Electric Car Charger Installation
Trade: Electrician
⭐ Introduction
Installing an electric car charger at home is an increasingly popular upgrade for UK homeowners, especially as more people switch to electric vehicles (EVs). Instead of relying on public charge points, having a dedicated charger lets you top up your EV’s battery conveniently overnight or whenever your car is parked. This saves time and can work out cheaper in the long run.
You might consider getting an electric car charger installed if you’ve just bought an EV, are planning to do so, or want faster, safer charging at home compared to a standard three-pin plug. It’s a practical measure that adds convenience and future-proofs your home as electric cars become more common.
🔧 What the job involves
Electric car charger installation is typically carried out by a qualified electrician with experience in EV charging equipment. The job involves connecting a suitable charging unit (also called an EVSE – Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) to your home’s electrical system in a way that is safe, compliant with UK regulations, and tailored to your needs.
Key tasks include:
- Assessing your existing electrical supply and consumer unit (fuse box) to ensure it can support the charger’s power demands.
- Installing a dedicated circuit from your consumer unit to the charger location, usually outdoors near your driveway or garage.
- Mounting the charging unit securely to a wall or a suitable stand.
- Connecting the unit to your electricity supply, ensuring correct earthing (grounding) and circuit protection.
- Testing the installation to confirm everything works correctly and safely.
Your electrician will also ensure the setup complies with relevant UK safety standards, including Part P of the Building Regulations and BS 7671 wiring standards. Where applicable, they will provide certification as evidence of a safe installation.
📝 Step-by-step from booking to completion
- Initial enquiry: Contact a qualified electrician or EV charger installer to discuss your needs. They’ll ask about your property, car model, and charger preferences.
- Site survey and quote: The electrician visits your home to inspect the consumer unit, planned charger location, and cable routes. They’ll provide a detailed quote including parts, labour, and certification.
- Agree and schedule: If you accept, you book a convenient date for the installation.
- Day of installation: The electrician arrives, installs the dedicated circuit and charger unit, carries out all wiring, and tests the setup.
- Commissioning and certification: Once tested, they issue the relevant certificates and explain how to use and maintain your new charger.
- Aftercare: Keep contact details for your installer in case you need support or future upgrades.
💷 Main costs to expect
- Labour: Electrician’s time to survey, install, and certify — typically a few hours to a day depending on complexity.
- Charging unit: The charger itself, ranging from basic to smart units. Often you supply this, or the installer includes it.
- Materials and parts: Consumer unit upgrades (if needed), cables, circuit breakers, mounting brackets, and conduit.
- Certification: Safety certificates and Building Regulations notification fees (if applicable).
- Disposal: Removal and responsible disposal of any old or replaced electrical components.
Example (approximate):
- Labour: £300–£500
- Charger unit: £400–£700
- Materials and parts: £100–£300
- Certification and paperwork: £50–£100
📊 What affects the price
- Existing electrical capacity: If your consumer unit needs upgrading or additional capacity, this adds to cost.
- Cable length and routing complexity: Running cables through walls, under floors, or a long distance increases labour and materials.
- Charger type and power rating: Faster 7kW or 22kW units require more robust installations.
- Regulatory compliance: Meeting electrical safety and Building Regulations can require extra work or inspections.
- Structural works: If chasing walls, drilling through brickwork, or installing mounting stands is needed.
- Geographical location: Prices can vary between urban and rural areas or different regions.
- Installation timeline: Urgent or out-of-hours work may cost more.
⏱ How long does it take?
- Simple installation (consumer unit capacity available, short cable run): Typically 3–5 hours.
- More complex installation (consumer unit upgrade, longer cable routing): 1–2 days.
- Very complex setups (multiple chargers, off-grid power systems): May take several days.
Your electrician will give a clearer estimate after the site survey.
🏠 Can you DIY it?
Installing an electric car charger is not a DIY job for most homeowners. UK electrical installations must comply with Part P of the Building Regulations and BS 7671 standards, and only a qualified electrician registered with a competent person scheme should carry out this work.
Safety is paramount: EV chargers draw significant current, and incorrect installation risks fire, electric shock, or damage to your vehicle. Additionally, improper installation can invalidate insurance or warranties.
Leave installation and certification to a professional, but you can certainly handle booking the work and submitting paperwork where necessary.
💰 Typical UK price range
As a rough estimate including parts and labour, expect to pay:
- Basic home charger installation: £700–£1,200 + VAT
- More complex or upgraded installs: £1,200–£2,000 + VAT
Prices vary by installer, property specifics, and charger choice. VAT applies at the prevailing rate (usually 20%) unless an applicable exemption exists.
✅ Handy tips before you start
- Check the power supply rating with your supplier to confirm your home can handle the charger load.
- Decide on charger type and features (e.g., smart controls, tethered cable).
- Make sure the installation location is accessible, sheltered from extreme weather, and near your parking spot.
- Prepare for any structural works by clearing obstacles or moving stored items.
- Retain all paperwork and certificates after installation for your records and future home sales.
- Inquire about warranty and servicing options from your installer to keep your charger reliable.
- Check if your local authority or power supplier offers any grants or incentives for EV charger installation.
Having a dedicated home charger is a practical way to enjoy the benefits of driving electric. With professional installation, you get safe, efficient, and convenient EV charging tailored to your home.