Should I get a home charger for my electric vehicle (EV)?

There’s lots to love about electric vehicles. You can reduce your carbon footprint, have fun driving them, save money on running costs, and charge up at home.

Whether you’ve recently bought an electric vehicle or you’re thinking about buying one in the future, you will probably want to get a home charger too. Here we look at the benefits of having a personal charger on your doorstep.

What is a home EV charger?

Smart chargers offer a hassle-free way to charge your electric vehicle. Just as you might charge up devices such as phones and laptops overnight, charging your EV is much the same.

A dedicated home charging point is usually installed where you park your electric vehicle. These compact weatherproof units are attached to the wall with a connected charging cable or a socket for plugging in a portable charging cable and come with built-in safety features.

They are faster than the standard electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) for a 3-pin plug socket that is supplied with the vehicle.

How quickly can you charge your electric vehicle?

Knowing how long it takes to charge an electric vehicle depends on a variety of factors such as battery capacity, the charge level, and even ambient temperature. Did you know your battery takes longer to charge when it's colder?

How long does it take to charge an EV?

Choose a make and model from the list, or if you already know it, you can enter the battery size and range.

How long do different types of charger take to charge?

Electric vehicles usually come with a 3-pin plug 2.4kW charger which can charge them in 18.3 hours1. Sometimes referred to as ‘granny cables’ as they are not only slow but are sometimes used as a back up when visiting friends and relatives who don’t have a home charger. Read our guide on EV charging connector types.

A home smart charger 7.4kW will charge an electric car in six hours1 which is three times as quick as a standard charger. Unsurprisingly they are commonly called fast chargers.

Finally, away from home you have ultra-fast public chargers on the E.ON Drive network charging at 175kW. These can give a 100 miles charge in 10 minutes2 depending on the size of your battery, vehicle model and how much energy is left in the battery.

Get EVerything EV in one place.

We're working in partnership with Select Car Leasing to create a one-stop shop for all your EV needs. So if you've been put off EV ownership because you think it will be complicated, you can now find everything you need in one place:

• The latest EV leasing deals.
• Our Next Drive tariff for EV owners.
• Professional charger installation at your home.

Learn more

How to charge your electric vehicle at home?

A discrete wall unit will have a cable that you plug into your vehicle. Simply leave your vehicle plugged in overnight while you sleep and wake up to a full charge. You can read our comprehensive guide on how to do EV charging at home.

Home chargers can include WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity and can also be controlled via an app. They can be used in all weathers.

Having a full charge will cover most UK journeys as 95% are less than 25 miles.

How to solve common EV charger issues.

Getting you back on the road quicker with a simple guide solving EV charger problems.

How much does it cost to power up?

The cost of running an electric vehicle compared to a petrol or diesel is significantly lower. The average petrol and diesel costs over £1.63 per litre3, more than the average cost of electricity at 34p/kWh4.

What do you need to get set up?

To get a home charger installed, you’ll need off-street parking, this could be on a drive or in a garage. Alternatively if you rent your property, you’ll need to have permission from your landlord.

Our partners at E.ON offer a range of intuitive electric vehicle home chargers for your home. These smart chargers offer a hassle-free way to charge your electric vehicle.

What to expect from an EV home charger installation.

Learn how to book an appointment and find out what to expect from your installation. With professional installation from an E.ON engineer, we'll leave your home exactly as we found it, with one addition - your stylish new EV charger.

• 1. Both slow and fast charging figures are based on charging a Tesla model 3 with a usable battery capacity of up to 50kWh, starting at 20% and charging to 100%.
• 2. The ultra-fast charging speed of 10 min for 160 miles is an indicative value based on using a 22kW charger and depends on battery capacity, vehicle model and how much energy is left in the battery. Please refer to your vehicle handbook for further details.
• 3. Average price of unleaded petrol £1.63 per litre. Average price of low sulphur diesel £1.80 per litre. Prices correct as of 26 September 2022. According to figures available on the government's weekly road fuel prices website.
• 4. The average price of electricity is based on the October 2022 price cap at 34.04p per kWh.