EV Charger Installation: What to Expect

Charging your electric vehicle at home overnight is the most convenient and cheapest way to keep it running. A dedicated home charger (a 7kW wallbox) can add around 25-30 miles of range per hour, meaning a full charge overnight from any state of charge. Here's everything you need to know about getting one installed.

Do I Need a Dedicated Charger or Can I Use a 3-Pin Socket?

You can charge from a standard 13A socket in an emergency, but it's slow (around 8 miles per hour) and not designed for the sustained high draw of an overnight charge. Standard sockets can overheat if used this way repeatedly. A dedicated 7kW wallbox is the right tool for home charging.

What Does Home EV Charger Installation Involve?

The process is straightforward for most properties:

• A qualified electrician surveys the installation site (usually a garage wall or the exterior of the house near the drive)
• A new dedicated circuit is run from the consumer unit to the charger location
• The charger unit is mounted and connected
• The circuit is tested and an Electrical Installation Certificate issued
• The charger is commissioned and you're shown how to use it

Total time is typically 2-4 hours for a straightforward installation. Longer cable runs, awkward consumer unit positions, or older wiring can add time.

How Much Does It Cost?

For a standard domestic installation in London and the Home Counties:

• Charger unit: £200-£500 depending on brand and features
• Installation labour: £300-£500
• Total fitted: £500-£1,000

Smart chargers (ones you can schedule and monitor via an app) sit toward the top of the range. If you want to add load balancing so the charger draws less when the rest of the house is busy, that adds a little more.

The OZEV Grant (EV Chargepoint Grant)

OZEV (Office for Zero Emission Vehicles) offers grants toward home charger installation for people in flats and rental properties. Eligibility rules change regularly, so check the current scheme on GOV.UK before booking. We'll confirm your eligibility when we quote and handle the application if one applies.

What Charger Should I Buy?

We work with and recommend a handful of tried units:

• Zappi (myenergi): great if you have solar panels, can divert excess generation to your car
• Ohme Home Pro: smart scheduling, simple app, good value
• Easee One: compact, stylish, widely recommended

We're happy to supply and fit, or fit a unit you've already purchased. Just check it's compatible with your car and has OZEV approval if you're applying for a grant.

Do I Need a Three-Phase Supply?

No. The vast majority of UK homes have a single-phase 100A supply, which is perfectly adequate for a 7kW home charger. Three-phase supplies (which can support 22kW chargers) are rare in residential properties. If you're not sure what you have, we can check.

Building Regulations and Notification

EV charger installation is notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations. We self-certify. You get a certificate and your local authority is automatically notified. No extra steps for you.

Book an EV Charger Installation

RMP Electrical install home EV chargers across West London, Berkshire, and Buckinghamshire. Send us your postcode, your car make and model, and a rough idea of where you'd like the charger. We'll come back with a fixed price quickly.