1.
Safely and sensibly charging your plug‐in vehicle at
home
You can charge your EV at home if you have off‐street parking such as a
garage, driveway or carport. If you’re thinking about charging your vehicle at
home, you should consider the following:
1. Ensure you have a safe place to park the vehicle which is close to a power
source
2. Get an electrician to check the wiring in your house and upgrade if
necessary
3. Get an electrician to check the main household fuse and get the utility
supplier to upgrade if necessary
4. Get an electrician to fit a separate electricity circuit for your charge point
5. Consider getting a dedicated home charging unit or a timer for the charge
point
6. Consider switching to an off‐peak tariff to get cheaper electricity rates.
2.
Is your home suitable for charging a plug‐in vehicle?
When thinking about getting an electric vehicle one of the most important
things to think about is the parking arrangements. You should only charge at
home if you have off‐street parking such as a driveway, garage or carport.
Cables for electric vehicles are not usually very long, so make sure that the
parking space is near a suitable plug socket or a dedicated home charging unit
if you have one fitted.
What should I do to my household electrics?
If you’re planning on charging your vehicle at home on a regular basis, you
should have a safety check carried out by a qualified electrician.
It’s important to check that the existing cabling, sockets and the main
household supply fuse will be able to carry the additional current drawn by the
vehicle, and that there are adequate safety cut‐outs. You should consider
having a separate, dedicated spur fitted to supply the charge point – much like
a cooker has its own electric circuit. This way, you can avoid the potential risk
of overloading the ring main which supplies the household wall sockets. The
charge point should also have its own circuit breaker and a residual current
device, which will prevent an electric shock or damage to the circuit in the
unlikely event of a fault with the vehicle.
The best solution for charging at home may be a dedicated home charge point.
A number of home charging solutions have already been launched in the UK,
and manufacturers of electric vehicles are recommending that users have an
approved home charge point installed when they buy an EV. A home charge
point will have its own dedicated electrical spur and incorporates a range of
safety devices and features to ensure maximum safety while charging an EV.
Dedicated home charge points can also deliver additional benefits to an EV
user. Features like intelligent charge scheduling ensures that EV charging
routinely occurs overnight, benefitting from off‐peak electricity tariffs. Some
versions may offer user access control if security and selective access is
needed, and energy monitoring is a feature to enable an accurate record of
electricity used. Some manufacturers’ home charge points may permit users to
remotely monitor the status of the charge point and to change settings or
switch charging on or off without being present.
Charge point
As well as the standard 3‐pin 13amp household plug and socket, there is also
an industrial standard ‘Blue Commando’ connector. The Blue Commando is
inherently weatherproof and rated at 16 amps, which provides an extra
element of safety. Some public charge points are fitted with a Blue Commando
socket, although the majority currently have a standard 3‐pin household
socket.
Using your charge point
When using your charge point, make sure that you follow a few simple rules:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Make sure your cable is dry and undamaged before use
If your cable is coiled, fully unwind it before use
Never use an extension lead to charge your vehicle
Connect the charging cable at both ends before switching on the socket
Switch off the socket before removing the cable from either end
When you’ve finished charging, store your cable away safely.
Getting the most out of your home charge point
If you are using an electric vehicle, it’s likely that you want to save money and
reduce your carbon footprint. Off‐peak energy generally has lower carbon
intensity as wind and nuclear contribute a bigger percentage of the electricity
generated at these times. Off‐peak electricity can also be cheaper if you switch
to an ‘Economy 7’ type tariff.
To take advantage of cheaper electricity you will need to start charging your
EV after the cheaper tariff starts. Dedicated home charging units can schedule
charging during off‐peak periods for you, so you can plug the vehicle in when
you get home and have a charged‐up vehicle by morning.