Electric Car Chargers

For most homes, a 7kW EV charger is the right choice. It adds around 25–30 miles of range per hour and fully charges most cars overnight on a standard single-phase supply.

A 22kW EV charger only charges faster if your property has a three-phase supply and your car supports 22kW AC charging, which many don't (11kW is a common limit). 22kW chargers are best suited to commercial sites, fleets and workplaces.

For a deeper comparison, read our guide: 7kW or 22kW EV charger: which is better?

The main difference is how the cable connects to your car.

Tethered EV chargers: have a fixed cable (usually 5–10m), convenient for plug-and-go charging but less discreet.

Untethered EV chargers: use a detachable Type 2 charging cable, giving you a tidier look and the flexibility to choose your cable length, but you'll need somewhere to store the cable.

Almost certainly. Every charger we sell uses the UK-standard Type 2 connector, which fits nearly all electric cars and plug-in hybrids sold in the UK, including Tesla models. A few older cars use a Type 1 inlet and need a Type 1 cable with an untethered charger.

Yes. Since June 2022, new home and workplace chargers sold in Great Britain must be smart EV chargers under the Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations. That means they can connect to the internet, schedule charging for off-peak times and apply randomised delays to protect the grid. Every home charger we stock meets these rules.

Find out more in our guide to how smart EV chargers work.

A standard home installation, with the charger mounted near your consumer unit and a short cable run, typically costs £400–£500 (not including the charger itself). Costs rise with longer cable runs, groundworks, an EV consumer unit upgrade, or an increase to your main fuse. Your installer should survey your property and give you a fixed quote before starting work.

Most UK homes can support a 7kW charger on a standard single-phase supply. Your electrician will check that your main fuse (typically 60–100A) and consumer unit can handle the extra load. Many smart chargers include load balancing, which reduces charging speed when the rest of the house is using a lot of power. A 22kW charger requires a three-phase supply, which is rare in UK homes.

If you have solar panels, solar EV chargers such as the myenergi Zappi can charge your car using surplus solar energy.

Yes. Your installer must notify your Distribution Network Operator (DNO) when a charger is fitted, and some installations need approval before work starts. This is usually handled by your installer as part of the job. If your main fuse is too small, the DNO may need to upgrade your supply first.

In most cases, no. Wall-mounted chargers installed on off-street parking at a house usually fall under permitted development in England. You may need consent if your home is a listed building, is in a conservation area, or if you live in a flat. Rules differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, so check with your local council if you're unsure.

Installing an EV charger yourself is not recommended. The work must comply with UK wiring regulations (BS 7671, the 18th Edition), and in England and Wales it's notifiable under Part P of the Building Regulations. A qualified electrician will make sure the installation is safe, compliant and eligible for the product warranty. Incorrect wiring risks fire, voided warranties and invalidated insurance.

If you rent your home or own a flat and have dedicated off-street parking, you may be eligible for the OZEV EV chargepoint grant. It covers up to £500 towards buying and installing a charger. Landlords can claim through a separate scheme, and businesses can apply through the Workplace Charging Scheme for workplace EV chargers.

The charger must be on the OZEV-approved list and fitted by an OZEV-authorised installer. Homeowners living in houses are no longer eligible. Read our full OZEV grant guide for more information on the scheme.

Charging time depends on your EV's battery size (in kWh), the charger's power output and your car's maximum onboard charging rate (typically 7.4kW or 11kW for AC charging, with some EVs supporting 22kW). Below are estimates for common battery sizes, charging from 0% to 100% in optimal conditions.

7kW charger

Small battery (40kWh, e.g. Nissan Leaf): ~5.7 hours
Medium battery (60kWh, e.g. Tesla Model 3): ~8.6 hours
Large battery (100kWh, e.g. Tesla Model S): ~14.3 hours

Most EVs charge to 80–100% overnight (6–8 hours) with a 7kW charger, which is ideal for daily commutes.

22kW charger

Small battery (40kWh): ~1.8–3.6 hours
Medium battery (60kWh): ~2.7–5.5 hours
Large battery (100kWh): ~4.5–9.1 hours

22kW charging requires a three-phase electrical supply (not standard in most UK homes) and an EV with 22kW AC capability. The longer times in each range apply to cars limited to 11kW.

Key factors to consider

Battery management: charging slows above 80% to protect battery health, adding ~20–30% to total time.

Efficiency losses: real-world efficiency is ~85–90%, slightly increasing times (e.g. 8.6 hours becomes ~9–9.5 hours for a 60kWh battery at 7kW).

Tariff optimisation: with Octopus EV tariffs, you can charge during overnight off-peak hours for around 7–9p/kWh.

Charging at home is one of the most cost-effective ways to power an EV in the UK. Costs depend on your battery size, your electricity tariff, charger efficiency and when you charge.

Battery size: measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), this determines how much energy you need. Common sizes are around 40kWh (e.g. Nissan Leaf), 60kWh (e.g. Tesla Model 3) and 100kWh (e.g. Tesla Model S).

Electricity tariff: rates vary by supplier and plan. Octopus Energy's EV tariffs offer some of the lowest rates:

• Intelligent Octopus Go: ~7.5p/kWh off-peak (core 11:30pm–5:30am window, with smart charging automatically scheduled for the cheapest, greenest times) and ~30–32p/kWh peak.
• Octopus Go: ~9p/kWh off-peak (fixed 12:30am–5:30am window) and ~31p/kWh peak, with no smart scheduling required.
• Standard variable tariff: ~24.7p/kWh (UK average unit rate under the Ofgem price cap from April 2026).

Charger efficiency: home chargers are ~85–90% efficient because of heat losses, so a 60kWh battery may need ~66–70kWh from the grid.

Charging habits: smart EV chargers schedule charging for off-peak rates automatically. Charging at peak times costs more.

EV vs petrol: a worked example

A typical UK driver covering 700 miles a month in an EV that does 3 miles per kWh needs about 233kWh a month. Allowing for charging losses, that's roughly 265kWh from the grid, costing about £20 a month on Intelligent Octopus Go off-peak, or about £65 on the standard variable tariff.

A petrol car averaging 40mpg would use around 80 litres for the same distance, costing about £109 at £1.37 a litre.

That works out at roughly 2.8p per mile for off-peak EV charging, 9.4p per mile on a standard tariff and 15.6p per mile for petrol. Charging off-peak can cut your fuel costs by around 80% compared with petrol, and even on a standard tariff you'd save around 40%.

Yes. The majority of EV chargers are designed to be weatherproof and can be safely installed outdoors. Check the charger's IP rating on the product page; IP54 or higher is typical for outdoor home chargers.

EV chargers are designed for low upkeep. Smart chargers receive software updates via WiFi or 4G, keeping them performing at their best.

Charging cables should be inspected regularly for wear, especially on tethered chargers.

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