Electric vehicle home charging: Everything you need to know

If you have an electric vehicle (EV), adding an electric car charger to your home is a fantastic idea—particularly if you already have or are considering installing solar panels. This article will address common questions about installing an EV charger at home and explain how you can use solar power to charge your electric vehicle efficiently.

Are all EV chargers compatible with all EVs?

Yes and no. Electric vehicles do come with different connectors. Type 1 and Type 2 are standard for now, but Type 2 is expected to become standard in the future. However, there are Type 1 to Type 2 adaptors, so although it makes sense to choose a home car charger point that is compatible with your EV, this doesn’t lock you into a specific type of EV in the future. If you’ve got an untethered charger this is even less of a problem as the cable between the charger and your EV is fully detachable. You can read more about the pros and cons of tethered versus untethered chargers in another one of our Green Guides.

Can I charge my EV with solar power?

Absolutely! Charging your electric vehicle (EV) with solar power is a fantastic way to enhance the environmental benefits of your EV. By using solar energy for charging, you’re reducing your carbon footprint even further. You can learn more about how to charge your EV with solar power here.

Keep in mind that you don’t need to install your EV charger at the same time as your solar panel system. However, for solar EV charging at home, you’ll need a charger that is compatible with your solar setup to pull electricity directly from your solar panels.

Do I need a full solar panel system with an inverter to charge my EV with solar power?

Yes, to power your electric car charger with solar energy at home, you'll need to have a complete solar panel system installed. Additionally, if you don’t already have a car charger, you'll need to arrange for its installation. We’re here to assist you with both setting up your solar panel system and installing your car charger.

Where can I install an EV home charger?

When planning where to install your electric car charger at home, you should consider two key factors. First, determine if wiring pathways can be routed between your chosen charger location and your fuse board, as these need to be connected. Second, check if your fuse board can support the additional load of a car charger fuse. Both of these considerations are essential for ensuring a safe and functional installation.

What is a smart EV charger?

Simply put, a smart EV charger is an EV charger which one is able to access remotely and which is capable of receiving a signal, interpreting it and reacting to it.

Do I need permission for an electric car home charging station?

Most network operators require notification whenever an EV charger is installed. If we can install the car charger on at least a 60 amp circuit then we need to notify the DNO post installation only. If you don’t have one we can install a 60 amp fuse saver as part of our installation. If this isn’t possible, then you might need to notify the DNO prior to installation. In either case, if you have your installation through our platform we’ll do this for you!

How long will it take to charge my car at a home EV charging station?

It depends on the size of your car battery and the rate at which it’s charging at. If you have a 7kW EV charger and you have a 40kWh car battery, it would take about five and a half hours to charge up to 40kWh.

How much does it cost to charge an EV at home?

How much money it’ll cost you to use a home car charging station depends on what source of electricity your EV charger pulls from. If you’ve got solar panels installed and your EV charger is solely feeding solar generated electricity into your car, charging your EV is essentially free. If you haven’t yet seen return of investment on your solar panel system, you might not see it that way. But in itself, the act of turning the electricity generated by your panels into juice for your car is free of charge.

If you charge your car with electricity from the grid, how much it’s going to cost you depends on your tariff. According to OFGEM, the typical customer paying by direct debit is paying 28p per kWh for electricity under the price cap that took effect on 1 April 2022. If you're paying 28p per kWh of electricity and have an averaged sized car battery of 40kWh, it would cost you £11.20 to charge up your car battery.

With the myenergi zappi, you’re able to choose which source of energy you want the charger to use to charge your electric vehicle. This could be exclusively solar, exclusively the grid or exclusively any excess produced by your solar panel system. Or a combination of all of the above!

What’s the best home EV charger?

We find that for properties with solar installations, myenergi’s zappi charger pairs best with your solar system. This is because unlike other car EV chargers it is able to charge up your car exclusively on solar, exclusively on the grid, or exclusively on excess solar energy produced by your solar system, or a combination of all of the above. Does this make it the best home EV charger in the UK? Certainly if you ask us!

How do I get a quote for a home car charger point?

Getting a quote for an electric car charger installation is easy with MakeMyHouseGreen, especially if you’re also interested in charging your car with solar power.

Start off by spending 5 minutes on our platform and we’ll give you an accurate understanding of how much money and carbon you can save with solar panels, as well as an estimate of the cost of installation.

At this stage you’ll be able to add an Electric Vehicle charger to your quote. You’re also able to view the impact of charging your EV with solar energy. We sell the myenergi zappi in 7kW, in black or white and tethered or untethered. If you choose to continue to a consultation call, your Guru will help you finalise your preference.

Keep in mind that your Guru will also be more than happy to discuss EV chargers with you! If you’re not ready to chat with a guru, but have questions still, have a look at our other Green Guides or our Guru FAQS.

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