EV Charging
Most EV drivers do around 80–90% of their charging at home. Getting your home charging setup right makes a significant difference to your running costs and daily convenience. This guide covers everything you need to decide before booking an installation.
Every EV comes with a granny charger — a standard 3-pin plug that delivers about 2.3kW (roughly 8–10 miles of range per hour). For occasional top-ups it's adequate. As your primary charging method, it's slow and not designed for daily sustained use. A dedicated 7.4kW home charger adds 25–30 miles of range per hour and is built for exactly this purpose.
The difference in overnight charging time: a 3-pin plug takes 30+ hours to charge a 77kWh battery from empty. A 7.4kW charger takes about 11 hours. In practice you're not charging from empty daily, but the difference in overnight top-up is meaningful.
Most homes have a single-phase electricity supply, which limits charging to 7.4kW. Three-phase supplies (more common in commercial properties and some rural homes) allow up to 22kW charging, which would charge a typical EV in 3–4 hours. Having three-phase supply checked during survey is worthwhile if you're planning ahead.
The myenergi Zappi is the clear choice if you have or plan to install solar panels. Its eco modes let you set a minimum charge rate then top up from solar export — so your car charges for free whenever the panels are generating more than the house is using. Over a year, this can save £200–£500 in charging costs depending on your solar system size and driving miles.
Octopus Energy's EV tariffs offer overnight charging at 7–10p/kWh versus the standard rate of 24p+. On a typical EV doing 8,000 miles/year, the difference between standard-rate and off-peak charging is £400–£600/year. Getting a smart charger and the right tariff is as important as the charger itself.
AFTA Electrical covers Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, and Hertfordshire. NAPIT & TrustMark registered.
A 7.4kW home charger adds approximately 25–30 miles of range per hour. A typical 60–80kWh battery charges from 20% to full overnight in 8–11 hours.
In most cases no — home EV charger installation falls within permitted development. Listed buildings and conservation area properties may need to check with the local authority.
The Zappi is best for solar panel owners. The Fox ESS and Tesla Wall Connector are excellent smart chargers without the solar divert feature at slightly lower cost. All are 7.4kW and fully suitable for daily use.
With a Zappi charger and a reasonably sized solar system, you can charge for free (from excess solar) during daylight hours. Over a year, depending on your solar system and mileage, this can save £200–£500 in charging costs.
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