EV Charger Installation — Home & Commercial

Why Install a Dedicated EV Charger?

If you have recently purchased an electric vehicle or are planning to make the switch, a dedicated home EV charger is one of the best investments you can make. Charging at home is significantly cheaper than using public chargers, and a dedicated 7kW wallbox charges your car up to three times faster than a standard three-pin plug. A full charge from a typical 7kW home charger takes 5 to 8 hours depending on your vehicle's battery size, making overnight charging the perfect routine.

Beyond speed, a dedicated EV charger is also safer. Three-pin plug sockets are not designed for the sustained high loads that EV charging demands. Drawing 2.3 kW continuously for 12 or more hours places significant stress on domestic sockets and wiring, creating a potential fire risk. A dedicated EV charger is wired on its own circuit with appropriate protection, designed specifically for the demands of vehicle charging.

Smart EV chargers also unlock significant cost savings through integration with cheap overnight electricity tariffs. By scheduling your car to charge between midnight and 4:30am on a tariff like Octopus Go, you can charge for as little as 2 to 3 pence per mile driven, compared to 5 to 7 pence per mile on a standard tariff or 14 to 18 pence per mile on public rapid chargers.

EV Charger Types: Choosing the Right Charger

MyEnergi Zappi

The Zappi is the standout choice for homeowners with solar panels. It is the only mainstream EV charger that can directly divert excess solar energy to your car, giving you genuinely free motoring. The Zappi operates in three modes: Fast (full power from the grid), Eco (blend of solar and grid), and Eco+ (solar only, pausing charging when solar generation drops). On a sunny day, a typical solar system can add 15 to 25 miles of range per hour in Eco+ mode without drawing a single unit from the grid.

The Zappi is available in 7kW (single-phase) and 22kW (three-phase) versions, and in both tethered and untethered configurations. It is OZEV approved, meaning you can claim the government grant towards the installation cost. The Zappi integrates with the MyEnergi ecosystem, allowing you to monitor solar generation, home usage, and EV charging through the MyEnergi app.

Tesla Wall Connector

The Tesla Wall Connector is Tesla's own home charging solution and the natural choice for Tesla vehicle owners. It provides up to 7.4kW on a single-phase supply and up to 22kW on three-phase. The charger integrates with the Tesla app, allowing you to schedule charging, set charge limits, and monitor energy usage. If you also have a Tesla Powerwall, the Wall Connector communicates directly with the battery to optimise energy flow.

We have installed Tesla Wall Connectors with cable runs of up to 65 metres, demonstrating that even properties with the charge point far from the consumer unit can be accommodated. The Tesla Wall Connector features a sleek, minimal design with an integrated cable and is available in a matte finish that complements modern homes.

Wallbox Pulsar Max

The Wallbox Pulsar Max is one of the most compact EV chargers on the market, measuring just 200mm by 200mm. Despite its small size, it delivers full 7.4kW charging and features a comprehensive smart app with scheduling, energy monitoring, and remote control. The Pulsar Max is available in tethered versions with 5m or 7m cables and has an IP55 weatherproof rating for outdoor installation. It is a popular choice for customers who want a premium, discreet charger without the Tesla branding.

Ohme Home Pro

The Ohme Home Pro is the smart tariff specialist. It integrates directly with Octopus Energy and other time-of-use tariffs to automatically charge your car during the cheapest half-hour slots each night. You set the time you need your car ready by and the charge level you want, and the Ohme handles the rest, finding the cheapest electricity throughout the night. For customers on Intelligent Octopus Go, the Ohme unlocks extended cheap-rate windows beyond the standard four hours.

The Ohme Home Pro also features power sharing, which is useful if your home has limited electrical capacity. It dynamically adjusts the charge rate based on your home's overall demand, preventing the main fuse from being overloaded. This is particularly valuable in older properties or those with electric heating.

Easee One

The Easee One is a Norwegian-designed charger known for its sleek aesthetics and robust build quality. It is one of the most popular commercial chargers in the UK and also works well for domestic installations. The Easee supports load balancing across multiple chargers, making it ideal for properties with two EVs or for commercial installations where several charge points share a single supply. The Easee app provides detailed charging analytics and remote management.

The OZEV Grant: Save Up to 350 Pounds

The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) provides a grant of up to 350 pounds towards the cost of installing a home EV charger. ALPS Electrical is an OZEV-approved installer, which means we handle the entire grant application process. You simply pay the reduced price after the grant has been applied.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for the OZEV grant, you must own or lease an eligible electric vehicle (fully electric or plug-in hybrid), have off-street parking where the charger can be installed, and live in a flat or rented property (homeowners in houses became ineligible in April 2022, though the grant remains available for renters and flat owners). The charger must be installed by an OZEV-approved installer, and it must be a smart charger capable of being remotely controlled and scheduled.

For homeowners in houses who are no longer eligible for the domestic OZEV grant, the cost of EV charger installation remains highly competitive. A typical installation including a quality smart charger costs between 800 and 1,200 pounds, and the savings from home charging versus public charging mean the investment pays for itself within months.

Workplace Charging Scheme

Businesses can access the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS), which provides grants of up to 350 pounds per socket for up to 40 sockets. This makes workplace EV charging highly affordable and positions your business as forward-thinking for employees and visitors. We handle the WCS application and can advise on the optimal number and type of chargers for your workplace.

Smart Charging and Solar Integration

Modern EV chargers are smart devices that go far beyond simply delivering electricity to your car. Smart charging features can save you hundreds of pounds per year and, when combined with solar panels and battery storage, create an integrated home energy system.

Scheduled Charging

Every charger we install supports scheduled charging, allowing you to plug in your car whenever you arrive home but only have it start charging when electricity is cheapest. On Octopus Go, this means your car charges between 12:30am and 4:30am at 7.5 pence per kWh instead of the standard daytime rate. For a typical EV covering 8,000 miles per year, this reduces your annual charging cost to around 240 pounds compared to 560 pounds on a standard tariff.

Solar Diversion

If you have solar panels, a MyEnergi Zappi can charge your car entirely from solar energy. This is genuinely free motoring. On a typical sunny day, a 6kW solar system can deliver 20 to 30 miles of free range while you are at work or at home. Over a year, many of our customers with solar panels and a Zappi achieve 50 to 70 percent of their EV charging from solar energy alone.

Battery and EV Interaction

If you have both a home battery and an EV charger, it is important that the systems are configured correctly. Without proper setup, your battery may discharge into your EV charger overnight, effectively cycling energy through the battery unnecessarily and reducing battery lifespan. We configure all our installations to prevent this, ensuring your battery charges your home and your EV charges from the grid or solar independently. Our YouTube video on this topic explains the issue and solution in detail.

Cable Runs and Installation Considerations

Every home is different, and EV charger installations range from straightforward to complex. The main variables are the distance from your consumer unit to the charger location (the cable run), whether your consumer unit needs upgrading, and the physical route the cable must take.

Short Cable Runs (Under 15 Metres)

If your consumer unit is in your garage or near the front of your property and the charger is being installed on the garage wall or house front, the cable run is typically short and straightforward. These installations are the quickest and most cost-effective, usually completed in 2 to 3 hours.

Long Cable Runs (15 to 65+ Metres)

For properties where the consumer unit is at the rear of the house and the charger needs to be at the front, or where the driveway is a significant distance from the house, longer cable runs are required. Longer runs require thicker cable to prevent voltage drop and maintain charging speed. We have completed cable runs of up to 65 metres, routing cables through lofts, along exterior walls, and underground through protective ducting. We plan every cable route during the survey to ensure a neat, practical installation.

Consumer Unit Upgrades

An EV charger draws a significant load, and older consumer units (fuse boards) may not have the capacity or the appropriate protection for an additional high-current circuit. If your consumer unit needs upgrading, we carry out the upgrade as part of the EV charger installation. A modern consumer unit with RCBO protection on every circuit improves the safety of your entire electrical installation, not just the EV charger circuit.

Commercial EV Charger Installation

We install commercial EV chargers for businesses across the North East, including workplaces, retail premises, hospitality venues, car parks, and housing developments. Commercial installations require careful planning around electrical supply capacity, network connectivity, payment systems, and user management.

For businesses, we recommend the Easee One for its robust load balancing across multiple chargers, or the Wallbox Pulsar range for its commercial management platform. We handle the full project from site survey and electrical assessment through to installation, commissioning, and Workplace Charging Scheme grant applications.

Our EV Charger Installation Process

Step 1: Survey and Quote

We visit your property to assess the cable run, consumer unit, earthing, and charger location. We discuss your vehicle, driving habits, and whether you have or plan to install solar panels. You receive a clear, itemised quote with no hidden costs.

Step 2: Installation

A standard installation takes 2 to 4 hours. We install the charger, run the dedicated cable from your consumer unit, fit appropriate isolation and protection, and ensure all earthing and bonding is correct. If a consumer unit upgrade is required, this is completed first.

Step 3: Commissioning and Handover

We test the charger, connect it to your Wi-Fi, set up the manufacturer's app on your phone, and walk you through scheduling, solar diversion (if applicable), and smart tariff integration. You receive all electrical certificates and warranty documentation.

Why Choose ALPS for EV Charger Installation?

ALPS Electrical is OZEV approved, NAPIT registered, and has over 250 five-star reviews on Checkatrade. We install all major charger brands and are experienced with every type of installation, from simple garage mounts to 65-metre cable runs across large properties. As solar and battery specialists, we are uniquely positioned to advise on integrating your EV charger with renewable energy systems for maximum savings. Contact us today for a free quote and start charging smarter.