Help us pick a charger that will last for years
‘A 7.4kw unit can usually be installed without changes to your electrical supply’
My partner and I are building a house and have come across a planning condition that requires us to have a charging point for an electric vehicle (EV) installed.
The condition says we must t a unit that terminates with a three-pin socket or a “BS EN 62196 Type 2 electric vehicle charging point”.
We don’t own an electric car and probably won’t buy one for a couple of years, but we appreciate the importance of getting the infrastructure in place now.
However, not knowing anything about EVS, we would appreciate your feedback on whether the planning requirements sound sensible, what type of charging unit we should install and any key features or characteristics the charging point should have.
Also, is it possible to get a unit that has some sort of future-proo ng built in so it can adapt to developments in car charging technology, and is there a list of recommended EV charger manufacturers and installers who provide good-quality products?
Stephen Laverick WHAT CAR? SAYS…
The planning condition looks fine. Right now, fitting a unit with a Type 2 charging port makes the most sense because that’s the most widely used type of charging socket.
However, because you don’t yet own an EV, it might be best to opt for an ‘untethered unit’. That means one that doesn’t have a charging plug and lead attached to it permanently.
Untethered units are not as convenient to use (you have to get out the charging cable each time you want to plug in your car) but do give you the option of using different leads to suit vehicles with various socket designs.
The speed of domestic EV charging points is rated in kw, and there are three main choices: 3.6kw, 7.4kw and 22kw. Most people opt for a 7.4kw unit because it will charge an EV several times faster than a domestic three-pin socket and in most cases can be fitted without the need to upgrade the electrical supply from the National Grid to your home.
We’d recommend doing some research into the range of smart chargers available from different manufacturers and picking one that can be set to make the most of cheaper electricity during off-peak hours. You could also look for a unit that lets you use an EV as a storage facility, stocking up on electricity when it’s cheap and selling it back to the grid when prices are higher.
If you plan to install solar panels on your new home, it’s worth considering a charger that will let you use power from these rather than grid electricity.
The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles’ list of authorised installers on the gov.uk website is the best place to start looking for a supplier. It’s also wise to check online reviews on reputable sites for any company you’re thinking of using.