EV charger installation: a homeowner’s guide
Switching to an electric vehicle is a big step toward low-carbon travel. And if you’re considering home charging, you’re not alone – more people than ever are installing EV chargers to make driving electric easy and cost-effective.
This guide breaks down everything you need to know about EV charger installation, from pricing and property suitability, to what actually happens on the big day.
How much does EV charger installation cost?
The price of getting an EV charger installed starts at £1,099. The final cost depends on several factors, including charger type (tethered vs untethered), model choice, and any custom requirements like longer cables.
What to consider before ordering an EV charger
The following considerations could impact if an EV charger will work for your home, so they’re good to bear in mind before you book your installation. If you’re unsure about your setup, we can arrange a site visit – especially for more complex cases or multi-charger installations.
- Is your EV compatible with the EV charger you want?
- For the best start, consider arranging delivery of your charger and installation in advance of your car delivery.
- Be sure you’re getting the right connecter type for your car (tethered or untethered)
- Check which your car requires: 7kW (single-phase), or 22kW (three-phase) chargers. Three-phase chargers offer faster charging, but not all EVs are compatible, so it’s best to make sure before you order it.
- Where do you want your EV charger to be located?
- Your EV charger must be close enough to your main electricity supply to be possible. Long distances may require extra cable or a Wi-Fi extender or make installation impractical in some instances (e.g. a farm house where the driveway is really far away).
- Please note: The team at Good Energy don’t carry out any excavation or groundworks, including work beneath roads or pavements. If this is needed, a local third-party contractor will need to be arranged before installation day. Choosing a local service provider for this will help you keep costs down too.
- Do you park your car on street?
- You can get an EV charger installed for on-street parking, but you usually need permission from the council.
- The EV charger will still need to be installed within acceptable distance of your home.
- How much electricity do you use?
- If you regularly use several high-demand appliances at the same time (e.g. electric showers, AGAs, washing machines and tumble driers), we’ll assess whether a fuse upgrade is needed.
- If your property can’t support the demand, reasonable adjustments (like changing appliances) may be advised. If you plan to use multiple high-demand appliances at the same time, your EV charger may automatically reduce its charging speed to protect your electrical system. This safety feature makes sure your EV charger doesn’t overload your home’s electricity supply. Learn more: How to save electricity at home
- What kind of electricity supply does your home have?
- Some homes share an electricity connection with a neighbouring property – this is called a looped supply. It’s more common in older homes and can affect whether we can install an EV charger straight away.
- Don’t worry if you’re not sure, we’ll check your supply type after you request a quote. If any upgrades are needed, we’ll contact your local District Network Operator (DNO) on your behalf, and they’ll arrange it with you directly. This process can take a little longer, but in many cases the work is free.
What to expect on the day of your EV charger installation
While EV charger installations are typically straightforward, here’s what you can expect after the team arrive on your arranged installation date:
- Property inspection: We assess your electrical system and charger condition, taking before photos as we go. In some cases, lifting floorboards or moving shrubbery might be required.
- Process overview: Once that inspection is complete, the installer will run you through the process of doing the work.
- Load check: We’ll ensure your system can support the charger safely. This involves turning on several appliances that are considered high load.
- Setup: The team will utilise your existing fuse board unless your electrical arrangement needs to be updated – in which case we may install a separate fuse board dedicated for the EV charger only. We will then run cables and prepare the site.
- Power off: We’ll notify you before switching off your power briefly to complete electrical connections.
- Commissioning: We restore power, test the charger, connect it to Wi-Fi, and complete safety checks.
- Handover: We take our after photos, guide you through the app if needed, and show you how to use your brand-new EV charger.
How long does it take to install an EV charger?
On average, it takes around 4 hours to install an EV charger. While this will vary for each property, it never usually takes more than a day, and could be as quick as 2 hours.
Ready to get plugged in?
With the right setup, you can charge when it suits you, cut energy costs, and make the most of your switch to electric driving.
