charging is ideal for home charging, due to lower investment costs and ease of installation. DC charging is faster, but the infrastructure is significantly more expensive and doesn’t have any real benefits for home charging.
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What's the difference between AC & DC charging?
What’s the difference?
There are two ‘types’ of electricity supply: AC (alternating current) and DC (direct current).
Why do we have two types?
Energy flowing, so current that comes from the grid, is always AC current. Stored energy, so the energy in an EV's battery (as any battery, even the ones in our mobile phones) is DC. This means energy from the grid needs to be converted from AC to DC.
AC charging
With AC, the conversion takes place in the car using the car's on-board converter. It can then be stored as DC. The required power for AC chargers ranges between 16A (3.7kWh) and 63A (43kWh).
AC uses
This is the most common and more economical option for daily charging. It is best option for home charger points and longer stay parking.
DC Charging
The current is converted from AC to DC in the charge point itself, before it is fed into the vehicle. This "bypasses" the car’s on-board converter and charges the battery directly. As a result, they are usually larger (and more expensive).
DC uses
DC is typical in ultra-rapid public charging, for example, if you’re in need of a quick recharge to continue your long-distance journey.
Are you a private driver that is ready to get your home charge point installed?
If you’re ready to take the next steps in bringing charge to your driveway, then fill out our charge point form.
Are getting your home charge point installed through a lease company?
If you are purchasing your charge point through a lease company or car dealer, then you should receive an email from them detailing how to get started. If you have not received this, contact your account advisor or Shell Recharge. We will do everything in our power to support you on your e-mobility journey.