Making the switch to an electric vehicle can be very exciting. However, there are several important factors to consider—not only regarding your home but also the EV charger itself.
In this blog, we’ll discuss how to choose the right EV home charger for your home and vehicle. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of which EV charger best suits your lifestyle and needs.
Why is an EV Home Charger Worth Buying?
1. Faster and Safer:
Standard domestic sockets are limited in power meaning it will take a lot longer to charge your vehicle, whilst this also being a safety risk of overheating. A professionally installed EV home charger can deliver much more power safely and reliably.
2. Smart Control:
Many home EV chargers like ours come with an app to control all your needs. You can schedule charging to suit you, and you can monitor how much energy is being used.
3. Future Proofing:
As electric cars are becoming increasingly popular, if you come to sell your home with an EV Home Charger installed this will be more appealing as the likelihood of someone owning an electric vehicle, and needing an EV Charger is quite high.
4. Convenience:
It is a lot more convenient to come home from work, plug your car in and go to bed. Waking up fully charged and not having to worry about driving until you find a public charging station.
Common Mistakes to Avoid when Choosing your EV Home Charger:
- Choosing an underpowered charger, relative to what you require
- Choosing the wrong cable length, where it will make it uncomfortable for you
- Not assessing your home wiring capacity, this could lead to voltage drops or overheating if too much power is being used
- Ignoring the complexity of the installation. If you need a bespoke installation you need to take into consideration any additional costs
- Not checking that the installer has notified the DNO. At EV Home Charger UK, we will do for you as part of our purchasing and installation process
- Make sure you choose the correct position for your installation, ideally not too far away from your power supply and somewhere easily accessible, so it can reach your vehicle
Assessing your Vehicle and Charging Needs
- Every vehicle can have a different rate at which it can accept charging. If you buy an EV charger that exceeds the limit of onboard charging for your vehicle, it will not charge any quicker than what the power output already is.
- Daily usage – You need to take into consideration how much you use your vehicle on a day-to-day basis, our 7kW EV charger will allow you to gain full charge overnight easily, allowing you to use it the next day with no worries.
Budgeting and Installation Costs:
- Simpler chargers with no smart features will cost less, however you lose all the advantages of having the smart app control. Things like; scheduling a charge and keeping track of how much power is being sent to the home EV charger.
- Installation costs – A standard installation, meaning no additional work needs to be done as the EV charger is installed relatively close to the consumer unit, will keep the cost low. Compared to a bespoke installation where you may have to have additional work done so that the EV charger can reach the power supply.
- You need to account for the running costs of an EV home charger. With a smart charger you can set your car to charge during non-peak hours to try and keep the energy costs as low as possible.
Questions to Consider when Working out the Right EV Home Charger:
- What is the maximum AC Charging rate your electric vehicle can support?
- What is your daily usage of your vehicle, and how often will you be using your Home EV Charger?
- How much spare capacity does your consumer unit have? Is there enough to support an EV Home Charger?
- How far is where you want the EV Charger installed compared to where your vehicle will be parked? – How much cable length will be needed because of this?
- Can your installer handle notifying your DNO of the installation?
- What will the cable routing be? Will this be a standard or a bespoke installation?
- Do you need permission upon installation of an EV Home Charger?
- Is the charger safe and ready to use straight after installation? – Yes, our professional installer will ensure everything is working as it should be and is ready to use.
If you can get answers to all these questions it will help you make the correct decision on what type of EV Home Charger, you may need. AT EV Home Charger UK, we can answer any queries you may have and give you a direct response. We stand out from other companies as we provide one of the best EV home chargers, as well as installation. Also, whilst notifying your DNO of the installation which other providers may make you as a customer do this yourself.
Conclusion
When it comes to choosing the right EV home charger, you need to look through all the factors and considerations that come with the EV charger. Things like; your home’s electrical infrastructure, your daily usage of the car and most importantly your budget. At EV Home Charger UK, we explain the step-by-step process from the original purchase of our EV home charger right through to the installation process.
A good EV home charger is an investment in your electric car journey. Over time it will save you money from going to public charging stations and it will save you time.
If you wish to purchase an EV home charger, please look at our website where you can find all the information you need about our EV home charger.
https://evhomechargeruk.co.uk/product/7kw-smart-home-ev-charger/
