How Much Does an Electric Car Charger Installation Cost?

Electric cars are not as popular as normal petrol or diesel vehicles. But believe it or not, they are becoming more common these days. There are various factors that have contributed to this popularity of electric vehicles (& subsequently the EV charger), including government incentives and increased power density of Li-ion batteries that have made them compact enough to fit in the small underfloor area of a car! As is evident from its name, an electric vehicle runs on electricity which is stored in battery packs and runs ‘vehicle to grid’ (more on V2G later). The process starts with chemical reactions between lithium ions and graphite molecules present in anodes which later leads to the formation of lithium-ion cells. Once the supply of chemicals stops, the cell becomes inactive which results in a decrease in voltage. To recharge your car’s battery at home, you need to use an electric car charger, and things quickly begin to get very impressive when it comes to a smart EV charger.

If you want a hassle-free installation, you might want to check out the likes of BOXT’s smart EV chargers.  Getting one from such companies is pretty straightforward and they’ll readily install the unit on the morning of your installation day at a designated time convenient for you.

Types of EV Charging Stations for Installation

When you’re looking for a charging station, there are two options: hard-wired and plug in. They both have their pros but also cons so it depends on your preferences which one will work better. The decision may hinge on factors such as; how much space is available at home, or if outdoor conditions will make one option more attractive than the other. No matter which type of installation you decide, make sure to check out whether the company you’re dealing with are OLEV approved installers. If you’re unsure what an OLEV grant is, more on that below.

Installing a ‘Plug-In’ Vehicle Charging Station

The plug-in vehicle recharging station installation price is dependent on the type of charger that you have purchased. If you have purchased a wall-mounted unit or a portable unit, then these chargers come as one piece and can be installed without any hassle. The cost to install a plugin charging station is usually relatively low as all you need to do is mount them through screws and connect their wiring with power supply lines.

Plug-in EV charging stations are like any other normal outlet. The plug connects to power by inserting the supplied cord into matching receptacles (outlets), which allow for quicker installation and removal of this type of hardware in comparison with hardwired options is much easier, because there’s no need to go through plumbing or walls!

You may see some of these in public charging stations as they’re the ones typically used for everybody’s convenience, everybody with electric cars, that is.

Installing a Hardwired EV Charging Station

Hardwired charging stations are perfect for indoor or outdoor use and come with three feet of flexible conduit that can be installed into a junction box. They’re typically more permanent than plug-in options, which means they’ll always give you fast recharging in any weather condition.

What you need to remember with hardwired charging stations is that they’re not portable and would be more costly to install because of the materials such as the large cables and the charger itself, and the service of a professional electrician who’ll install them.

Are there any government grants for EV charging points?

Yes, there are a number of government grants available for EV charging points. In the UK, it was previously known as the OLEV grant, and is now referred to as the OZEV grant. You can ask your house owner’s association if they have any grants to offer for purchasing an electric car charger as well. You will be able to find more information on this by going through some online resources or by asking the local government representatives within your area.

Beginning April 2022, across the United Kingdom, EV charge point grant will provide funding for up to 75% of the cost of electric vehicle smart charge points at domestic properties all over the country.

What’s the difference between a tethered and a socketed charge point?

A tethered charge point is a unit that plugs into your car from any external charge point, whether that be outside a residential or commercial property. This type of charger can be used by plugging it into any normal, household or residential outlet and gives you the ability to reserve or save energy by sending it back to the grid, known as V2G (not all charging points offer this feature however). On the other hand, the socketed charge point is an electric car charger installation that has been hardwired to supply power directly from the electrical grid, limiting your energy saving options.

What’s a single-phase charging point?

A single-phase charging point provides a three-phase supply of up to 22kW. If you have purchased this kind of electric vehicle charger then it will take around 4 hours to completely recharge your battery pack using a standard wall box circuit breaker (3 x 16 amp). It could cost anywhere from £600 – £800 for its installation if you are looking to have it hard wired in your home. We highly suggest taking advantage of the previously mentioned UK government grants to help keep costs down as much as possible.

What’s a three-phase charging point?

A three-phase electric car charger provides a supply of up to 44 kW which is most common with industrial installations. Three-phase chargers can cost around £800 – £1000 and will only take 2 hours to completely recharge your vehicle’s battery pack. You can also choose from a mixture of single and 3-phase units if you want something that would suit your budget and needs at the same time. If you have purchased this kind of charger then it might be better for you to get it installed by an electrician instead of doing it on your own because there is more wiring required when compared to socketed or tethered charge points. It also needs to be installed on a dedicated circuit breaker which needs to have the correct amperage supply.

Do electric cars need power from a mains supply?

Yes, they do. Electric cars run on rechargeable battery packs that are supplied with energy using an electric car charger or charging point that is hardwired into your vehicle’s electrical system. EV chargers are quite expensive but they provide immense benefits for those who want nothing but the best when it comes to their vehicle’s performance and efficiency.

How long does it take to charge an electric car?

It depends on the type of electric car charger that you have purchased and whether it is wireless charging or hardwired. Electric vehicle chargers such as tethered (corded) charge points can be found at many different retail or hardware stores and usually cost around £300 – £400 for a single unit. This kind of charger usually takes around 4 hours to recharge your vehicle’s battery pack although there are some units that take up to 8 hours depending on their amperage and wattage. On the other hand, socketed (hardwired) electric car chargers will need an electrician to install it at your home so you can conveniently charge your battery without worrying about where to plug in your device.

What is the average range of a fully charged electric car?

An electric vehicle’s average range is around 80 miles per charge. The exact amount will vary depending on the size of your battery pack, its temperature as well as weather conditions.

What are the types of electric car chargers available?

There are different kinds of electric vehicle chargers that have been designed for all types of needs. They can be tethered (corded) charge points, socketed (hardwired), and wireless electric car chargers which you can plug into a standard wall outlet.

Trusted EV charger installation

The best way to get it installed is to hire an electrician. He will be able to maximize the charging capacity of your EV charger and make sure that everything is working well before it leaves their shop. Charging your vehicle may take a bit longer than usual if there are other things affecting its performance but you can always ask an expert for advice on how you can improve the quality of your car’s performance and efficiency.

Smart PRO EV charger installation

A smart PRO electric car charger installation is designed for home and commercial use. It has a built-in LCD screen that will tell you the status of your battery pack, charging current used, amount of time left until it is done recharging, and even a timer that can be set up depending on your preferences. It also comes with a 1-year warranty from its manufacturer which will cover any defects or damages that happen to it within this period.

What kind of socket should I use for my EV charger?

Electric car chargers that are hardwired into your vehicle’s electrical system usually come with their own built-in fuse box which has different sockets depending on the type of charging point you have chosen to install at your home. If it is tethered (corded), you can ask an expert about how much amperage your vehicle’s battery pack needs to recharge its battery cells.

Can I use my solar panels to power my electric car?

Yes, you can. An electric vehicle’s battery pack can be recharged using solar panels especially when it is designed to harness the power of the sun and sunlight in order to produce more energy during daytime hours. It will take a bit longer than usual but if you want to save some electricity costs then this will be your best bet for now.

What else should I consider?

Before you go ahead and install your own electric car charger at home, make sure that you know where to put it in order to help boost the performance of your vehicle. Keep in mind that some vehicles may not be compatible with the electrical wiring system in your home so you would need to hire an expert who can do it for you properly.

Conclusion

Hiring a professional electric car charger installation service can be a wise decision to make especially if you have no idea about how your vehicle’s battery pack works. Hiring an expert will not only provide you with better charging results but will also ensure that your investment is safe from any damages or power shortages that may happen in the future.

Shifting to this sustainable means of transportation isn’t only good for the environment, but is also a nod to the future of your children and of the world you’ll leave them with. Reducing one’s carbon footprint has never been more important today, and using an electric car that doesn’t use fuel will be beneficial to the planet.  The government has been supporting this endeavor and encouraging the population by giving incentives that’ll make them excited to try this option.