Best Electric Car Home Chargers In The UK 2021

It is simply false economy to buy the cheapest EV charging point. We encourage all electric car owners to future proof their investment by buying only high quality charging points!

If you are like many households in the UK, you are either in the process of buying a plug-in electric car or considering an electric vehicle (EV), like the famed all-electric Tesla Model 3 for your next purchase.

2020 was certainly an unprecedented year for many reasons, but also for zero-emission electric driving. The UK witnessed a significant increase in the uptake of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in electric vehicles (PHEVs).

108,205 BEVs were registered in 2020, an increase of 185.9% compared to 2019. PHEVs performed just as well, with 66,877 PHEVs registered in 2020, an increase of 91.2% from 2019!

Moreover, in November 2020, the UK government announced that the ban of diesel and petrol new vehicle sales will move forward to 2030. We can expect a further fundamental shift in the UK transportation framework in the immediate and medium term. We expect within the next 5 years, a significant further decline in diesel market share in the UK, with petrol also suffering a similar fate.

The 2020 trend has continued in 2021! The UK has witnessed an increase of 106.7% in the registrations of pure electric cars (92,420 BEVs have been sold up to end August 2021). Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) have also continued to perform well in 2021 (an increase of over 140% compared to 2020). We expect this upward momentum to only get stronger in 2022 and beyond, as a larger percentage of private and business owners migrate to electric driving.

For those of you keen to learn more about electric car charging, we strongly recommend a read of the following articles from the e-zoomed Electric Living Blog:

• Electric Car Home Charging OLEV EVHS Grant: An Introduction
• Charging Speeds Electric Cars: Home And Public Charging
• How To Charge An Electric Car: A Beginner’s Guide

Home EV Charging: The Basics

Among the many advantages of zero-emission electric driving, is the convenience of charging your plug-in electric vehicle at home. In fact, despite all the attention on public EV charging points, most electric vehicles are charged overnight at home. According to some statistics, more than 80% of electric car charging is done at home.

The world of EV home charging equipment has come a long way over the past few years, from the ubiquitous 3 PIN domestic plug! With the emergence of a number of EV charging point manufactures, consumers have benefitted from rapid innovation. Today home charging points are SMART, with the functioning of the charge point in the palm of your hands via a mobile app.

We strongly discourage green car owners to charge their plug-in electric vehicle via a domestic 3 PIN plug. We strongly encourage the use of a dedicated EV home charging point.

Single-Phase/ Three-Phase Electricity Supply

Unlike some European countries, the majority of UK households have single-phase electricity supply. In contrast, in Germany, most homes, if not all have a three-phase electricity supply i.e. providing more power to the homes!

Single-phase systems use alternating current (AC) electric power, in which the voltage and current flow changes in magnitude and direction in a cyclical fashion, typically 50 to 60 times per second. In the UK, single-phase voltage is 230 volts.

Though a number of home EV charge points are capable of up to 22 kW, single-phase will restrict the use of the charge point up to a maximum of 7.4 kW. However 7.4 kW is adequate for charging your EV overnight. A full charge can be achieved in 8 hours. Of course this will depend on a number of factors to include the size of the EV battery.

We do not know when the UK government will upgrade our homes to three-phase supply, but if you need more power i.e. to upgrade to three-phase supply, the distribution network operator (DNO) for your region will be able to assist! Of course if you upgrade your home to three-phase supply, then you can charge an electric vehicle up to 22kW, if the EV is capable of charging at this speed (electric vehicle onboard charger).

Research The Charge Point Manufacturer: Track Record & Warranty Matters!

As is expected, with the growth of a new sector, like electric driving, a number of new entrants will emerge to serve the needs of the inevitable consumer base. The global and UK electric vehicle sector has certainly witnessed a number of new companies emerge across the EV industry value chain, to include electric vehicle charging equipment manufacturers.

It is therefore imperative that a consumer seeks to understand the background and track record of the manufacturer in some detail. The greater the track record, the lower the potential risk to the consumer. As an example, EVBox, an e-zoomed Partner and a global EV charging station manufacturer, has deployed more than 200,000+ EV charge points globally across 70+ countries. We at e-zoomed supply and install the Elvi EVBox home charging points at very competitive prices. Simply follow this link to learn more!

Of course, the more established a manufacturer, the higher the potential that the company is in business to honour any claims within the warranty period. Of course, you cannot predict the future and even an established business can become bankrupt and closedown. However, by choosing companies that have a more established track record, you, as a consumer are mitigating your risk i.e. protecting your investment.

EV home charging points come with varying degrees of warranty, but in general the most common is 3 years. Some manufacturers offer the possibility of an extended warranty at a surcharge.

Always Choose EV Charging Station Performance Over Design

Yes, design is important, but do not make this the key factor for choosing an electric vehicle home charge point. Seduction by design is a dangerous approach for any product segment, but more so in charging points.

When purchasing an EV charge point, think like an investor i.e. protect your investment by future proofing it. Therefore look at the technical specifications in detail. You should aim to use the charge point for at least three years, if not much longer. On the e-zoomed Electric Living Shop, you can read detailed technical specifications of an EV charge point.

Where possible and appropriate, we recommend the purchase of SMART EV charge points. These plug-in car chargers can process more data and have far more functional capabilities, usually via an inbuilt SIM card or wifi. Moreover, with SMART chargers, the consumer can take advantage of the UK government £350 OLEV home charge grant. If a charger is not smart, it does not qualify for the incentive.

Apart from the above, also look at choosing a charger that has higher charging speed capability. Most dedicated home electric car chargers have a charging speed of 3.6 kW to 7.4 kW. Of course, EV chargers can perform at higher charging speeds, but most households in the UK are single-phase. For higher performance charging units, a house needs to have a 3 phase electricity supply.

Tethered or Untethered

A tethered electric car charger is one where the cable is attached. An untethered is a charge point that has no EV cable attached. More commonly referred to as ‘socket’ only.

Tethered and untethered EV charging points have respective pros and cons. It therefore depends on a specific household needs to conclude which is most appropriate. For example, if a household expects to charge only a type 2 electric car, and mostly at home, then a tethered EV charge point is a good fit.

However, if the family expects to charge type 2 and type 1 electric cars and expects to use public charging, then a socket only (untethered) EV charge point may be more suitable. With a socket only charging station, both type 1 and type 2 EV charging cables can be used. So if a guest arrives in an EV, you can be rest assured they could use the charge point! Of course, you can also carry the EV charging cable in your car to charge at public charging points. We at e-zoomed recommend a 5m EV charging cable, a perfect length for home and public EV charging.

So in conclusion, cheapest is never the best when it comes to buying an EV charging point for your home. Investing in a high quality charging point is the best way to future proof your investment. Of course, choosing the right EV charge point installer is equally important, and we at e-zoomed offer excellent and competitively priced installation services. Prices start from £220 (including VAT). To enquire simply email us as shop@ezoomed.com.

Our Top Picks For Electric Car Home Charging Stations

Webasto Pure EV Home Charging Station

Salient Features

To buy a Webasto EV charger simply follow this link

podPOINT Solo Universal Home EV Charging Station

Salient Features

To buy a podPOINT EV charger simply follow this link

myenergi zappi Home EV Charging Station

Salient Features

To buy a myenergi zappi EV charger simply follow this link

wallbox Pulsar Plus Home EV Charging Station

Salient Features

To buy a wallbox EV charger simply follow this link

EVBox Elvi Home EV Charging Station

Salient Features

To buy an EVBox EV charger simply follow this link

Viridian EcoLite Home EV Charging Station

Salient Features

To buy a Viridian EV charger simply follow this link