Guide · 01
Home charging basics
Charging at home is what makes an EV cheap to run. Get the charger, the tariff and the timing right and everything else gets easier.
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The short version: if you can charge at home, an EV is usually cheaper to run than petrol. If you mostly use rapid public chargers, that can flip. Here's what to sort out before you buy any hardware.
1. Granny cable or wallbox?
- 3-pin "granny" cable: slow (often around 2–3 kW) and plugs into a normal socket. Fine for low mileage or as a stopgap, but not ideal as a permanent, heavy-use setup.
- Wallbox (usually 7 kW): fills most cars overnight. A tidier, safer install for long charging sessions, and usually better at scheduling cheap off-peak charging.
Rule of thumb: if it's your everyday car and you have off-street parking with power nearby, plan for a proper charger.
2. What your home needs
- Off-street parking where the cable can reach without becoming a trip hazard.
- Room in your fuse box: an electrician will check you have enough spare capacity.
- A route for the cable: garage wall, driveway post or outside wall.
- Permissions: flats, rented homes and listed buildings need extra checks.
3. Questions to ask installers
- Do I need a fuse board upgrade? How much?
- Tethered cable or socket: which suits my car and parking?
- Can it handle load balancing, or solar if I add panels later?
- How does smart scheduling for cheap tariffs work: an app, or open standards?
- Warranty, OZEV or grant eligibility (where it applies), and aftercare.
4. Your tariff matters more than your charger
A mid-range charger on a good off-peak rate often beats a premium one on a pricey flat rate. Before splashing out on hardware, pop your yearly kWh and real pence-per-kWh into the EV Cost Comparison.
5. When public charging is still fine
No driveway? Charging at work, or not driving much, can make public-first ownership work. Just run the numbers honestly: see our public charging reality check.
Related guides
- How much does a home EV charger cost to install in the UK? Prices, extras and the grants that remain.
- UK off-peak EV tariffs compared: how they work and how to choose.
- Charging an EV in Guernsey and the Channel Islands
- Granny charger (3-pin plug) charging: how long it takes and what it costs.
- How much does it cost to charge an EV at home?
- Is a home battery worth it with an EV? UK Powerwall and battery costs, and honest payback maths.
Open EV Cost Comparison All guides
Compare public charger prices: Prices change, check before you charge. The price shown in the operator’s app or on the charger is the one you pay.