Home Charging | EVA England : EVA England

If you have access to off-street parking, charging at home is a no-brainer: it is the most convenient and cost-effective way to keep your EV topped up and ready to go.

Most drivers will have their car parked at home overnight, so charging overnight while you sleep means waking up to a fully charged car every morning.

Even better, it takes advantage of lower-cost electricity as many energy providers offer off-peak or smart tariffs that make charging cheaper. Pair this with a smart charger, and your car will automatically charge at the best times to save money and reduce demand on the grid.

What is a home charger?

A home charger, also known as EVSE (Electric vehicle supply equipment), is a small unit, typically wall-mounted, that connects to your home electricity supply.

Home chargers are rated at 7kW and come in 2 types:

Tethered – The charging cable is attached to the unit
Untethered – You use your own cable, which plugs into the unit.

There are many reputable brands to choose from, such as Andersen EV, Myenergi, Ohme, and Pod Point. Some offer additional operational features, such as:

Charge scheduling, meaning they can be set to charge the EV overnight and/or at times of off-peak electricity tariffs.
Remote monitoring, allowing you to check on it, to change settings or to switch charging on or off without being present.

Getting a charger installed

When you’re ready to get your home charger, we recommend using a member of the Electric Vehicle Consumer Code for Home Chargepoints (EVCC) to do the installation.

By choosing an EVCC member, that means you’ll:

Receive high standards of service from a qualified and competent installer.
Get a contract with the installer that is legally fair, has the necessary protections in place and is fulfilled in a timely and efficient manner.
Get access to REAL’s dispute resolution service, including free mediation and a low-cost independent arbitration service, should something go wrong
Get free guidance and expert advice through EVCC.

You can find an EVCC-approved installer here.

How much does it cost?

The Energy Saving Trust estimates that the average cost of a home chargepoint installation is around £800-£1200.

Installation costs can vary depending on the home charger you’ve chosen and individual cases e.g. location of charger, meter etc.

You’ll also need an EV energy tariff and typically a smart meter to make the most of it.

We recommend you compare different smart chargepoints and EV energy tariffs before purchasing, to ensure you’ve got the right solution to suit your lifestyle. Some energy providers also offer home charging installations deals that include a charger and charger so it’s worth checking with your provider.

Grants for Your Home

You may be eligible for a Government grant of up to £350 to reduce installation costs if you have private off-street parking and:

Own and live in a flat, or
Rent and live in any residential property

What about “Granny Charging”?

A “granny charger” allows you to charge your EV using a standard 3-pin plug. While handy in an emergency, this isn’t a long-term solution.
Granny charging is best for occasional use and not for long periods of time, as extended use can lead to overheating and poses a fire risk if your home wiring isn’t up to date.

If you do need to use one, ask a qualified electrician to check your electrics first. They can ensure your setup complies with the latest IET Wiring Regulations and advise on suitable safety protection.
As always, we recommend choosing an EVCC-approved electrician for this work to ensure safe and compliant installation.

No off-street parking?

No problem! Many EV drivers manage perfectly well without a private driveway thanks to the rapidly expanding public charging network. In some areas, you may even have dedicated on-street chargers located close to home. There are also two additional options that can help keep you powered up: chargepoint sharing and cross-pavement charging solutions.

Charge point sharing

This growing model is just like an Airbnb but for EV charging – instead of renting out a house or a spare room, it allows EV drivers to book and use private chargers hosted by individuals or businesses in their local area.

Platforms like Co Charger, JustCharge by JustPark, and GoPlugable help connect drivers with hosts who are willing to share their charger for a small fee or free of charge.

Charger sharing makes better use of existing infrastructure, helps reduce pressure on public chargepoints, and can be especially useful in residential areas with limited on-street charging. It also gives charger owners a way to support the EV transition while covering their running costs.

It’s community charging, and a great example of how we can all help accelerate the switch to electric.

We have partnered with GoPlugable to get you started on your EV journey – EVA England members get an exclusive £10 welcome credit.

Cross-pavement solutions

A cross-pavement solution is a way to safely run a charging cable from your home to your parked EV when you don’t have a driveway, typically by using a specially designed gully set in the pavement, or an overhead arm that keeps the cable above pedestrians.

Some councils have started approving or piloting these solutions, but rules vary across the country, so it’s important to check with your local authority before installing one.

EVA England continues to push for clearer, consistent guidance so that more people can charge at home, even if they don’t have off-street parking. If you’d like to support our work, please see how you can get involved.

The Government currently has a grant of up to £350 to reduce installation costs of home chargepoint if you’re are looking to install a cross-pavement solution.

To apply, you must:

Own or rent your home, and
Have on-street parking only, and
Are installing a cross-pavement solution, such as a charging gully

And if you live in an apartment building?

Click here to see what are your options