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 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 do different types of charger take?
Electric vehicles usually come with a 3-pin plug 2.4kW charger which can charge them in 18.3 hours*. 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.
A home smart charger 7.4kW will charge an electric car in six hours* 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 minutes** depending on the size of your battery, vehicle model and how much energy is left in the battery.
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. Our new EV tariff with off-peak charging is coming soon and you can sign-up for alerts.
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 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 litre1, more than the average cost of electricity at 34p/kWh2. Plus, if your energy comes from E.ON Next you can be confident that you are powering your vehicle with 100% renewable electricity*** when you charge at home.
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. Prices start from £9493 fully installed, with no upfront cost with a 3 year product and workmanship warranty.
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