The time it takes to physically install one single-phase EV charger typically takes around 2-3 hours to complete (based on a standard home EV charger installation without additional work).
However, the actual length of time will depend upon where you are having your charge point installed (for example, detached garages will take longer), the number of chargers to be installed, and whether any time-consuming work is required, and in turn, more materials and labour are needed (such as routing the cabling underground).
Some electric vehicle charger installations may require significantly more work. Examples of these situations include installing the ChargeArm or large commercial installations. The installation timescale for these chargers takes longer because they are more complex and larger in size.
That said, the timeline for purchasing, planning and installing an electric car charger is different to the time it takes to actually install the charger. Unlike phone chargers, which you can easily purchase online and have delivered straight to your door to start using from the get-go, home EV chargers require more thought and are significantly more technical than one might originally think.
In fact, EV charger installations can take weeks, if not months, to plan, schedule and handle the necessary requirements and permissions for a safe, legally compliant electric vehicle charger installation.
In this blog, we will take you through the steps required to have an EV charger safely and legally installed on your property.
Home EV chargers provide an abundance of benefits. But, contrary to popular belief, EV chargers are not universal and actually come in a variety of shapes, sizes, designs and speeds – not to mention different smart features.
For example, some EV chargers can help you make significant cost savings. The neat and discreet Ohme Home Pro, for example, can sync with your energy tariff to charge at the cheapest rates available to you – saving you up to £600 per year. Others, such as the VCHRGD Seven, come with solar integration, meaning as long as you have a solar PV system, you can top-up your EV charge with free solar energy.
Once you’ve enquired with a reputable, experienced EV charger installation company (do not try to install a charger yourself), let them take you through the electric vehicle charger options to find the best charger to suit your needs. Or, read our blog on the best EV chargers 2024.
Once you’ve enquired about the charger, a site survey is crucial to assess where you meet the installation requirements (such as off-street parking), in addition to whether you would fall into a standard installation or non-standard.
A standard installation price, like the name suggests has the installation included, as well as the the charger itself, labour and materials – like a package holiday, where everything you need is included. If your installation is non-standard, the cost to install an EV charger will more be as you will unfortunately be subject to additional costs.
The survey involves evaluating your property’s electrical capacity (power supply), determining the best location for the EV charger, and assessing any additional requirements, such as the cable length (the distance between your meter box and where you want your EV charger) and questions regarding Wi-Fi connection. The duration of this phase can vary but generally takes a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on the complexity of the installation site. Learn more about the factors to consider in an EV charger installation in our blog.
Usually, this happens via a free online site survey, where we will ask you to take images or videos of the cable route, in addition to any water and gas earth bonding. If you are struggling, feel free to reach out to the installation company, as they will be able to help you through the process.
In cases where it is difficult to see the layout of the property or where the installations look complex, companies will send an engineer to undertake an in-person site survey. Typically, this will come at a small fee, which will be deducted from the final price if you decide to go ahead with the installation.
Once the best EV charging solution for you has been sorted and the route of the charger has been installed, you will have to make payment for your chosen charger. Because of the complexity of the installation, and the value of the electric vehicle chargers, payment will be required upfront – just like any other high-ticket electrical equipment costs, such as fridges or TVs.
Finance options may be available for you to spread the cost of an EV charger over time.
Our home EV chargers have finance options for you to choose from.
Securing the necessary approval from your local Distribution Network Operator (DNO) is a crucial step in the installation process. The timeline for DNO approval can vary significantly based on your location and your local DNO. In some areas and cases, the DNO process is straightforward and quick, while in others, it could take several weeks – or sometimes months.
Additionally, in some cases, your existing electrical infrastructure at home may need a fuse upgrade to accommodate the increased load of an EV charger. Again, the duration of these upgrades can extend the overall installation timeline by a few days to weeks.
Notifying the DNO is mandatory, and installation companies cannot go ahead without approval. Delays waiting for DNO approval are, therefore, not the fault of the installation company.
Other permissions may also be needed, such as landlord permission if you rent or permission to install from your council if you choose the ChargeArm. To find all required permissions, please read our blog on permits and permissions.
Any eligible grant paperwork will also be completed during this time-frame, handled by your chosen installation company. Currently, for residents, only flat owners and renters are eligible for a £350 grant off a home charger. Commercial grants are also available, too. Learn more about the available grants.
Once DNO approval has been given, your chosen installation company will contact you to schedule and book your installation date.
To avoid disappointment, we recommend purchasing your EV charger once you have ordered your electric car, or as soon as you have received it.
Find the full details on DNOs and their involvement in EV charger installations.
On your EV charger installation day, your qualified electrician or engineer will arrive promptly at the given time and start installing your charger. Make sure to ensure there’s plenty of space for the installer and no objects in their way to make the installation as smooth as possible. A cup of tea would be greatly appreciated by the engineer, too.
Once the installation has been completed and your engineer has tested that your charger works correctly and everything is in place, they will take you through how to use your EV charger and demonstrate how any smart features work. Feel free to ask your engineer any questions you have – EV chargers are new technology, so don’t be afraid to ask any questions.
Remember, at We Power Your Car, we are here for you before, during, and after your installation, so if you think of any questions post-installation, you can contact us at 03333 44 96 99 for support and advice.
You’re all set to take advantage of cheaper, greener and more convenient electric car charging with your installed home charger, but we will make sure to check in after the installation to make sure everything is working as it should and to receive feedback.
You will also receive an Electric Installation Certificate (EIC) post-installation – this document shows that your charger is compliant with regulations and safety standards. What’s more, you should receive a compliance certificate to show that your chosen EV charger complies with the Smart Charging Points Regulations.
While the timeline for EV charger installation can vary, a general estimate is approximately two to four weeks from the initial assessment to the completion of the installation process for home chargers. However, it’s crucial to note that this timeline is a broad average, and actual duration may vary based on the specific circumstances of your installation – especially as home EV charging is becoming more and more popular, meaning installations companies are busier and the time-frames longer.
To make the process simpler, proactive communication with your chosen installation provider, understanding regulations and requirements, and having your property ready for the site survey can contribute to a smoother and faster installation experience.
Electric vehicles (EVs) are already cheaper to run than petrol and diesel vehicles, but, you can save even further by investing in a smart EV charger.
At We Power Your Car, we handle the entire installation process, whether for a home charger, or commercial. From enquiry to post-installation, we handle everything on your behalf and keep you updated every step of the way.
View our range of market-leading chargers now, contact us at 03333 44 96 99, or fill in the form below. Our expert advisors are available seven days a week to offer you unbiased advice, including bank holidays and weekends.
But don’t just take our word for it – view our recent Trustpilot reviews.
For more information and our latest updates, make sure you’re following us on social media. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Or, read our recent blog posts below.
Enter your information below, and one of our expert advisors will be in touch shortly.
This type of electric charger has it's own cable to charge your car.
This type of electric charger requires a seperate cable to charge your car.
Spread over a 60 month period.
Tenants and homeowners are eligible for finance.
You decide the amount of months.
Minimum of £1000.
We will contact you to process the credit application. Approval is subject to application, financial circumstances and borrowing history. 13.9% APR representative. T&Cs apply.
Your order is not confirmed until your application has been approved.
We lay SWA cable laid at 600mm deep, with a protective cable warning tape laid 150mm above the cable. These are laid on a sand or sifted sand soil bed then backfilled.
We position overhead cables at a minimum height of 3.5m and are run along a catenary wire. The cable run should not be accessible to vehicles.
Standard Installation
Our instant price is fixed if it falls within our standard installation package plus any additions that you have selected (extra cabling for example). This package covers the majority of homes in the UK. Before we undertake your installation we will carry out a digital survey to check that nothing has been missed. After reviewing the survey results some additional work may be required in order to complete your installation safely and to the required standards. If this is the case, we will contact you well before the installation date and advise the cost of any required work. You can then continue with your installation, or alternatively we will refund you in full if you do not want to proceed.
Included in our standard installation is :
• Fitting of a single phase charge point to a brick or plaster wall or other suitable permanent structure
• Up to 10 metres of cable, run and neatly clipped to the wall between the electricity supply meter / distribution board and the charge point.
• Routing of the cable through a drilled hole in a wall up to 500mm (20 inches) thick if this is needed.
• The fitting and testing of electrical connections and protections required for the charge point.
• An additional three way consumer unit, if required
• Installation of a Type A RCBO in an RCBO enclosure
• Up to 3 metres of plastic trunking to conceal interior wiring.
• An O-pen earth protection device if the charge point requires it. (This is NOT an earth rod)
• Up to 4 hours of labour from your installer to complete the work.
• Electrical testing of the whole installation.
• Handover and setup of the charge point and any app that may be needed.
Not included in our standard installation (additional work) :
• Where the installation requires additional cabling over and above the amount you have told us about.
• Upgrade/replacement of the main incoming supply fuse where the local DNO (eg Northern Powergrid) would need to attend site.
• If the charge point is to be mounted on a post/pedestal rather than an existing wall and where you have not selected a post as an extra cost option in your order.
• Installation of a charge point to a three phase supply.
• Where gas and water mains bonding (earthing) is not in place at your property. If this is not in place, additional work would be required before installation of the charge point.
• Any groundwork that has not been selected during the order process.
A Surge Protection Device is not included in our standard installation.
What else you need to know :
• On the day of installation, please ensure that the area around your consumer unit (fuse box), incoming electricity supply meter and proposed charge point location (including where the cable is expected to be run) is clear and free of obstructions.
• We will need your WiFi password as part of the installation process in order to connect your charge point to the internet. Please have this available for the installer. Details will not be kept.
• The charge point must be on your own designated off road parking.
• The charger will be fixed in line with current guidelines at a height where it cannot be hit by a vehicle.
• Our installers are not able to enter loft spaces; lift floorboards or flooring; take apart any furniture of work above a height of 2m. If you anticipate that any of this may be required, then please contact us and we can discuss in more detail and provide you with a quotation.
• Should there be extreme weather conditions our installers may not be able to continue with you installation if it is not safe to do so (for example flooding). They will always do their best to complete the work where they can.
If you have any questions then please contact our customer service team who will be happy to help. Please also read our terms and conditions.
