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Getting an electric car can be an exciting but expensive experience. Usually costing over €20,000, you want to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth and that includes getting an electric car charger as well. In our guide, we’ll walk you through what an electric car charger is and how you can get one installed!
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What Is an Electric Car Charger at Home?
When you want to fill up your petrol or diesel tank, having to drive over to your closest petrol station can be a pain. With an EV (electric vehicle), you can solve that problem by getting yourself an electric car charger at home. This means that instead of needing to find a charging station, all you need to do is plug in your electric car at night and you’ll be fully charged for the next day!
How Does an Electric Car Charger Work?
Since electric cars work off an electrical battery rather than burning fossil fuels, every so often, the car will need to be charged up so you have enough power to get you to where you need. Instead of going to a petrol station, EV users will usually need to go to a specific EV charging station and plug in their car to charge it up.
An electric car charger works in the same ways as plugging in your phone to charge at night, except it’s a lot bigger! In fact, when you’re charging your electric car, it looks like you're filling it up with petrol! With an electric car charger at home, you will usually keep it in your garage so you can leave your car on charge during the night.
Can You Get Different Types of EV Chargers?
There are generally three types of electric carchargers that you’ll find which range in the amount of volts they offer. You can get Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 electric car chargers:
Level 1 EV Charger
Level 1 chargers use the standard 120-volt household outlets and are the slowest type of charger - usually taking up to 40 hours! These are the lower end chargers you can purchase as your electric car charger at home.
Level 2 EV Charger
Level 2 chargers are the most common type of charger used in public places (and in most homes). These chargers use between 220-240 volts and can charge an EV in less time than a Level 1 charger, usually between 3 to 8 hours.
Level 3 EV Charger
Level 3 chargers, also known as direct current (DC) fast chargers, use a much higher voltage. Level 3 chargers are capable of charging an EV in a matter of minutes.
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How Much Does an Electric Car Charger at Home Cost?
Electric car charge for your home can have a range of prices so it’s difficult to put an exact price on them. The price is going to vary depending on the type of the electric car andhow big the battery is as well as which level the charger is.
What’s the Price Range for an Electric Car Charger for Home?
For an electric car charger, you can usually expect to pay from around €500 up to €1000. This is quite a hefty price tag that’s added onto the rest of the costs of the price of the electric car so if you’re going to make the investment you should make sure you’re prepared for the full costs!
Can I Get a Grant for My Electric Car Charger at Home?
Thankfully, to offset the price of an electric car charger at home, there is a grant available. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) provides a grant of up to €600 for people who want to have an electric car charger at home. This can be quite a significant discount as well as an incentive for people to invest in getting an electric car themselves.
In order to be eligible for the SEAI grant for an electric car charger at home, you’ll need to:
Use a Safe Electric Registered Electrical Contractor
Be the owner of the property you want the installation
The property hasn’t received a grant for an EV charger before
In September 2022, the SEAI said that from then on, only smart chargers registered on Triple E would be eligible for the grant. This means that the charger you want to install will need to appear on the SEAI’s Triple E list of energy efficient products.
Can I charge my hybrid car at home? Unlike electric cars, a hybrid car doesn’t have a chargeable battery. In a hybrid car, the battery is charged from the regular fuel that you fill up your tank with. If you have a hybrid car, you can’t charge it with an electric car charger at home. Learn More in Our Hybrid Car Guide!
How Can I Install an Electric Car Charger at Home?
If you want to install an electric car charger at home, you will need to follow a few steps before doing so since you want to make sure you get it right. Depending on whether you decide to claim for the grant, there are some extra steps!
Choose Your EV Charger
Do your research on the types of electric car chargers that you can have at home. Look for the more reliable ones and the ones that will work best in your home. It might be worth calling an electrician to double check what level charger you might need.
Apply for the SEAI Grant
If you want to claim for the €600 SEAI grant for your electric car charger at home, you’ll need to apply on the SEAI website via their webform. You’ll need to include your personal details including your address and the details of the EV charger you’ve chosen.
Determine Where To Put the Charger
You should make sure you’re planning on putting the charger somewhere which is both near an electrical outlet and is also where you would usually park your electric car, for example, in the garage.
Call an Electrician To Install the Charger
You’ll then need to call an electrician to install the EV charger so you can make sure it's installed safely. It’s also important to remember that in order to qualify for the SEAI grant, you need to make sure that the electrician installing your electric car charger at home is a Safe Electric Registered Electrical Contractor.
Installation Process
The installation usually will take 2 to 4 hours. Your electrician will come around and talk to you about your chosen location for the installation and where to place it on the wall. You might have to turn off your electricity during the installation so it’s safe. If the installation is a little more tricky, it might take longer to get it installed.
Watch Out for Additional Costs
If you do have a more tricky installation, you might have to pay for some extra cables or load management. Just be aware that your electrician might recommend them if the installation for your property is less straightforward.
Once the installation is complete, your electrician will run through how it works and how to use your new electric car charger. They also want to test it before leaving to make sure everything works so you won’t need a return visit.
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Which Is the Best Electric Car Charger for My Home?
There are lots of options to pick from when it comes to getting an electric car charger at home. Many energy suppliers will also help with installing them for your home as well as many independent companies. You should definitely take the time to have a look around at the different options available before making your decision.
Company
EV Charger Name
Cost
Electric Ireland
Sync EV Smart Charger
from €1299
Energia
EO Mini Pro 2 Tethered
from €1450
Evocharge
Evse Ev Charger Standard
from €691
CarCharger
Zappi Tethered
from €827
EV Power Ireland
Wallbox Pullstar
from €627
Prices not inclusive of SEAI grant
Last updated: 12/01/2023
What does ‘tethered’ mean? A tethered electric car charger is one where the cable is attached to the box that is mounted on the wall. This means you can’t remove the cable from the box as it’s fixed. An untethered electric car charger is where the cable is sold separately and is detachable. In general, a tethered charger means that you don’t have to spend extra on getting a cable!
Is It an Electric Car Charger at Home Worth It?
Naturally, people who want to invest in an electric car are going to want to know whether it will save them money in the long run. When it comes to an electric car charger at home, what benefits are there and what drawbacks might it have?
Does an Electric Car Charger at Home Save Money?
Getting an electric car charger at home can definitely save you money in the long run, but it’s all a matter of what you choose for your energy tariff and your electricity consumption habits. Here’s a list of reasons why an electric car charger can save you money:
No Petrol or Diesel
Not needing to make trips to the petrol station is a big advantage of having an electric car charger at home. You don’t have to worry about driving around to find a station or about queuing since you’ll always be able to charge up at home.
Access to EV Energy Tariffs
Most major energy companies will offer special EV energy tariffs that makes your charging experience cheaper and doesn’t impact your normal energy use during the day. These EV tariffs usually include a special lower nightly rate so you can charge up your car for much less. Most of the EV tariffs are available with 100% renewable energy.
Saving Money at Home
Charging your electric car at home is generally cheaper than using public charging stations, particularly if you have solar panels or are on a time-of-use electricity plan.
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What Are the Pros and Cons of an Electric Car Charger at Home?
Of course, like everything, there are both pros and cons and having an electric car charger at home. Here’s a list of the major reasons why you should invest in getting a charger and why you should think carefully before making a decision:
Advantages of an Electric Car Charger
Good for the Environment
Having an electric car in general is much better for the environment than using a petrol car. Having an electric car will help the make as much impact as solar energy and wind energy so with more electric chargers at home, Ireland could achieve it’s Paris Agreement targets!
More Convenient
Having an electric car charger at home is also much more convenient than having to drive to find an electric charging point. Since the technology is still new, it sometimes requires careful planning when it comes to making journeys due to the limited availability of charging stations. Having an electric car charger at home eliminates the need to worry!
Faster Charging
Especially if you have a Level 2 charger at home, it will be generally faster than having a Level 1 charger which you might encounter at charging stations.
Increased Driving Range
Without needing to go to charging stations, by charging your electric car at home, you can take more trips without worrying about running out of power quicker than expected.
Increase Your House Value
Your electric car charger at home can add value to your house which can help with selling it in the future. Especially in the future, future buyers will be definitely interested in having an electric car charger in their home when electric cars are more normal.
Disadvantages of an Electric Car Charger
Installation Costs
Installation costs can be the major barrier when making the investment in an electric car charger at home. It can add to very hefty upfront costs that can make it feel like a worthwhile investment. However, you can always apply for the SEAI grant to get your charger installation discounted.
Slow Charging Speed
Sometimes, especially with older home’s with limited power supply, you might be left with really slow charging times which can be a nuisance. You should make sure that an electrician has given your property a look over to make sure having an electric car charger at home is viable.
Can Add To Bill
The impact on charging your electric car at home can be quite big on your bill. If you don’t get the right tariff or change your habits accordingly, you might end up paying more than what you were expecting to pay.
Safety Concerns
An improperly installed electric car charger can be dangerous, so it is important to make sure that the installation is done by a Safe Electric Registered Electrical Contractor who will make sure the charger is properly grounded.
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The services and products mentioned on this website may only represent a small selection of the options available to you. Selectra encourages you to carry out your own research and seek advice if necessary before making any decisions. We may receive commission from selected partner providers on sales of some products and/or services mentioned within this website. Our website is free to use, and the commission we receive does not affect our opinion or the information we provide.
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