When purchasing an electric vehicle, it’s essential to consider how you will charge it at home. The primary requirements are a charger and a smart meter.

Charger Kit

While you can charge your vehicle using a standard 3-pin plug, it is a slow process. It’s advisable to install a dedicated charger, a specialized AC station that operates at higher speeds and connects to your vehicle through a cable.

Most home chargers provide up to 7.4kW of power, enabling a typical EV to cover 25 to 30 miles for every hour it is charging.

Auto Express estimates the average installation cost for a charger to be between £800 and £1,200. Additionally, a grant of £350 is available for renters, apartment owners with private off-street parking, or homes with on-street parking.

A smart meter is necessary for your energy supplier to monitor your usage throughout the day and apply the appropriate tariffs (see below).

Charging is generally easier for those with driveways or garages compared to the 9.3 million households lacking off-street parking. Some local governments have installed residential charging points on the street, like on lampposts. The government is contemplating the removal of planning permission requirements for installing a crosswalk “gutter” to run the cable from the house to the car.

Tariffs Overview

All major energy providers offer at least one EV tariff, typically allowing drivers to charge their cars at lower rates during specified times of the day.

As per the UK’s energy regulator, Ofgem, the average rate for default customers is 26p per kilowatt hour, whereas many specialized EV tariffs can be as low as 8p/kWh at night.

Ben Galizzi from Uswitch highlights various perks available to drivers. “Classic” EV pricing allows charging during cheaper nighttime hours. For instance, British Gas offers rates of 9p/kWh from midnight to 5am. E.ON’s Next Drive has a rate of 7.5p/kWh from 12am to 6am. Scottish Power’s EV Saver charges 7.2p/kWh from midnight to 5am.

Additionally, there are smart rate plans that automatically schedule charging during the cheapest times of day, like when demand is low or renewable energy usage is high. You can program the system to charge your car when rates are lowest. For example, Intelligent Octopus Go charges at 7p/kWh.

Galizzi also notes a new subscription plan. Mr. Octopus’ Intelligent Drive Pack offers unlimited smart charging for £30 monthly. Ovo Energy offers plans starting at £27.50 with a Smart Charge cap of 700 miles per month.

Some EV tariffs may only be available to existing customers. Therefore, to access specific rate plans, you may need to switch to that provider’s standard rate first before opting for an EV tariff.

While assessing your car’s best value, Martin Lewis’ MoneySavingExpert site advises that many “two-tier” rates can fluctuate based on the time of day, offering appealing nighttime rates alongside peak ones that may surpass price caps. For example, the Intelligent Octopus Go can cost around 29p/kWh daily, while the default rate is 26p.

Potential savings could also arise from salary sacrifice schemes, where the cost of home charging is deducted from an eligible person’s gross salary before tax and national insurance. This can include options like the Electric Vehicle System Charge Card.

Selecting the Right Tariff

Choosing the best deal primarily depends on your driving mileage.

Galizzi recommends that long-distance drivers search for the lowest overnight rates and the longest charging durations. “Aim to have your vehicle fully charged every night to be ready for the road in the morning,” he notes. For example, E.ON Next Drive offers rates of 6.5p/kWh between midnight and 6am.

For city drivers, smart charging options might provide better value. “The goal is to find the most cost-effective charging time,” he indicates. Similar offerings are available from Scottish Power, with rates starting at 9p/kWh.