How to use your electric vehicle (EV) home charger.
Home chargers: making life with an electric car simpler.
Home electric vehicle charging has the potential to save you time, hassle and money. You can give the charging station queues a miss and forget about having to plan your route via public chargers. Instead you can simply plug in at home and wake up to a fully charged electric car every day.
What is an EV home charger?
A home charge point is a wallbox (simply a box on the wall of your home) that is designed specifically for electric vehicle charging. Technically, you can charge your car by simply plugging it into the mains using a normal plug socket, however a home charger is quicker.
Home chargers can also make EV charging safer, with features that ensure safe charging for your electric vehicle. Some home chargers also include options like scheduled charging to take advantage of low electricity rates, remote control via apps and energy use monitoring.
If you own an electric car and are able to install a home charger, it can make your life much easier. Check out our home chargers for more information on how to get one installed in your home.
Charging at home: the savings potential.
Charging your electric car at home, particularly during off-peak electricity hours can be a lot cheaper than using public chargers. While the actual savings you can make will depend on your energy tariff, where you live, and the type of public chargers you'd otherwise use, home charging can certainly save you money over the lifetime of your EV.
Choosing an EV tariff.
If you're worried about using lots more energy when charging your electric car, you can choose a tariff like Next Drive.
Included with this tariff is a free one year subscription to Zoom EV, an online platform that gives you access to lots of EV benefits and discounts on things like public charging and parking.＊
How do I get a home charger?
Get an electric vehicle charger in 4 easy steps, including hassle-free installation.
1Choose your charger
Pick the perfect electric vehicle charger for you and your home.
2Get your instant quote
Tell us a few quick details about your home and where you'd like your charger. You'll get your quote straight away.
3Match it with the right tariff
We'll recommend a smart energy tariff that works with your charger to save you money by charging during off-peak hours.
4Pick your installation date
Get it installed as soon as tomorrow - even as early as the next day - and our expert engineers will handle the rest.
How to charge an EV at home.
While specific instructions for different EV chargers will vary, here's the basics of how to charge an EV with a home charger.
The first step to electric vehicle charging at home is to install a charger. For more details on this, see our handy guide below on how to get your own EV charger installed.
What to consider for a home EV charger.
You'll need to think about factors like charging speeds, which are usually around 7kW for most homes. You should also consider whether you'd like any smart features in your charger. It's worth checking too if there are any government grants you can apply for for support with installing your EV charger at home.
Connect and charge up.
Once you've had your electric car charger installed, you can get started. Simply plug your charger cable into your car's charging port. Depending on your charger's power and your car battery size, you should be able to fully charge your EV in hours or overnight.
Want to know about EV charger installation?
We've put together a guide to electric vehicle charger installation, including what to expect on the day, what's included and answers to your questions. Learn about EV charger installations.
How to solve common EV charger issues.
Getting you back on the road quicker with a simple guide solving EV charger problems.
Do I need an EV tariff?
Electric vehicle tariffs are designed to offer you cheaper electricity overnight when your car is charging. At E.ON Next, we have a dedicated tariff for EV drivers, Next Drive, which offers lower overnight charging prices.＊ You can find out more about our Next Drive EV tariff.
Get the lowdown on finding the best EV charging prices.
If you're thinking of buying an electric vehicle (EV), or you've already made the switch, you'll want to know the cost of charging it. Check out this explainer video.
Choose an EV charger to suit your needs.
Which is best for your needs? You can choose between the compact dimensions of the Ohme ePod, the tethered convenience of the Ohme Home Pro or the easy RFID sharing of the Zappi GLO.
Explore all three of these advanced chargers to discover which one suits your life and EV best.
Whichever one you go for, you'll benefit from:
Tethered or untethered charger options.
3-year product and 1-year workmanship warranty.
Standard installation.
Wi-Fi or 3G/4G compatibility.
Up to 7.4KW output, depending on your electric vehicle.
Type 2 socket.
Solar charging compatibility.
Dedicated help and support team and online guides.
Want to know more about public chargers?
Planning a long journey in your electric car?
Ready to charge your electric vehicle?
How much does it cost to charge an EV?
Electric cars vs petrol cars.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cost of an EV charger installation?
The EV charger installation cost is included in the price that you pay for the home charger from us.
Can you install an EV charger if I have on-street parking?
Unfortunately, no. Your EV charger must be installed on your property and can't cross any public land. You'll need off-street parking like a driveway, carport or garage.
What additional costs for installing an EV charger could there be?
The price you're quoted covers the home charger and the electric car charger installation costs, but not:
- Laying of cables under floorboards or loft spaces.
- Hardwiring an internet connection from your charger to your router via ethernet.*
- Extending your WiFi signal.*
- A charging cable.
- Additional work required by your energy supplier or electricity distribution provider such as changes to your consumer unit.
- Trenching or ducting of cables underground.*
- If you require further than 5m installation cable additional charges will apply.
Your installer will be able to discuss these with you, but please be aware that we cannot provide all of these services and so additional arrangements may need to be made with other service providers.
*These services are not available through your E.ON Next installation.
The legal bit.
- ＊ As an E.ON Next customer, you could get a one year's subscription to Zoom EV. By registering you give consent for your details to be shared with Zoom EV and for Zoom EV to contact you regarding this offer. Zoom EV is a third party vendor and will not share your information with other third parties.