One of the biggest bugbears when it comes to owning and operating an electric vehicle is charging it. Obviously, there are public charge stations which are perfectly adequate if not particularly convenient. This is why it is often worth considering installing a charge point at your home; however, this is a process, and it can be time-consuming and costly, which is why it is worth the consideration beforehand, keep reading to learn more.
The Basics
If you want to charge your vehicle at your home, then there are a few requirements that you will need to meet. Firstly, you will need to have access to some off-road parking. This could be a driveway or a garage. Obviously, you will also need a charge point. This should be a dedicated EV charging point; you also need the correct cables needed to plug your car in.
You should consult the manual for your vehicle to ensure that you understand how to charge your vehicle. The charge point itself might also have instructions that you should heed. For the most part, you need to park up, connect your car and wait until it is fully charged. It is pretty easy and straightforward for the most part.
The Cost of Installation
Installing a charge point at your home can vary in price, but for the most part, you can expect to pay between £800-£1000. The fluctuation tends to account for different chargers and installers. The slower chargers are cheaper, and the faster chargers or smart chargers are among the most expensive.
You can also expect to pay more if your wiring is older and it has to be rewired or amended to accommodate the charging point. It is also worth exploring the government grant, which can help towards the cost of an at-home charging station. You could be eligible for up to £350, which in some instances will cover almost half of the bill. LV ElectriX has a home charging guide for electric vehicles which can help to answer any other questions you might have.
Electricity Bills Going Forward
Charging your car at home will mean using more electricity from now on; this, in turn, will increase the cost of your energy bills going forward. There are several variables here to consider. Firstly, you will need to think about how much time and energy it takes to charge the car as well as the tariff that you are on with your electricity provider. Finally, you will also need to think about how often the car is going to need charging.
In Conclusion
For the most part, it will make sense for the majority of electric car owners to try to have a charge point installed on their homes simply because it makes charging the car easier and cheaper, too, in the long run. That being said, if you live in urban areas with an abundance of charging points near where you live and you can safely leave your vehicle there, then it might not be necessary. You will need to think about what your budget is for charging your car and whether or not you can afford to have a charging point installed.
