Your complete guide to buying & installing a home EV charger

So you’re thinking about getting a home electric vehicle (EV) charger? That’s a smart move.

The benefits of owning an EV are numerous. One of the most compelling reasons for getting one (apart from environmental benefits) is saving money on fuel costs.

And who doesn’t love waking up to a fully charged EV every morning.

Finding the right home EV charger, however, can feel overwhelming. So, if you’re scratching your head thinking, “I would like to buy a home EV charger but have no idea where to start,” sit back, relax, and let us guide you through the process.

By the end of this guide, you’ll know how to select the right option for you.

Let’s get to it!

EV charging ABC: Key terminology

First things first, let’s get that jargon out of the way. Here are the need-to-know terms of EV charging:

EV charger
EV charger is the device that supplies electric energy for charging an EV’s battery.

EVSE
Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) is the full set of equipment used to charge an electric vehicle. That includes:

EV charger
Electrical conductors
Communications protocols that deliver energy to the vehicle
Software
Other related equipment

EV chargepoint
Also known as EVSE or EV charging point, an EV chargepoint is the physical system that allows an electric vehicle to be charged. It encompasses an EV charger, one or more connectors, and a user interface.

Tethered chargepoint
A tethered chargepoint is the simplest and most common. It comes with a charging cable fixed to the charging point. All you need to do is plug the other end into your car.

Untethered chargepoint
Also known as universal chargepoint, untethered chargepoint comes without a charging cable attached to the charging station. You buy the cable separately. One end plugs into the charger, the other end into your car.

kWh
A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is a unit of measurement used to calculate energy consumption. It measures the amount of energy used (calculated in kilowatts (kW)) in one hour.

In other words, a kW measures power — the ability of appliances to function, while a kWh measures the actual consumption of energy.

Volt
A volt (V) is a unit of measurement used to describe electrical potential — voltage. It can be described as a pressure that enables the flow of electrons in a conductor or closed electric circuit. (Fun fact, it is named after the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta, who invented the electric battery.)

Ampere (A)
Ampere (A) or amp is a unit of measurement used to calculate the rate of electron flow (current) in an electrical conductor per second.

Load management
This is the process of balancing the supply and use of electricity to ensure a stable and efficient power grid. Effective load management helps not only ensure your safety but also improve energy efficiency and reduce costs.

EMS
Energy Management System (EMS) is a software and hardware solution that helps you monitor, control, and optimise energy consumption.

A top-level EMS collects real-time data on various energy sources (electricity, gas, water, solar), energy usage and prices, weather conditions, and more to determine the best ways to cut energy bills, improve your energy efficiency and impact on the environment.

Questions to ask before buying a charger

1. Will it work with all EV models?

When shopping for an EV charger, it’s important to make sure that it will work with your vehicle. Most chargers are universal, but there are some models that may not work efficiently for all EV models.

To get it right, consider the following:

→ Type 1, Type 2 vs Type 3 / DC charging

EV charging ports vary by manufacturer, so it’s important to check which connector is compatible with your vehicle before selecting one.

There are three types of EV-side connectors:

Type 1 Alternating Current (AC) connector for slow / fast charging (120V)
Type 2 AC connector for slow / fast charging (240V). This is the most common type of EV charging connector
Direct Current (DC)* connectors for rapid charging (480V and higher), also known as Level 3 charging. These are less common in private homes and apartment buildings due to their high costs and energy needs. DC connectors have one of the following types of charging ports:
- CHAdeMO (more common in Japanese models)
- Combined Charging System (CCS), the EU standard**
- Type 2

*Combined Charging System
Most auto manufacturers (with the notable exception of Tesla which has its own setup) use CCS. It has the same plug as Type 1 and Type 2 chargers, and also includes two additional DC pins to support higher electrical current.

→ Plug type

Much like when trying to charge your laptop when moving between countries or continents, no EV on the market will work with all EV chargers. Granted, most of them these days come with a Type 2 plug. However, older models will require a Type 1 plug.

What’s more, Tesla has developed its own Supercharger and Destination Charger network, but those won’t work for other brands since Tesla’s cars are compatible with Level 3 or DC rapid charging.

→ Tethered vs Untethered charger

This is a matter of preference.

Tethered is simplest as you don’t need to bring a cable with you everywhere.

Untethered gives you more options. For example, if one day you change to a car with a different connector, you can simply switch the cable without having to replace the whole charging unit. And if you ever need a longer cable, you can go ahead and fit that, too.

→ Preferred charging speed

Three considerations here:

How much you drive
How often (meaning how quickly you’ll need the car fully charged again)
What your EV model is compatible with (no point wishing for DC charging if your EV won’t be able to support it)

2. How much additional load can my home handle?

Home chargers tend to range from 3kW to 7kW. Faster charging equals more power, but it will also weigh on your home electrical supply system (and your wallet). And it may require an upgrade to your home electrical system.

It is therefore essential to check how many Amperes your home has available for EV charging. This should be indicated on your electrical panel if there’s an unused circuit breaker.

For your safety, and to avoid overloading your home electrical system, it is best to have a certified electrician perform a load calculation before choosing an EV charger.

3. Where will I put it?

If you can, choose off-street parking. Most people opt for:

External wall
Driveway
Internal wall in a garage

These are all great options as they’re typically near a Wi-Fi connection and an electricity supply.

If off-street parking isn’t available, you’ll need to take extra precautions to make sure the charging cable doesn’t get damaged or present a risk to pedestrians.

Other key considerations:

Access to an electricity supply. The closer, the better as it will minimise your installation costs and level of complexity.
Access to Wi-Fi. While not required, this is a highly beneficial feature. Convenient access to Wi-Fi allows you to:
- Connect your smart charger to an energy management system
- Manage your charging sessions through a mobile app
- Check charging status in real time
- Monitor energy consumption
- And more

In some cases, access to a Wi-Fi connection will also be a prerequisite for activating your warranty.

Safety: The charger should be at least 2.5m away from any metal object connected to electricity (an outdoor light, for example). It may also be worth installing a wall-mounted hook to hang the charging cable and connector when they’re not in use.

Once you’ve found the perfect spot for the charger, your installer will perform additional assessments to make sure it complies with safety requirements.

4. Do I need permission to install it?

If you own the freehold for your property, you have the freedom to make decisions regarding infrastructure improvements that benefit you and your home. In other words — no, you don’t need to secure permission from anyone.
If you’re renting or you don’t own the freehold, you’ll need to get permission from either your landlord or the freeholder to install a home EV charger.

Regardless of your property ownership status, your chosen EVSE installer will most likely ask you to complete a survey of your property so they can assess what upgrades, if any, need to take place to accommodate your EV charger.

If an upgrade is required, the EVSE installer should be able to support you throughout the process.

Good to know: Live in an apartment block? Consider talking to other residents about their EV plans and needs.

Asking your property manager to set up EV chargepoints in the building may be a particularly smart move given the 2030 ban on petrol and diesel cars and the availability of government grants for EV chargepoint installation (which will not last forever).

5. Are there government grants I can access?

Currently, there are several government grants available for EV chargepoint installation if you own or rent a flat.

If your landlord agrees to set up EV charging in the premises, there are several government grants they can apply for. This guide provides detailed information on each of the grants as well as the application process.

Unfortunately, the grant for homeowners ended in March 2022. However, for those living in specific parts of Scotland, there are grants available from Transport Scotland. Administered by Energy Saving Trust, its domestic chargepoint funding scheme provides up to £400 towards the cost of purchasing and installing home EV chargepoints.

Our advice — the sooner you act, the higher the rewards.

If you live in an apartment block, mobilise your fellow residents to start the installation process. Prices and work timelines will only go up!
Raise the awareness of the practical and financial benefits of onsite EV chargepoints, such as:
- Ease of use and convenience
- Lower charging costs (particularly if combined with an energy management platform and alternative energy sources);
- Higher real estate value (properties with EV charging installed sell at higher price points than others)

How to benefit from an EV chargepoint grant for flat owners and renters

With this grant, you can claim £350 or 75% off the cost to buy and install a socket (whichever amount is lower).

As an EV owner, you can apply if you:
- own and live in a flat
- rent any residential property
- live in a home with its own private off-street parking space
- own an OZEV-approved electric vehicle (you will need to provide evidence of its ownership or use)

If your EV is on lease, you can apply if:
- the lease is for at least 6 months
- it includes a chargepoint that will become yours once payment is complete
- the lease specifies the cost of the chargepoint and its installation, including VAT
- the chargepoint warranty meets the grant requirements

Important: The chosen chargepoint must be on the list of OZEV-approved chargepoint models.

Application and setup process

→ Choose EV chargepoint supplier and installer

The first step is choosing an OZEV-authorised representative or installer.

Some companies, like Powerverse, will be able to deliver an end-to-end managed service that includes:

Initial assessments and electrical audit
Supplying OZEV-approved chargepoint models
Engaging an OZEV-approved installer
Managing your EV chargepoints
Ongoing maintenance

Otherwise, you will need to find and manage different contractors to perform an electrical audit, supply EV chargers, install chargepoints, and repair them when needed.

→ Perform an electrical audit

As mentioned before, it is crucial to make sure the current electrical system can withhold the additional load created by EV charging, as well as to check for any potential technical complications during the installation process.

This task should be entrusted to a certified electrician.

→ Set the installation costs

Based on these assessments and your EV charging needs, your EV chargepoint installer will provide a quote for the work that combines the supply and installation of EVSE.

Once the costs have been agreed, you can ask the supplier to start your grant application process.

→ Fill in the online application form

As your installer is the one to start the grant application process, you’ll receive an online application form requesting additional information and documentation, such as Land Registry title deeds.

Your installer should be able to guide you through the government requirements.

Once OZEV approves the application, they’ll notify your installer that the work can begin.

→ EVSE Installation

The installation must be completed within 90 days or an extension officially requested through another form and approved by OZEV.

In some cases, OZEV may choose to audit EV chargepoint installation work to make sure it meets the grant requirements. If they’re not allowed on site, the installation may be stopped.

→ Review the final invoice

Once your home EV chargepoint is set up, your installer will claim the grant by providing OZEV with details on the chargepoints installed, photographs of the installation process, as well as a final invoice.

The grant is paid directly to your installer. The final invoice you receive, therefore, should have the grant amount subtracted from the total costs.

Dumb vs smart vs smarter EV chargers

Yes, you read that right. There is such a thing as ‘smart’ and ‘dumb’ chargers.

What’s the difference? It’s quite simple:

Dumb chargepoint — comes with an EV-specific plug socket. You plug it in, it sends electricity to your car. End of story.

Smart chargepoint — has an EV-specific plug socket, plus a network connection that can share data such as your electricity usage and charging status.

‘Dumb’ chargers will be slowly phased out as the UK government’s smart chargepoint regulation mandates that all newly installed chargers must be ‘smart’.

Yet, it’s worth noting: not all smart chargers are made equal.

Smart chargers

Comply with the government’s required features:

Set charging hours — the owner can accept, remove, or change the pre-set, off peak, default charging hours.
Off-peak charging — a setting that allows you to stop charging during peak times when demand for electricity (and prices) are at their highest.
Delayed (phased) charging — a feature that allows you to delay a charging session by 30 minutes if there’s too much demand on the electricity system.
Manual override — any of the settings above can be changed or cancelled if needed.
Smart data sharing — demand side response services, user interface, and the ability to send and receive information and respond to signals, such as a request to increase the rate of charging.
Measuring system — the ability to measure, calculate, and display charging time and the use of electricity.
Continued charging and interoperability — the device should continue charging and retain smart functionality even if it ceases to be connected to electricity or a communications network.
Security requirements — consistency with the existing cyber security standard ETSI EN 303 645 and safety provisions preventing actions that can risk the health or safety of the user.

Very smart chargers

Have all the smart features plus:

Smart energy management — it can tell when your system is generating more electricity than you’re consuming and send that excess energy to your car battery. This allows you to save much more compared to selling that electricity back to the grid.
Integration with the home energy system — it can work in harmony with the rest of your appliances for safer load management and better cost efficiency. For example, the charger can detect that 7pm is the time when electricity is more expensive and energy use at your home tends to be at its highest. So the charger reduces the charge rate (or stops entirely) until prices fall and your home electricity supply isn’t at a risk of overload.
Environmental impact management — you can set it to prioritise sustainability and environmental benefits by charging your EV when electricity from the grid is at its greenest.
Automation — all the smart functionality can be AI-powered and automated, so you don’t have to lift a finger (or lose time on manual cost calculations and comparisons).
App-controlled — the ability to connect to an app on your phone, so you can check the mileage in your battery, switch the charger on or off, and change settings on the go.
Solar compatibility — it can automatically connect to and take advantage of the solar power you generate if you’ve got solar panels installed.
Versatility — it’s future-proofed and ready to connect to alternative power sources like solar, battery, and heat pumps.

One-stop shop for home EV charging

For a truly headache-free EV installation process, consider an EVSE provider that offers an all-in-one service.

At Powerverse, for example, our goal is to make home EV charging installation as simple and convenient for you as possible.

That’s why our services cover everything from initial assessments to installation, government grant application, and maintenance.

Our vision is to connect your home to an ecosystem of smart solutions — innovative, advanced EV chargers, solar systems, and AI-powered energy management — that will allow you to:

Take control of your EV charging and power management
Reduce your energy bills by up to £1,000 per year
Set up & maintain home EV charging with ease
Enjoy a greener, cleaner lifestyle

If you’re looking for hassle-free home EV charging that helps the planet as well as your wallet, take a look at our Home Charging options.

About Powerverse

We’re industry experts in home energy management. Our easy-to-use app is built for your future electric home. It will effortlessly sync your solar, battery, heat pump, EV charger and more, helping you cut costs and your carbon footprint on your way to becoming energy-independent. Curious to know more? Talk to one of our experts.

Also, if you’re considering installing solar panels, we’d be more than happy to recommend several trusted partners who can provide and install them for you.