New EV Owner Home Charging Guide UK 2025

Congratulations on your new electric vehicle! Whether you've just collected your first EV or you're picking it up next week, this guide will help you set up home charging the right way.

Home charging is the backbone of EV ownership—90% of UK EV owners do most of their charging at home. Get it right from the start, and you'll enjoy years of convenient, low-cost motoring.

This guide covers: What you need to know in your first 30 days of EV ownership, from temporary charging solutions to permanent home charger installation.

Week 1: The Essentials

What Comes With Your New EV

Most new EVs include:

Type 2 charging cable (5m) - For public AC chargers
Granny cable/EVSE - 3-pin plug charger for emergencies (not all brands)
Quick start guide - Basic charging instructions
App access - Manufacturer's app for remote monitoring

Check what's included: Some manufacturers (notably Tesla UK) no longer include cables. Verify before delivery and budget £200-£400 for cables if needed.

Day 1: Emergency Charging Setup

Before your home charger is installed (typically 2-4 weeks), you need a temporary solution:

Option 1: Granny Cable (3-Pin Plug)

If your EV came with a granny cable:

Provides 2.3kW charging (about 8-10 miles per hour)
Use only on a dedicated socket, ideally outdoor weatherproof type
Don't use extension leads (fire risk)
Check socket and plug regularly for heat buildup
Suitable for low-mileage drivers (<30 miles/day)

⚠️ Warning: Granny cables are for emergency/temporary use only. They stress household wiring when used daily.

Option 2: Portable Smart Charger

If you'll be without a home charger for a while, consider:

Ohme Go (~£350) - Smart scheduling, 7kW capable
Granny+ units (~£300-£500) - Safer than basic granny cables
Can be upgraded to commando plug for 7kW (requires electrician)

Option 3: Public Charging

Find local public chargers for the first few weeks:

Download Zap-Map app (essential UK charging map)
Locate free chargers (Lidl, Aldi, IKEA, some Tesco)
Sign up for major networks: BP Pulse, Shell Recharge, Pod Point

Day 2-7: Start Planning Your Home Charger

Don't delay—installation takes 2-6 weeks from first enquiry:

Research charger options (see section below)
Get 3 quotes from installers
Check your consumer unit - Installers will assess during survey
Book installation - Weekday slots usually faster than weekends

Choosing Your First Home Charger

The Main Decision: Which Charger?

For most new EV owners, we recommend:

Your Situation	Recommended Charger	Price (Installed)
Want smart features + Octopus Intelligent	Ohme Home Pro	£900-£1,100
Best all-rounder, good app	Wallbox Pulsar Plus	£850-£1,050
Have or plan solar panels	Zappi	£1,000-£1,250
Budget-conscious	Hypervolt Home 3	£750-£950
Want premium British design	Andersen A2	£1,500-£1,900

Understanding the Specs

Power rating (kW):

7kW - Standard UK home charger, adds ~30 miles/hour
22kW - Requires three-phase supply (rare in UK homes)
Recommendation: 7kW is perfect for 99% of UK homes

Tethered vs Untethered:

Tethered - Cable attached to charger (convenient, always ready)
Untethered - Socket only, use your own cable (flexible, tidier)
Recommendation: Tethered for most people (convenience wins)

Smart features to look for:

App control and monitoring
Scheduled charging (charge overnight when cheap)
Smart tariff integration (Octopus Intelligent Go, OVO)
Energy usage tracking
WiFi connectivity

The Installation Process

What to Expect: Timeline

Stage	Duration	What Happens
Get quotes	3-7 days	Contact 3+ installers, compare
Survey	1 day	Installer visits, assesses site
DNO notification	1-7 days	Installer notifies electricity network
Schedule install	1-2 weeks	Book installation date
Installation	3-5 hours	Charger fitted, tested, certified
Total	2-4 weeks	From first enquiry to charging

Installation Day: What Happens

Typical 7kW installation includes:

Safety isolation (15 mins) - Electrician turns off power safely
Consumer unit work (30-60 mins) - Install dedicated 32A circuit and RCD
Cable routing (30-90 mins) - Run cable from consumer unit to charger location
Charger mounting (30-45 mins) - Fix charger to wall, connect wiring
Testing (30 mins) - Safety tests, RCD checks, vehicle test charge
Certification (15 mins) - Complete paperwork, handover

You'll receive:

Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) - Keep this safe
Manufacturer warranty details
App setup assistance
Building Regulations notification (installer handles this)

Installation Costs Breakdown

Standard installation: £800-£1,200 total

Item	Typical Cost
Charger unit	£400-£800
Installation labour	£300-£400
Materials (cable, fixtures)	£50-£100
DNO notification	Included
Certification	Included

Extra costs (if needed):

Extra Work	Additional Cost
Consumer unit upgrade	£300-£800
Long cable run (>15m)	£15-£25/metre
Trenching (detached garage)	£200-£600
Three-phase supply install	£3,000-£8,000

Setting Up Smart Charging

Why Smart Charging Matters

Smart charging saves you £400-£600 per year by automatically charging when electricity is cheapest:

Without smart charging:

Plug in at 6pm, charge immediately at 28p/kWh
Cost for typical use (2,500kWh/year): £700

With smart charging:

Plug in at 6pm, charges automatically from 11:30pm at 7p/kWh
Cost for typical use: £175
Annual saving: £525

The Best Smart Tariff: Octopus Intelligent Go

Most new EV owners should get Octopus Intelligent Go:

Rate: 7p/kWh overnight (vs ~28p/kWh standard)
Hours: 11:30pm - 5:30am (6 hours guaranteed)
Smart slots: Extra cheap hours during day when grid is quiet
Requirement: Compatible charger (Ohme, Wallbox, Zappi, etc.) or specific car

How to sign up:

Visit Octopus Energy (use referral link for £50 credit)
Select Intelligent Go tariff
Link your charger or car in the app
Set your departure time—Octopus handles the rest

Setting Up Your Charger App

Week 1 setup tasks:

Download manufacturer's app (Wallbox, Ohme, myenergi, etc.)
Create account and pair with charger
Connect charger to your WiFi
Set default charge schedule (e.g., 11:30pm - 5:30am)
Set charge limit (80% for daily use extends battery life)
Enable notifications (charge complete, errors)

First Month: Building Good Habits

Daily Routine

The "Always Plugged In" approach:

Most EV experts recommend plugging in whenever you're home, even if you don't need a full charge:

Battery management systems work best when connected
You're always ready for unexpected trips
Smart charging ensures you only charge when cheap
No range anxiety—car is always ready

Don't worry about:

Overcharging (the car manages this automatically)
Battery degradation from frequent plugging (it's designed for this)
Electricity waste (smart chargers don't draw power when not needed)

Charging Level: 80% vs 100%

Daily use: Set charge limit to 80%

Extends battery lifespan
Plenty of range for daily driving
Most manufacturers recommend this

Before long trips: Charge to 100%

Set in app the night before
Or override manually when needed
Use within a few hours of reaching 100%

Understanding Your Charging Costs

Track these in month 1:

kWh added - Your charger app shows this
Electricity cost - kWh × your rate (e.g., 1,000kWh × 7p = £70)
Cost per mile - Divide total cost by miles driven

Typical new EV owner (1,000 miles/month):

kWh used: ~280kWh
Smart tariff cost (7p/kWh): £19.60
Cost per mile: 1.96p
Equivalent petrol cost would be: ~£130 (at 40mpg, £1.45/litre)

Common New Owner Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Waiting Too Long to Install a Home Charger

Using a granny cable for months risks:

Electrical fires from overloaded circuits
Higher charging costs (no smart tariff benefits)
Inconvenience and slower charging

Fix: Order your home charger within the first week.

Mistake 2: Not Switching to an EV Tariff

Staying on a standard tariff costs £500+/year extra:

Tariff	kWh Rate	Annual Cost (10,000 miles)
Standard variable	28p	£800
Octopus Intelligent Go	7p	£200
Saving	-	£600

Fix: Switch to Octopus Intelligent Go (or similar) immediately after getting your EV.

Mistake 3: Range Anxiety Overcharging

New owners often charge to 100% every night "just in case":

Accelerates battery degradation
Unnecessary if you're not driving far
Wastes money (charging you don't use)

Fix: Set 80% limit for daily use. Only charge to 100% before long trips.

Mistake 4: Ignoring Scheduled Charging

Plugging in and charging immediately:

Costs 3-4x more than off-peak rates
Strains the grid during peak times
Misses the key benefit of smart chargers

Fix: Set up scheduled charging in your charger app. Plug in anytime; it waits for cheap rates automatically.

Mistake 5: Not Mapping Local Public Chargers

Relying 100% on home charging means:

No backup if home charger fails
Missing free charging opportunities (Lidl, Aldi, etc.)
Panic on longer trips

Fix: Download Zap-Map and locate 3-5 backup chargers near home and work.

Month 2 and Beyond: Optimisation

Monitor and Improve

Monthly review:

Check total kWh charged (charger app)
Calculate actual cost per mile
Compare to expected costs
Adjust charge limit if needed

Consider These Upgrades

If you have solar panels:

Consider Zappi charger for solar diversion
Or enable solar-aware scheduling in your charger app

If you're a high-mileage driver:

Ensure your charger is 7kW (not limited to 3.6kW)
Consider second charger if you have two EVs

If you want maximum savings:

Try Octopus Agile tariff (variable rates, sometimes negative)
Install home battery storage (advanced, expensive)

Essential Apps for New EV Owners

Must-Have Apps

Zap-Map (free) - UK charging map, essential for public charging
Your charger's app (free) - Control, scheduling, monitoring
Octopus Energy (free) - Tariff management, Intelligent Go control
Your car's app (free) - Remote preconditioning, charge monitoring

Nice-to-Have Apps

A Better Route Planner - Long trip planning with charging stops
PlugShare - Alternative charging map, good user reviews
Pod Point / BP Pulse - Specific network apps for public charging

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to charge an EV at home?

With a smart tariff like Octopus Intelligent Go (7p/kWh), charging costs approximately £2.80-£4.20 for 40-60kWh (a full charge for most EVs). This gives 200-300 miles of range. On a standard tariff (28p/kWh), the same charge costs £11.20-£16.80.

Do I need a special electricity supply for a home charger?

No. A standard UK single-phase domestic supply (60-100A main fuse) easily accommodates a 7kW charger. Your installer will check this during the survey. Three-phase supply is only needed for 22kW chargers, which aren't necessary for most homes.

Can I install an EV charger myself?

No. UK law requires EV chargers to be installed by a qualified electrician registered with a competent person scheme (NICEIC, NAPIT, etc.). DIY installation is illegal under Building Regulations Part P and potentially dangerous.

How long does a home charger take to install?

Typical installation takes 3-5 hours. The whole process from enquiry to installation is usually 2-4 weeks, depending on installer availability and any DNO approvals needed.

What happens if I don't have off-street parking?

Home charger installation requires off-street parking. Without it, options include:

Workplace charging
Public charging networks
On-street residential chargers (where councils install them)
Cable gullies (where permitted)

See our guide on charging without a driveway for details.

Should I charge every day or wait until the battery is low?

Charge whenever convenient—modern EV batteries are designed for frequent charging. The "always plugged in when home" approach is recommended. Smart charging ensures you only pay cheap rates regardless of when you plug in.