Charging your electric vehicle at home is not only convenient but also crucial to getting the most out of EV ownership. Most EV drivers—around 70%—do the majority of their charging at home. Home charging lets you start each day with a full battery, avoid queues at public charge points, and take advantage of cheaper electricity (especially overnight). In short, a home charger makes electric car ownership far more practical and cost-effective.
How Much Does a Home EV Charger Cost?
The cost of installing a home EV charger consists of two parts: the charger unit and the installation work. For a standard 7kW (Level 2) home charger, the unit itself typically costs £450–£800, and professional installation is about £350–£600. So, the average fully installed price for a 7kW home charge point is roughly £1,000–£1,100 in the UK.
Installation Factors: A basic install includes mounting the wallbox near your parking spot and connecting it to your consumer unit (fuse box) with ~10m of cabling and the necessary safety components (isolation switch, circuit breaker, etc.) – roughly £100 in parts – plus the electrician’s labour (around £300). However, if the charger’s location is far from your fuse box (requiring extra cable), if groundworks (trenching) are needed, or if your electrical system needs an upgrade, these factors can add a few hundred pounds to the cost. It’s best to get a tailored quote, but in general you should budget in the low thousands (£) for a quality home charger installation.
Is Home Charging Cheaper than Public Charging?
The big advantage of home charging is the lower cost per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity. On a typical domestic tariff, you might pay around 30p/kWh for home electricity (even less on a dedicated EV tariff), whereas public charge points often cost 50p–70p/kWh (or more for rapid chargers). The table below compares typical charging costs:
| Charging Method | Approx. Cost per kWh |
|---|---|
| Home charging (standard tariff) | ~£0.28–£0.34 (28–34p) |
| Public charging (slow/fast) | ~£0.30–£0.50 (30–50p) |
| Public charging (rapid/ultra) | ~£0.60–£0.80 (60–80p) |
Table: Typical electricity prices for charging – home vs. public.
Over time, these price differences really add up. For example, if you drive 5,000 miles/year and your EV averages 3.5 miles/kWh (~1,430 kWh/year), charging at home would cost around £430, versus roughly £860 with public charging – a savings of about £430 in just one year. Clearly, home charging offers the lowest “fuel” cost per mile for EV owners.
Comparing Home Charger Brands: Hypervolt vs Zappi vs Easee vs Evec vs Ohme
Green Plug UK installs several leading 7.4kW smart chargers. Here’s a comparison of five popular models – Hypervolt Home, Myenergi Zappi, Easee One, Evec, and the highly rated Ohme Home Pro – including their ballpark costs and key features:
| Charger | Installed Cost (est.) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Hypervolt Home (UK) | ~£1,000–£1,100 | Smartphone app control, Alexa-enabled, solar-ready, stylish design. |
| Myenergi Zappi (UK) | ~£1,000–£1,200 | Uses surplus solar PV for charging; LCD screen + app control. |
| Easee One (Norway) | ~£1,100 (installed) | Ultra-compact; built-in PEN protection; load balancing; flexible mounting. |
| Evec 7.4kW (UK) | ~£800 (installed) | Affordable option; app-controlled; essential safety features included. |
| Ohme Home Pro (UK) | ~£950–£1,100 | Smart tariff integration (e.g. Octopus); compact LCD screen; app + tethered cable. |
What Is a Level 2 EV Charger ?
EV chargers are often described by “levels.” Level 2 refers to a dedicated AC home charging station (typically 240 V, 7 kW) like the wallboxes installed in homes and workplaces. This is the standard type for UK home charging. By contrast, Level 1 means charging from a normal 3-pin socket (very slow ~2 kW), and Level 3 refers to DC rapid chargers. The benefit of a Level 2 charger is speed and safety: a 7 kW unit can add roughly 25–30 miles of range per hour, so most EVs can fully recharge overnight. Using a regular socket would be three times slower and is not recommended for routine charging. Also, Level 2 chargers have built-in protection and smart features (like scheduling), making them a much better solution for daily charging at home.
Ready to Charge at Home?
A home EV charger is an investment that pays off in convenience and savings. You’ll be able to charge on your own schedule and cut your running costs. Green Plug is here to make home charging easy. We are a trusted EV charger installer serving London and Oxford – offering expert advice, top chargers, and professional installation.
Contact Green Plug UK for a consultation or quote. Our team will help you choose the ideal charger (Hypervolt, Zappi, Easee, Evec) and handle the entire installation process. Get ready for effortless electric driving – reach out and get plugged in!