Can I get a free domestic charge point for my electric car?

With the recent huge boom in the number of electric car owners, more and more people in the UK are choosing to install electric car charging points at home. However, they don’t come cheap. A typical cost for a charge point plus installation is £1000 – but don’t let that put you off. The cheap running costs make the initial expense worthwhile. If you drive an electric car, it’s really worthwhile having a charging point at home, and these days you can get help to buy one. You’ll normally be eligible for a big grant, or you might get one free from the manufacturer when you buy an electric car.

Why get a home car charger?

There are several reasons why so many people are choosing to install their own charging points these days. Having your own charger gives you control over when and where you charge your car, rather than using a public charging point – and it’s also quicker and cheaper than using the mains. Depending on the voltage of the charger, it will charge your car 30-60% faster than mains electricity. It’s also more convenient than relying on public charging points, which often involve queuing and waiting around. Charging at home is also much cheaper than using public chargers.

Can I get a free home car charger?

Yes, in some cases – and if not, you can normally get a pretty big discount.  If you did not get a free charger as part of the deal when you bought your electric car, you could still get help with the costs. As mentioned, buying and installing a domestic charge point normally costs around £1000, depending which model you choose and which part of the country you live in. Higher-powered chargers cost more than lower-powered ones, because they charge your car considerably more quickly.

The Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) offers a grant of £500 to make installing a domestic charging point much more affordable. The money goes straight to the installer and is deducted from what they charge you. Often, this covers most of the installation cost, leaving you to pay for the charger itself. There are a couple of conditions for the scheme: you must have an eligible vehicle, and you must use an OLEV-approved installer.

For more information on government funding, read the official guidelines here.

It’s worth bearing charging in mind when shopping for an electric car that several manufacturers these days are offering free chargers as part of the deal. It’s possible that this may become the norm as the electric car market becomes saturated and manufacturers compete to offer the most attractive deals. It may turn out to be the most cost-effective way of doing things, so make sure to shop around (but obviously make sure you’re getting a good car, and not just the cheapest!)

Installing an EV charging point

Interested in having an electric car charging point installed in your home? We have scoured the country for the best tradespeople, so that we can make sure we only recommend those we really trust.

If you would like us to find you a local installer to help install an EV charging point in your home, just fill in the form below and we will be in touch shortly!