Can I charge my EV at home?
Yes you can, home charging is the simplest, and most cost-effective way to charge your electric car. You can take advantage of lower tariffs and also control the schedule of the charging by leveraging off peak rates. With a little planning, such as choosing the optimal charge station and energy plan, you can make the most of charging at home.
The easiest option is to use a regular 3-pin plug to charge your car. They work similar to charging your laptop, just plug in one end of the charging cable to a wall socket and the other end to your car. These chargers are capable of charging at the rate of 2KW and this method can take anywhere from 12 hours to even 30 hours based on the size of your battery pack. Most electric vehicle owners opt for a home charging unit (Wall box) instead.
We know that choosing and installing a wall box charger can be a confusing process. To make it easier for you, we have tried to break this process down into 3 easy steps.
1.Which Home Charger should I buy?
The EV charging market has been burgeoning. There are many brands that offer chargers at different price points with many features.
The cheapest chargers can cost around £450 and the more expensive ones can go as high as £1000. The difference in cost is purely based on the charging speeds they offer. The cheaper chargers can charge at a rate of 3.6KW where as average wall box chargers can charge at 7.4KW. Some wall box chargers are even capable of charging at a speed of 22KW, However not all cars support this speed of charging from an AC power supply.
You may choose a charger based on your budget and charging time requirements.
What is the difference between an Untethered and Tethered Charging Cable?
The next part of the decision is to choose between a tethered and untethered charging cable.
Untethered: simply means the charging cable is not attached to your wallbox. You have to plug in the cable each time you want to charge your car. If you have multiple cars that use different types of connectors it is advised to use an untethered cable.
Tethered: The cable is always attached to the wallbox so its as easy as plugging it into your car and turning the charger on.
Do I need a Smart charger?
Smart chargers usually come with a mobile app that allows you to control the charging features remotely. These apps allow you to monitor the status of the charging, set a maximum charge limit and they also allow you to set a schedule for charging.
You can benefit from the lower electricity tariffs at night by setting the charger to turn on during pre- determined hours of the night.
We have included a list of the best rated chargers below
- Ohme Home Pro £949 – Connection Type: Tethered
- EO Mini Pro 2 £779 – Connection Type: Tethered or Untethered
- Wallbox Pulsar Plus £589 – Connection Type: Tethered
- EVBox Elvi – £ on request – Connection Type: Tethered or Untethered
- Anderson A2 – £1099 – Connection Type: Tethered
- Myenergi Zappi – £779 to £949 – Connection Type: Tethered
- BP Pulse – £1049 – Connection Type: Untethered
- Rolec WallPod: EV HomeSmart – £615 – Connection Type – Tethered
2.What is the process of Installing a Home Charger?
After having chosen the charger that is ideal for you, the next step is to get it installed. You will need a technician to survey your property before installing the charger. The technician will check if you have a single phase network or a three phase network and he/she will also check the type of fuse you have.
Next, your technician will install and secure the charger by drilling into the wall and attaching the cord there. The power supply will then be momentarily shut off while the charger is installed and connected to the main supply. Then they perform their last safety tests to make sure your home charger is working.
The technician will then thoroughly explain how to use the charger, along with what each light on your installation means and how to get in touch with them if you have any additional questions.
3.What should I look out for while charging my EV?
Congratulations, Your Home charger has been installed and is operational. All that is left is for you to plug in your car and start charging.
Here are some tips to ensure safe and effective charging.
- Do not over charge your EV. It is advised that you set the charging limit to 90% to preserve the battery of your car.
- If the charger is located outside the house then make sure it is protected from the elements. Most chargers already come with a weather proof cover.
- When not in use, store the charging cables in a safe place inside the car.
Stay tuned for part 2 in which we explore different types of charging other than home charging.
