Whether you’ve just bought an electric car, you’ve got one on order, or you’re simply thinking about making the switch, having an EV charger installed at home can make life a lot easier.
Being able to pull onto your driveway, plug your car in and leave it charging while you’re at home means fewer trips to public charging points and one less thing to think about.
But if you’ve never had an EV charger before, you might be wondering what’s actually involved. Here are a few of the things worth knowing.
Why Have an EV Charger at Home?
Convenience is probably the biggest reason.
Instead of heading out to find a public charger, you can simply plug your car in when you get home and let it charge while you’re getting on with everything else.
A dedicated home EV charger is also designed specifically for regularly charging an electric vehicle and will generally charge your car much faster than using a standard three-pin socket.
For lots of EV owners, it quickly becomes as normal as plugging your phone in at night!
How Long Does It Take to Charge an Electric Car at Home?
This depends on your car, its battery and the type of charger you have installed.
7kW chargers are a popular choice for homes and are ideal for charging your vehicle while it’s parked on the driveway, particularly overnight.
You don’t necessarily need to understand all the technical details before getting in touch, either. We can look at your property, your vehicle and how you plan to use the charger and talk you through the options.
Can I Charge My EV Overnight?
Yes – and this is one of the reasons home charging can be so handy.
Many modern EV chargers have smart features that allow you to choose when your vehicle charges. This means you could plug your car in when you arrive home but schedule the charging to start later in the evening or overnight.
Depending on your energy tariff, charging at certain times may also be cheaper.
Will My Home Be Able to Handle an EV Charger?
This is something we’ll check as part of planning your installation.
Adding an EV charger means adding another electrical load to your home, so it’s important to make sure your existing electrical installation and supply are suitable.
Where needed, load monitoring can be used to keep an eye on how much electricity your home is using and manage the amount of power available to your charger.
It sounds technical, but you don’t need to worry about working any of this out yourself – that’s our job!
Where Will My EV Charger Go?
Usually, your charger will be positioned somewhere convenient to where you normally park your car, such as on an outside wall next to your driveway.
We’ll look at the layout of your property, where your electrical supply is located and where you park to work out a practical position and cable route.
Every home is slightly different, so we’ll find a solution that works for yours.
Which EV Charger Should I Choose?
There are lots of EV chargers on the market now, and it can be difficult to know where to start.
Different chargers offer different designs, apps and smart features, and you’ll also need to decide whether you want a tethered charger, which has its charging cable permanently attached, or an untethered charger, where you use your own cable.
Rather than choosing based purely on what you’ve seen online, it’s worth thinking about your car, your property and how you’ll actually use the charger day to day.
And if you’re not sure, just ask us. We’re always happy to talk through the options without all the unnecessary jargon.
EV Charger Installation Across Chippenham & Wiltshire
At C.G. Electrical Services, we install EV chargers for homeowners across Chippenham, Wiltshire and the surrounding areas.
From checking your existing electrical setup and helping you choose the right charger through to completing the installation, our team can take care of the whole process.
So, whether your new electric car is already sitting on the driveway or you’re getting everything ready before it arrives, we can help get your home ready for charging.
Ready to Get Your Home EV-Ready?
If you’re thinking about having an EV charger installed at home, give the C.G. Electrical Services team a call. We can answer your questions, talk through your options and arrange a quote.
