EV Charger Installation Calculator

Calculate electrical requirements, cable sizing, and costs for home EV charging point installations

EV Charger Requirements

Calculate electrical requirements for EV charger installation

Fast charger (most common home installation) • 3-4 hours (full charge)

kW

Power rating of the EV charger

meters

Distance from consumer unit to charger location

EV Charger Installation Guide

Installing an EV (Electric Vehicle) charger at home requires proper electrical infrastructure to ensure safe, efficient charging. This guide covers UK requirements and best practices.

Electrical Requirements

  • Dedicated Circuit: EV chargers must have their own dedicated circuit from the consumer unit (fuse board)
  • RCD Protection: 30mA RCBO (Residual Current Breaker with Overcurrent) protection is mandatory - Type A minimum, Type B preferred
  • Earthing: TT or TN-S earthing systems are required. PME (TN-C-S) earthing may need additional protection for outdoor installations
  • Cable Sizing: Must account for continuous load and voltage drop (max 3% recommended for EV circuits)
  • Consumer Unit: Must have spare capacity and available ways for the new circuit

Installation Process

  1. Survey: Electrician assesses consumer unit capacity, earthing system, and cable routing
  2. DNO Notification: May be required for high-power chargers (check with installer)
  3. Installation: Run dedicated circuit, mount charger, connect and test
  4. Certification: EIC (Electrical Installation Certificate) must be issued upon completion
  5. Smart Features: Configure smart charging for off-peak rates and load management

Government Grants Available

The OZEV (Office for Zero Emission Vehicles) grant may provide up to £350 towards EV charger installation costs for eligible homeowners. Check eligibility at gov.uk/electric-vehicle-chargepoint-grant

EV Charger Types Explained

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Slow Chargers (2.3-3.7kW)

Power: 2.3-3.7kW (10-16A)

Voltage: 230V single-phase

Charging Time: 8-12 hours for full charge

Best For: Overnight charging, existing 13A socket or dedicated slow charger

Cost: £400-800 (unit + installation)

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Fast Chargers (7-7.4kW)

Power: 7-7.4kW (32A)

Voltage: 230V single-phase

Charging Time: 3-4 hours for full charge

Best For: Most common home installation, good balance of speed and cost

Cost: £800-1,500 (unit + installation)

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Rapid Chargers (11-22kW)

Power: 11-22kW (16-32A per phase)

Voltage: 400V three-phase

Charging Time: 1-2 hours for full charge

Best For: Multiple EVs, businesses, or if you have three-phase supply

Cost: £1,500-3,000+ (unit + installation)

Note: Requires three-phase electricity supply (not standard in most UK homes)

Smart Charging Benefits

Modern EV chargers include smart features:

  • • Schedule charging during off-peak hours (save 40-60%)
  • • Monitor energy usage and costs via smartphone app
  • • Load management prevents overloading your home supply
  • • Solar integration to charge from your own renewable energy
  • • OZEV grant requires smart functionality

Important: All EV charger installations must be carried out by a qualified electrician and meet the requirements of the IET Code of Practice for Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Installation (4th Edition).