Frequently asked questions about EV charging from home
How much will it cost to charge an electric car at home?
This depends on the size of your car’s battery and your electricity tariff. A small electric car typically has a battery of around 60kW, so you can work out the cost of charging it from flat by multiplying it by the kWh rate from your electricity supplier. With a reduced night-time EV tariff, you can charge it at the cheapest rate and save a significant amount on the cost. With petrol and diesel prices as they are, whatever time you charge you will pay a fraction of the equivalent to fill up a diesel or petrol car.
How much does it cost to have an Electric Vehicle EV charging point installed in the home?
This can depend on a number of factors. If you already have a charging point at home, you cannot get an SEAI grant for a second. But some of the work should already have been done that will make adding a second cheaper. If it’s your first EV charging point, you should qualify for the SEAI grant but there may be some changes needed to your current supply to allow car charging to operate alongside other electricity being used inside the house. This can depend on the capacity of the electrical system inside the house, which may need to be upgraded if a car charging point is added. Don’t worry, all our installations are carried out by qualified electricians who will assess what you need when we contact you and give you options. It is possible to install low-energy EV chargers that will mean most houses will not need additional work to their supply, but these do take over twice as long to charge, so are really only suitable if you use your Electric Vehicle for short journeys. Rural homes are likely to have more challenges than those in towns and cities.
What upgrades are needed to install an Electric Vehicle EV charging point?
The Electric Vehicle charging point will usually supply electricity to your car at a rate of 7.5kWh, while most houses’ capacity is about 14kWh. This gives you plenty of headroom for nighttime charging when very little other electricity is being used in the home, but it could cause issues during the daytime when other electric devices like electric showers, kettles, TVs, computers, ovens and washing machines could all be taking power. That’s why it’s advisable to install a load manager. The load manager allows the electricity load being used inside the house to come first, and the remaining electricity available to go into the car. It means that your new EV car charger won’t cause you problems with your electricity supply into the home, and there is no risk of fuses being tripped, whatever is going on inside the home.
Can I get an Electric Vehicle EV charging point installed if I don’t have a driveway?
Unfortunately, car charging points cannot be installed roadside due to planning restrictions, though if this is your only option you should contact the council for a view. If you live on a private estate, then contact the management of the estate to see if they will allow charging points in the parking area.
How do I get an SEAI grant for an Electric Vehicle EV charging point?
Our installation team will help you with this, but it’s essential you get the paperwork for the grant completed before they visit. The electrician completing the work has to sign it off for you to receive the grant from the SEAI.
What electrical checks need to be made when an Electric Vehicle EV car charging point is installed?
The electrician will check the wiring in your home, including the fuse board, main bonding and earth conductor to make sure they conform with the latest National Wiring Rules before installing a home charger.
How else can I reduce the cost of electricity for charging my Electric Vehicle?
The use of smart home batteries could help with the cost by charging when electricity is at its cheapest, meaning you never pay peak prices for your electricity. The other option is solar panels, which can generate free green electricity for car charging or any other use in the home.
How do I find out more about an Electric Vehicle charging point for my home?
Simply enquire here and our installation team will give you a call to check your requirements and give you your options for installation.