Guide, 4 min read
How to choose a home EV charger
They all charge at 7kW. What separates them is solar diversion, tariff integration, whether the cable is attached, and whether they can share a supply with a second car.
Get a price
Where does it need to go? Two taps and a postcode gets you a price.
Speed is not a differentiator
On a single-phase domestic supply every home charger delivers about 7kW, which adds roughly 25 miles of range an hour. A 22kW unit on that supply delivers exactly the same.
So comparisons that lead on charging speed are comparing something that does not vary. Ignore it and look at the four things that do.
The four questions
- Do you have solar panels? If yes, solar diversion changes the economics.
- Are you on a time-of-use EV tariff? If yes, automatic scheduling is the feature that matters.
- Tethered or socketed? Decide on how you park, not on price.
- One car or two? Two on one supply need load balancing designed in.
What smart actually means
Regulations require new home chargepoints sold in Great Britain to have smart functionality, so every current unit has it. The phrase on a product page tells you nothing.
What varies is how well the scheduling works with your specific tariff, and how much the app gets in the way.
Then compare the units
The comparison page covers Zappi, Ohme, Hypervolt, Easee, Wallbox, Andersen, Tesla and Pod Point against those four questions, with what each is genuinely for.
Next step
Send us the postcode and we will tell you what your property needs.
Send the postcode and what the property is, and we will come back with the quote or the one question still outstanding.
Questions
EV charging questions on this
Which is the best home EV charger?
There is no single best. Solar points to Zappi or Hypervolt, a smart tariff to Ohme, two cars to load-balancing units like Easee, a tight wall to a compact unit. The right answer depends on what you already have.
Are cheap EV chargers any good?
Many are perfectly sound. A basic unit that charges reliably and does nothing clever is a legitimate choice, particularly if you are not on an EV tariff and have no solar.
Does the charger brand affect the installation cost?
Barely. The installation is the same circuit whichever unit goes on the end of it. The unit price differs, the labour largely does not.
Get a quote
Get an EV charger quote for your property
Seven quick questions. We reply with either a fixed price or the one thing we still need to know.
- No cost, and no obligation to book anything
- Your details are never sold on or passed around
- A fixed price for the work described, in writing
Would rather talk it through? Call 01246 952042.
