Filling up with fuel is simple, but charging an electric car (EV) requires a bit more thought and planning. While different connectors and apps can seem complex, this guide aims to simplify the process.
Charging at Home
Charging at home is the most convenient and typically the cheapest way to keep your vehicle topped up. It is often compared to having your very own petrol station at your front door.
Benefits:
- Convenience — pull up to your house, schedule, plug in, and forget about it.
- Cost savings — relying primarily on public rapid charging can increase your bill by around 70%.
- Special tariffs — home charging allows you to access EV-specific tariffs, like Intelligent Octopus Go, which can offer rates as low as 7p/kWh.
- Smart control — most home chargers allow you to start, stop, and schedule charges remotely via a smartphone app.
EV Charger Types and Cables
Home chargers come in two main styles:
- Tethered — features a permanently attached cable.
- Untethered — features a socket for you to insert your own separate cable.
Power and Speed
The speed of your charge depends on your home's power supply:
- 3-pin plug (2.3kW) — "granny chargers" add approximately 7 miles of range per hour.
- Single-phase (7.4kW) — the most common UK home setup, adding about 30 miles of range per hour.
- Three-phase (22kW) — faster (90 miles per hour), but often costly to install in residential properties.
While a domestic socket works, a dedicated home charger is roughly three times faster. Most UK homes use single-phase power; upgrading to three-phase for faster 22kW charging can be costly.
Ensure your EV charging cable, whether tethered or untethered, is long enough to reach your vehicle without dragging on the ground. If purchasing a separate cable for an untethered charger, confirm it supports your home charger's maximum charging speed, which is typically indicated on the side of the cable. Browse our cables.
Permissions and Costs
To install a home charger, your home must be a permanent structure. While driveways are ideal, solutions exist for those with off-street or on-street parking, though you should consult your local council for approval in on-street scenarios.
If you live in a rented property, you must obtain written permission from your landlord before installation. All owners must also get approval from their local Distribution Network Operator (DNO), a process usually handled by the installer. A typical installation costs between £800 and £1,200.
Public and Workplace Charging
While home charging is the foundation, public and workplace infrastructure support longer journeys and commuters.
- Workplace charging — employers can use the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) to help fund the installation of up to 40 sockets, making commuting more viable for those living far away.
- Public rapid chargers — found at service stations, these units can provide an 80% charge in as little as 15 minutes. Major operators include Gridserve, BP Pulse, and Tesla.
- Payment — since late 2024, new public chargers over 8kW must offer contactless payment solutions, removing the need for multiple apps.
EV Charge Connectors
While there is no single universal connector yet, the industry has largely standardised for modern vehicles.
- Type 1 — chargers (SAE J1772) are 5-pin, single-phase AC connectors primarily used for older, Asian, or imported electric vehicles in the UK, such as early Nissan Leafs and Mitsubishi Outlanders. They offer 3.7kW–7.4kW charging speeds and feature a manual latch.
- Type 2 — the standard 7-pin connector for AC charging in the UK and Europe, suitable for home wall boxes and public slow/fast charging up to 22kW. Features a 7-pin design with locking pins for safety and is compatible with most modern EVs, including Tesla, VW, and Kia.
- CCS — the Combined Charging System (specifically CCS Combo 2) is the standard rapid charging method for most new EVs in the UK. It combines AC and DC charging in one plug, delivering up to 350kW, making it ideal for motorway services and public rapid charging.
- CHAdeMO — a rapid DC connector (up to 50kW–100kW+), primarily used in the UK for older Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, and Kia Soul EV models.
Maximising Range and Battery Health
Most modern EVs offer a range of 150 to 350 miles. To get the most out of your battery and ensure its longevity, consider these habits:
- The 80% rule — for daily use, set your charge limit to 80% to reduce battery wear. Save 100% charges for long trips.
- Regenerative braking — this feature converts kinetic energy into electricity while braking, flowing it back into the battery.
- Preconditioning — heat or cool your car while it is still plugged into the grid to save battery energy for driving.
- Smooth driving — avoid harsh acceleration to conserve range.
How Much Does It Cost to Charge an EV at Home?
Charging an electric vehicle (EV) at home is generally the most cost-effective way to stay powered up. On average, a full charge can cost between £4 and £20, though this depends heavily on your vehicle's battery size, your specific energy tariff, and when you charge (peak vs off-peak hours).
In the UK, the average electricity price is around 27p per kWh. Based on this rate, fully charging a typical EV with a 60kWh battery would cost approximately £16–£18.
Many energy providers offer EV tariffs with significantly cheaper overnight electricity rates. Some tariffs drop to around 7p per kWh during off-peak hours. With one of these tariffs, charging the same 60kWh battery could cost as little as £4–£5 per full charge.
Cost per mile
When charging at home, EV drivers typically spend:
- Off-peak tariffs — 2–3p per mile
- Standard electricity tariffs — 6–8p per mile
In comparison, a petrol car often costs 17–20p per mile in fuel. This means EV drivers charging at home can save over £1,000 per year compared to running a petrol vehicle.
Electric Car Charging Points
Zap-Map offers a helpful mobile app that allows drivers to easily locate electric vehicle charging points across the UK. Most electric vehicles also feature built-in navigation systems that identify nearby charging stations and guide drivers to those within range. Some models go a step further by including route-planning tools that automatically map out charging stops for longer journeys.
Financial Assistance (OZEV Grants)
The government provides financial support for installation via OZEV (formerly OLEV) — up to £500 per socket, or 75% off the cost of buying and installing EV charge points, for renters, flat owners and landlords, plus separate schemes for workplaces.
OZEV Grants Available from 1 April 2026
| Applicant type | Grant (from 1 April 2026) |
|---|---|
| Renters & Flat Owners | £500 |
| Residential Landlord Chargepoint Grant | £500 |
| Households with On-Street Parking | £500 |
| Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) | £500 |
| WCS for state-funded education institutions | £2,000 (reduced from £2,500) |
OZEV is also consolidating eight schemes down to five to simplify the system — the Commercial Landlord Grant, Residential Landlord Infrastructure Grant and Staff & Fleet Infrastructure Grant all close on 31 March 2026.
New Find a Grant Service
When the new service opened on 1 April 2026, customers now register for a Find a Grant account and apply for the flats and renters grant directly, rather than being sent a link by their installer. Installers are notified by email when a claim is rejected, declined or approved. Initial assessment timescales are up to 10 working days.
At Ocunio Energy, our electricians are OZEV-approved, so we can take away the hard work from you and apply for a grant on your behalf. See our full OZEV grants guide.