Looking to get a home wallbox EV charger installed? Our guide has you covered Contact online >>
Looking to get a home wallbox EV charger installed? Our guide has you covered
Plugging in at home is usually the most convenient, safest and cost-effective way of charging an electric car or plug-in hybrid. You might find that the ability to charge faster using cheaper overnight energy tariffs will result in savings which will offset the cost of having a point installed after just a few years, compared to a three-pin plug.
There are plenty of companies offering home chargers for current or prospective EV owners, so it''s worth researching home wall boxes before you buy to find out how long you will have to wait for it to be installed, if a site inspection will be necessary and to assess how and where to fit it.
Some homes with older electrics may require upgrading before a wall box can be fitted, and you''ll need to think about connecting to the internet too, so you can make use of the apps which are needed to control and monitor the points.
A home wall box will normally deliver electricity at a rate of around 7 kiloWatts (kW), far faster than the 2.3 kW you can get from a three-pin plug. These domestic sockets should only really be used for emergency charges anyway, due to the continuous electrical load they put on the sockets. This could mean they overheat and trip a fuse, leaving you with less charge than you expected or putting a strain on your wiring which might be a safety issue. Most EVs and hybrids will not include these three-pin charge cables as standard either.
Some EV chargers are available with a maximum charging rate of 22kW but these require a three-phase electrical supply more often found at commercial properties such as factories and office blocks – most domestic electricity supplies are one phase.
Our in-depth guide on electric car charging has more information, while this guide will detail the 10 best home EV chargers, picked for style, price and functionality.
Price from: £995 (+installation from £395)Best for: Choice of colours and built-in cable storageConnection type:TetheredMax charging speed: 7kW (single phase)Solar integration: YesSmart tariff compatible: Yes (OVO only)Dimensions: 494 x 348 x 148mm
If you are fussy about how your chargers look, then Anderson''s range should keep the most house-proud driver happy. The company offers 247 different colour options and even facias made of wood and carbon-fibre, so the unit can be matched to your house or car.
The only obvious sign of life from the A3 is an LED light on the front panel which shows you when the charger is active; all the other functions are controlled by Anderson''s app, which can instantly show you the cost of every charge and lock or unlock your charger remotely. As you''d expect, it also allows you to schedule your charging in line with your most economical tariff or solar and wind power sources, but Anderson chargers are not yet compatible with smart tariffs. We''ve been promised the A3 will be linked to OVO''s cheapest Anytime software ''very soon'' however.
Price from: £735 plus installationBest for: Compact size, discreet styleConnection type: UntetheredCharging speed: 7.4kW-22kWSolar Integration: YesSmart tariff compatible: NoDimensions: 253 x 193 x 106mm
The Easee One was developed in Norway specifically for the UK market and has a sort of discreet Nordic style which won''t make it an eyesore on the front of your house. It''s small, and there''s a choice of five facia colours (white, red, dark blue, anthracite and black) which can match your décor. You can even replace them if you fancy a change.
There''s no screen, so a subtle LED indicator tells you the status of the charger. All the other controls are via the Easee App. However, this is controlled by a 4G internet connection (with a lifetime subscription) which will be fine if you live in an area with good mobile phone coverage but could cause slow (or no) connections in rural locations or inside a building.
Solar integration as standard, but the Easee is not yet compatible with smart tariffs. However, you can install three Easee units on a single fuse, allowing you charge a trio of cars from one location at the same time, with the power split between them evenly and access controlled by RFID cards. Software updates are automatically carried out over-the-air, when required.
Price from: £599 plus installationBest for: Being small and good valueConnection type: Tethered or untetheredCharging speed: 7.2kW or 22kWSolar integration: YesSmart tariff compatible: Yes (British Gas/Hive only)Dimensions: 230mm x 151mm x 125mm
You might see the EO Mini Pro 3 wearing its own branding or offered to you by British Gas as part of its Hive sub-brand, which offers integration to the ''Smart Home'' app. You can also use it to access British Gas'' smart tariffs, which offer some of the cheapest overnight electricity. Make sure you do some sums though, as the Hive branded units seem to be pricier to buy.
Whichever version you choose, the Mini Pro 3 is a compact charger that can be untethered or tethered (with a charging lead hardwired in) – although the 5m long cable costs a hefty £100 extra.
If you are not using Hive, then EO''s own Smart Home app offers scheduling and remote control functions. You can also tell it to prioritise power from solar panels.
Price from: £690 plus installationBest for: Customer serviceConnection type: TetheredCharging speed: 7kWSolar integration: YesSmart tariff compatible: YesDimensions: 328 x 243 x 101mm
The Hypervolt Home 3 PRO''s bold looks might not be the best for anyone who doesn''t like to shout about their electric car ownership.
The larger-than-average charger is available in three colours (white, grey or black) but all have a large, illuminated lightning bolt on the facia which glows in various colours to indicate the charging status.
It''s designed and built in the UK and is already compatible with OVO''s smart tariff. The company has promised that Octopus Intelligent integration is coming very soon too, which will mean the cheapest overnight energy prices will be available.
It also has three charging modes – Boost, Eco (solar and grid) and super eco (solar only), plus the option of a super-long 10m charging lead if your parking spot is far away from your power supply.
Price from: £699 plus installationBest for: Narrow parking spacesConnection type: TetheredMax charging speed: 7.4kWSolar integration: YesSmart tariff compatible: Yes (OVO only)Dimensions: 201 x 306 x 78mm
Despite this, there is still space to wrap up the unusually long 6m or 10m tethered cables – there''s no untethered option. There is also a choice of four colours for the facia surround so it can be made to look a little more interesting: Indra White; Symphony Black; Malvern Stone and Elgar Grey.
The front panel illuminates in a range of colours to show you the charge status, and a handy ''Boost'' button on the facia means you don''t need to access the app in order to get a quick charge. It can connect to the internet using an ethernet cable, Wi-Fi, or a 4G mobile network so you get a choice of where to place the unit without having to worry about connections.
Price from: £779 plus installationGreat for: Integration with renewable energy sourcesConnection type: Tethered or untetheredMax charging speed: 7.4kW or 22kWSolar integration: YesSmart tariff compatible: Yes (Octopus only)Dimensions: 439 x 282 x 122mm
The Myenergi Zappi home charger unit is one of a dwindling number which have a display on the unit itself, rather than relying on users doing everything via a smartphone app. The monochrome LCD screen is small though and is limited in the information offered, so users may find themselves reverting to the app instead.
The Zappi has plenty of features to control too. It has the technology to integrate with your home''s ''ecosystem'' of solar, wind and battery storage power (also available from Myenergi), if you already have now or plan to upgrade in the future.
As part of this it has a special ''Eco'' mode that can run using just the power from solar panels or wind turbines. Crucially it is also compatible with Octopus'' Intelligent tariff for cheapest charging prices.
The grey unit itself is available with a white or black surround, with 7 or 22kWh supply and tethered or untethered. The fixed cable is unusually long at 6.5m, and it wraps around the unit to keep it neat.
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