How Much Does It Cost to Install a Home EV Charger in Scotland?

If you own an electric car and have access to a driveway, garage, or off-street parking, investing in a home charger can make a huge difference in your daily routine by making charging easier.

If you are not at that stage yet but are considering switching to an electric car, researching the cost of home chargers is one of the first things you’ll want to explore.

In this guide, we’ll look at how much it costs to install an EV charger at home.

Whether you’re a new EV owner or considering making the switch, we’ll cover everything you need to know to make an informed decision.

Electric car charger installation costs

The typical cost to install a 7kW EV charger is between £500 and £1,000. This doesn’t include the price of the charger itself.

The EV charger installation cost depends on several factors, such as the type of car charger, the location of your electric meter, the length of cabling required and whether there are walls to drill through.

Installing cabling through your house or performing groundwork, such as excavation, trenching, and laying conduits, may also be necessary before installing the electric car charging point. This can all affect the total cost.

In any case, charging your electric vehicle at home is the most affordable and convenient way to charge your car, and you can recover the investment within a few years.

What factors affect the cost of installing an electric car charger?

EV charger installation costs depend on the following:

The location of your electric meter

The distance between the electric meter, consumer unit and the EV charging point will determine the length of cabling required, significantly impacting installation costs.

Cabling

If the distance is further away, the installer must use more cable. This could also involve drilling and routing the power supply through various rooms or around the outside of your home.

Consumer unit or fuse box

If your consumer unit is an older board with old wired fuses, you may require a dedicated mini consumer unit for the charger.

To install an EV charger, the consumer unit needs to be easily accessible. The installation company will work faster and more efficiently if the route is short and uncomplicated.

EV charger installers typically quote up to 10m of cabling for standard installations. However, longer cabling routes may be included in some installations.

Walls

If your property has thick exterior walls, it affects installation costs due to the extra time and expertise needed to drill through them.

Additional parts and labour

Some jobs may take longer and require additional parts due to their complexity, which affects the overall cost.

Most homes use a single-phase power supply, and a 7kW charger is sufficient for their needs. But if you want a faster home EV charger (11kW or 22kW) and your car is physically capable of handling it, it requires a three-phase electricity supply, which can be expensive.

Most new EV chargers have built-in Open PEN fault protection and don’t require an earth rod. However, some older EV chargers and properties may still need one.

Are there government grants for electric car chargers?

Homeowners don’t qualify for government grants anymore.

Previously, the government offered the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS), which covered 75% of the purchase and installation cost of a home charging point up to a maximum of £350. However, this grant ended in March 2022.

That scheme is now called the Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant and is only available for landlords and renters.

Under the grant, the government will cover either £350 or 75% of the cost, whichever is lower.

To be eligible, you must:

• Live in a rented property or own a flat
• Have dedicated off-street parking
• Own, lease or have an eligible vehicle on order.
• Haven’t already claimed a chargepoint grant.

How is an electric car charger installed?

It is recommended for electric vehicle owners to install a charging station on an external wall near their parking space, ideally near their home’s primary electrical supply.

To install a home EV charger, it is necessary to hire a certified electrician who can perform a home survey to identify the best location for the charger, evaluate the electrical system and determine the most efficient and practical route for wiring.

If you require any upgrades to the electrical system’s capacity to support the additional load of the charger, this must be carried out first and will take longer.

The electrician will then install the charging point in the best location possible, connect it to the main electrical panel using cabling, and test the installation for safety to ensure it is safe.

What are the requirements to install an EV charger?

There are some requirements for a home charger installation:

• Have off-street parking available, such as a driveway, garage or carport.
• The charging point must be a minimum distance of 2 meters from any public road.
• Be the legal property owner or have written permission from the landlord if you are renting.
• Wi-fi access so the charger can be connected to it.
• Suitable home electricity supply, although this can be upgraded before installation.
• Installation must be completed by a qualified electrician.

How much does it cost to charge an electric car at home?

Charging an electric vehicle at home is usually cheaper than public charging stations.

Assuming your electricity costs 30p per unit (kWh), fully charging an average electric car battery (40 kWh) at home would cost £12.00, enabling you to drive between 140 to 200 miles.

Public charging, however, can be convenient but more expensive, especially if you use the fast chargers available at places like shopping centres or motorway services.

The cost of fully charging a car’s battery varies, but even at an average low rate of 50p per kWh, it can cost about £20 to fully charge a 40kWh car battery using a public charger.

Bearing in mind that a battery is rarely charged from completely flat to full, the cost of a full charge is unlikely.

It’s also important to note that EV owners can save money on charging costs by using a tariff designed for electric cars with lower rates at night.

The cost of charging an electric car is typically cheaper than filling up a petrol or diesel car.

Is a home EV charger worth it?

Investing in a home EV charger can be worthwhile for several reasons.

Firstly, it offers unparalleled convenience. You can charge your car at home overnight and wake up to a fully charged car, eliminating range anxiety and saving significant time.

In addition, charging at home is usually cheaper than using public charging stations.

Combined with cheaper electric vehicle energy tariffs, off-peak pricing and smart charging, the cost per charge can be significantly lower, making electric driving more economical.

These savings and the increased convenience can offset the initial investment in a home charger.

As electric vehicle ownership becomes increasingly popular, installing a home charger can increase the overall appeal of your property and potentially raise its value.

Whether a home car charger is worth it for you depends on your driving habits, local public charging facilities and type of vehicle. A home charger might be essential for those with regular commutes or limited access to public charging.

Can any electrician install an EV charger?

Electricians installing EV chargers must be trained and be NICEIC or ECA registered. If you are using a government grant to install an EV charger, you must hire an electrician approved by OZEV.

We are NICEIC-approved EV charger installation specialists, and all our electricians are trained to the 18th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations.

We can supply and install any electric vehicle charging point for your home. We can install any make or model of EV charging point, including Hypervolt, GARO, Easee, Tesla, EO, Myenergi and Zappi.

Our high standards and quick turnaround make us the top choice for home and office EV charger installations in Glasgow. All of our electricians are trained to comply with the 18th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations.

We’ll give you a quote, set an installation date and have your EV charger installed in a matter of hours.