Electric Vehicle Charging at Home: Complete UK Guide

Switching to an electric vehicle is one of the best decisions you can make for both the environment and your wallet. However, to truly maximize your savings, you need to understand home charging - and that's what this comprehensive guide will help you with.

Types of Home Chargers

There are three main charging options for UK homes:

• 13-pin plug (2.3kW): The slowest option, using your standard domestic socket. Adds about 10 miles of range per hour. Suitable only for emergency charging or plug-in hybrids.
• 2Home wallbox (7kW): The most popular choice. Adds around 30 miles of range per hour. Requires professional installation by an approved electrician.
• 3Three-phase wallbox (22kW): Fastest home charging option, but requires three-phase electricity supply (uncommon in UK homes). Adds up to 90 miles per hour.

Installation Costs and Grants

A 7kW home wallbox typically costs £800-1,200 including installation. The UK government offers grants to help with costs:

The EV chargepoint grant provides up to £350 for eligible flat owners and homeowners in rental properties. Check the government website for current eligibility criteria.

Octopus Energy EV Tariffs

Octopus Energy offers specialized tariffs for EV owners that can dramatically reduce charging costs:

With Octopus Go, charging your EV can cost as little as £3-5 for a full charge (depending on your battery size), compared to £15-20 with a standard tariff. That's a potential saving of £300-500 annually for average EV drivers.

Smart Charging Features

Modern home chargers offer smart features that optimize your charging:

• 1Scheduled charging: Set your charger to automatically start during the cheapest hours.
• 2Solar integration: Charge your EV using excess solar power during sunny days.
• 3Load balancing: Prevents overloading your home's electrical system by managing charging power.
• 4App control: Monitor charging status, set schedules, and track costs from your smartphone.
• 5Octopus Energy integration: Seamless billing and access to special EV tariffs.

Public Charging with Octopus Energy Card

Octopus Energy offers an Electric Vehicle charging card that gives you access to over 300,000 charge points across the UK and Europe. Benefits include:

• 1Single card for multiple networks - no need for different apps and accounts
• 2Direct billing to your Octopus Energy account
• 3Competitive rates at participating charging networks
• 4Real-time charging status in the Octopus app
• 5Simple, transparent pricing with no subscription fees

Maximizing Your EV Charging Savings

• 1Switch to Octopus Go tariff to access ultra-cheap overnight rates
• 2Install a smart wallbox for optimal charging control and safety
• 3Charge overnight when electricity is cheapest and greenest
• 4Use the Octopus Energy app to track charging costs and optimize schedules
• 5Consider home battery storage to charge during cheap periods and use power anytime
• 6Combine EV charging with solar panels for maximum savings and sustainability

Is Home Charging Right for You?

If you have off-street parking and can install a home charger, you'll benefit from the convenience and cost savings of charging at home. Most EV owners do 80-90% of their charging at home, making it essential for maximizing your EV's benefits.

For those without home charging access, public charging networks are expanding rapidly. The Octopus Energy charging card makes public charging simple and affordable.