So you’ve joined the electric revolution (or you’re thinking about it), and now you’re wondering if it’s worth installing your own charger at home. Spoiler alert: it absolutely is! But let’s chat through the ins and outs, shall we?
Say Goodbye to the Public Charging Lottery
We’ve all been there – circling the supermarket car park like a vulture, hoping to spot someone unplugging from the only working charger. Or worse, finding a perfectly good charger that’s been ICE’d (that’s when a petrol or diesel car parks in an EV charging spot – cheeky!).
The stats speak for themselves:
- The UK has around 53,000 public charging points
- But we’ve got over 880,000 fully electric vehicles on the road
- That’s about 17 cars potentially queuing for each public charger!
With your own charger at home, you can wave goodbye to the charging queue and the bloke in the petrol Range Rover who thinks EV spaces are “premium parking.”
Wake Up to a Full Battery (Every Single Morning!)
Remember how liberating it felt when mobile phones evolved from “charge every night or else” to “this will easily last the day”? Having an EV charger at home gives you that same feeling.
Plug in when you get home, and by morning, your car’s ready for action with a full battery. It’s like having your own personal petrol station that fills your car while you sleep. Except, you know, without the lingering smell of diesel and overpriced meal deals.
It’s Kinder to Your Wallet (And We Could All Use That Right Now)
Let’s talk numbers, because they’re rather eye-opening:
- Home electricity costs around 28p per kWh (on average)
- Public rapid chargers can cost 50-70p per kWh
- For a typical 60kWh car battery, that’s a saving of £12-£25 per full charge
If you charge once a week, that’s potentially over £1,000 saved annually. Not too shabby when the cost of living seems to be rising faster than my teenager’s phone bill.
And here’s the real magic – if you’ve got an EV-friendly electricity tariff, you can charge overnight for as little as 7-10p per kWh. That works out at roughly £4-£6 for a full charge or about 2p per mile. Try getting your petrol car to run on 2p per mile – it wouldn’t get you to the end of your driveway!
Your Home Value Gets a Nice Little Boost
Installing an EV charger is like adding an extra bathroom or upgrading your kitchen – it’s an investment that pays dividends when it comes to your property value.
Recent studies suggest that homes with EV chargers are fetching premiums of 5-10% in some areas. As EVs become more common (and let’s face it, they will), having a charger already installed will be a major selling point.
It’s a bit like how having central heating was viewed in the 1970s – soon enough, buyers will expect it rather than see it as a luxury.
The Installation Is Far Less Faff Than You Might Think
Many homeowners worry that installing a charger will mean tearing up their driveway or rewiring the whole house. In reality, for most homes, it’s a straightforward job that takes about half a day.
If your consumer unit (that’s the fuse box to most of us) is modern and your home’s wiring is in good nick, we can usually install a standard 7kW charger without any major disruption. We’ll sort the necessary wiring, mount the charging unit, and make sure everything’s tested and safe.
And thanks to the government’s OZEV grant, you might even qualify for £350 off the installation cost. Worth checking if you’re eligible!
Smart Charging Means Maximum Savings
Modern home EV chargers aren’t just plugs on the wall – they’re clever little devices that can:
- Automatically charge when electricity is cheapest
- Work with solar panels to use free, green energy
- Be controlled remotely via smartphone apps
- Keep track of your energy usage and costs
Imagine setting your car to charge only when your electricity drops to its lowest rate, or programming it to top up just enough for tomorrow’s journey. It’s like having a tiny, electricity-obsessed accountant working to save you money around the clock.
It’s Properly Convenient (And We All Love Convenience)
Think about it – no more detours to find a charging station, no more hanging about in service stations while your car tops up, no more planning journeys around charging availability.
With a home charger, your routine becomes delightfully simple:
- Come home
- Plug in
- Get on with your life
- Unplug in the morning with a full battery
It’s charging that fits around your life, not the other way around. And in our increasingly busy world, that kind of convenience is worth its weight in gold (or lithium, which is probably more valuable these days!).
Environmental Brownie Points
If you’re driving an EV, chances are you care at least a bit about your carbon footprint. Home charging lets you take that green commitment even further.
By charging overnight, you’re often using electricity when demand is lower and renewable sources make up a larger percentage of the grid. Pair your EV charger with solar panels, and you can genuinely drive on sunshine. How’s that for a conversation starter at the next family dinner?
Ready to Get Charged Up?
At Martin Kaine Electrical, we’ve helped hundreds of homeowners across the UK make the switch to home EV charging. From initial advice about the best type of charger for your needs to seamless installation and aftercare, we’re with you every step of the way.
So, if you’re tired of the public charging hustle or just want to make your EV ownership that bit more convenient (and economical), give us a bell. We promise not to blind you with electrical jargon or try to sell you something you don’t need.
After all, good electrical work should be like a good EV – reliable, efficient, and with no nasty surprises!
