EV Charging for Electric Cars

Whether you are considering making the leap to an electric vehicle, or you have already invested and are now looking into charging options, installing an EV charging unit at home is the next sensible step. No longer will you need to hunt out EV charging points in the UK before you head out on a journey, you will be able to charge your car overnight so that it’s always ready for action the next day. 

Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme

If the outlay to set your home up for an electric vehicle makes you think twice, you will glad to learn of the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme. This government initiative enables domestic clients to receive a £500 discount on their installation costs. SJD Electrical Contractors Ltd is OLEV registered for EV unit installation and can help you take advantage of the scheme with a professionally installed EV charging unit.

Charging Types

There are currently 3 electric vehicle charging types available:

• Slow (6-8 hours overnight)
• Fast (full recharge for most models in 3-4 hours)
• Rapid AC / Rapid DC ( 80% charge in about 30 minutes)

We will be able to advise you which unit type is ideal for your needs based on your vehicle, routine, driving habits, and much more. Homes and workplaces are the most common EV charging locations.

Charging at Home

Home charge points are pretty much essential for EV drivers. As most privately owned cars are parked at home overnight, their drivers rely on home charging to make sure that the EV is ready to use every day. 

Charging at Work

Many electric vehicles spend the daytime parked up at work, which makes this time ideal for charging. As the focus shifts towards electric vehicles, in the future it will become increasingly important for businesses to have charge points on site. This is particularly critical if a company plans to replace its current fleet with EV vehicles. 

More on the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme

Whether you plan to charge at home or at work, there are government grants available to help with the cost of EV charge point installation.  

Commercial Grant

This government scheme gives commercial customers a discount of up to £300 per charging unit yet to be installed at their premises. You don’t have to have any existing electric vehicles or charging points and the grant is applicable for up to 20 sockets. 

Companies cannot apply for the grant after the sockets have been installed and their units must be installed by an accredited EV installer such as SJD Electrical Contractors. You must also have dedicated off-street parking available for your staff, visitors and/or fleet. 

EV vehicles belonging to staff members and visitors will have varying charging needs, so it’s important to choose an EV charging unit which is compatible with as many vehicles as possible. If you would like to discover more about which type of unit is right for your business and what the costs are likely to be, contact us today. 

Grant for Homeowners

The same government scheme covers up to 75% of the total cost of a single EV charging unit installation for homeowners; the grant is capped at a maximum of £500 including VAT per vehicle. With this in mind, a standard unit installation comes to around £300. If you would prefer a faster charging unit, the cost increases to around £400. 

Prior to installation, you must be able to provide evidence of ownership, a lease agreement, or be the primary user of an electric vehicle. Once proof is presented, you become eligible for the grant.* 

*You must also have off-street parking which is suitable for the installation of a charge point.  

Models

There are several charge point manufacturers producing charging units which are suitable for residential use. These are generally wall mounted with a tethered cable and a type 1 or 2 connector which is plugged directly into the vehicle. 

EV units installed at home generally have two power ratings:

• Standard 3kW
• Fast 7kW

Fast rated charge points cost more but they significantly reduce charge time. It’s entirely up to you which type you choose, but we are happy to help where required. 

Contact SJD Electrical Contractors Ltd today

If you would like to discover more about EV charging, why not get in touch with SJD Electrical Contractors Ltd today?