If you are making the switch to an electric vehicle, then having a home charging point will help you to get the most out of it. However, before you start the process, you need to be aware of the EV charger installation requirements in the UK to make sure you meet all regulations.

Where can EV chargers be installed?

Home EV chargers can be installed at residences with dedicated off-street parking. This means that a driveway or garage is the ideal installation location for most people, where it is also easy to connect the charge point to the mains electricity.

Planning permission

Permission is not required for the installation of wall-mounted EV charging points in areas lawfully used for off-street parking (provided certain conditions are met) but is required in other cases, so it is worth checking with your local authority before you proceed with the installation.

Where is EV charger installation not permitted?

An EV charging unit should not be within two metres of a public highway, scheduled monument or the land surrounding a listed building.

Before installing an EV charger, engineers will also have to consider certain regulations when choosing the location. EV chargers cannot be installed within 2.5 metres of a sim touch, which is any metal object connected to your electricity supply. This could be a household fitting such as a light with a metal casing, or even an external object like a streetlamp, so your desired location for the charger may have to be moved.

Technical requirements

Installing an EV charger in the UK also comes with certain technical requirements. The exterior casing of an electrical outlet must not exceed 0.2 cubic metres in size. Upstands for charging points are allowed, as long as they are 1.6m or less and there is only one for each parking space.

Electrical safety standards

• Any EV charger installed must meet the minimum technical standards of the EVHS and the electrical safety standards laid out in Building Regulations Part P.
• The charger must comply with IET Wiring Regulations stated in BS 7671.
• The charge point must be weatherproofed to the minimum IP rating required as set out in BS EN 61851.
• The charge point also needs to have the capacity to monitor and record energy consumption and communicate this data using the Open Charge Point Protocol.
• There must be sufficient electrical supply potential for the EV charge point to operate at its rated capacity. 7kW chargers are the most common, but 3kW and even 22kW are available, although this is rare.

Changes to Building Regulations in England

As of 2022, Building Regulations in England will be changing to ensure the provision of EV charge points. These regulations currently only apply to England, and the rest of the UK will be developing their own requirements to ensure adequate provision of EV charge points.

• Every new home in England with associated parking must have an EV charger installed.
• Every new non-residential building and non-residential building undergoing a major renovation, with more than 10 parking spaces, must have a minimum of one EV charger and cable routes for every 5 parking spaces.
• Residential buildings undergoing a major renovation with more than 10 parking spaces must have at least one EV charge point per dwelling with an associated parking space, and cable routes in all spaces without charge points.

Cost

The average cost of installing a home charge point is around £800 for a 7kW charger, but costs are lower for a less powerful 3kW unit and higher for a high-speed unit.

Whichever unit you choose, the cost can be reduced if you are eligible for the OZEV (Office for Zero-Emission Vehicles) grant, also known as the EV chargepoint grant. This was previously known as the OLEV (Office for Low Emission Vehicles) grant or the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS).

As of the 1st April 2022, the OZEV Government Grant will only be available to homeowners who live in flats and people in rental accommodation (flats and single-use properties). This scheme will no longer be available to homeowners who live in single-unit properties such as bungalows and detached, semi-detached or terraced housing.

Types of EV charger

Charge points are available tethered (with a cable) or untethered (without a cable). Having an untethered charge point means you will need to keep the correct type of cable in your car, but the charge point itself can connect to almost any car via the right cable. Having a tethered charge point means you can easily plug in your car with no fuss, but it will take up more space and might not have the right connection if you change your vehicle.

Hopefully, you now understand the EV charger installation requirements in the UK. If you are confident that you can have a home charging point installed at your property, and you are looking for charging cables or EV cable holsters, you can view our range by Degson.