If you have an electric vehicle, you’ll be aware that only a handful of places in the UK can charge it. With the recent announcements by Jaguar Land Rover and Volkswagen of their plans to add EV technology to their models, this is set to change soon.
However, suppose you want to use your EV while it’s charging or wish to guarantee yourself some extra choice on who can help you with this. In that case, we’ve compiled a list of the best home EV chargers that provide guidance and tools for drivers wishing to charge up at home, as well as one to stay away from, for 2024 in the UK.
How to charge an electric vehicle at home?
Want to have a “full tank” each morning? The ordinary driver will only need to charge at home each evening to have enough power for their daily commute.
You can charge a standard three-pin domestic outlet, but a dedicated home EV charger is far better and quicker.
Dedicated EV home chargers deliver about 7kW of electricity. In contrast, most automakers limit the current amount that can be pulled from a typical domestic 3-pin socket to 10A or less or a maximum of 2.3kW.
How much does installing an EV chargers in your home cost?
A household charge point typically costs around £800.
The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) presently grants up to 75% of this cost, with a maximum award of £350, via its Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme.
You might be qualified for an OZEV-funded grant toward the price of a home charge station if you own or have direct access to an electric vehicle (EV) and off-street parking.
We at Car Analytics provide various vehicle check services with free car checks to reveal the hidden history of used cars in the UK, which offers peace of mind to a wide range of customers.
The best home EV chargers to buy in 2024 are:
(in alphabetical order)
- Andersen A2
- Easee One
- EO Mini Pro 3
- EVBox Elvi
- Myenergi Zappi
- Ohme Home Pro
- Wallbox Pulsar Plus
Andersen A2
Andersen features a unique cable and plug storage system that helps to keep them out of sight, providing a more streamlined look. An LED light on the front panel indicates when the charger is active.
The Andersen charger is available in various colours for its front and body, and you can upgrade the cover to various wood and metal finishes to suit your personal taste.
The charger comes in two versions: the 7kW model offers a choice of either a 5.5m or 8.5m cable, while the 22kW version has a 6.5m cable. Although one’s sense of style may vary, the Andersen is unquestionably a sleek device—partially because it lets you hide the wire and plug when not in use for a more streamlined appearance. When the charger is used, it is indicated by an LED light on the front panel.
Easee One
Easee One electric charger is a small and discreet charger that comes in five different colors – white, red, dark blue, anthracite and black. This charger was explicitly developed for the UK market and comes with a remote control app called the Easee App that allows you to control your charging from anywhere.
With 4G internet access, you can install up to three Easee units on a single fuse, charging three cars from one location simultaneously. The power is split evenly between the three vehicles, so you don’t have to worry about one car getting more power than the others. The charger also comes with automatic over-the-air software updates that keep it up to date-and running smoothly.
EO Mini Pro 3
EO aims to dominate the market for charging vehicle fleets and provide significant businesses with a commercial charging box. The business’s most recent domestic EV chargers, the Mini Pro 3, will be available soon.
The new Pro 3 is tidy, organized, and attractive while being small, roughly the size of an A5 notebook. It is sturdy and can be installed on a wall or a post for indoor or outdoor use.
The new unit, designed for nightly 7kW charging, can also be turned up to a quick 22kW capacity. Either a five-meter tethered wire or a universal socket is available.
The available EO Mini Pro 2 is a portable EV charger installation that can be used in homes, cars and workplaces. It is compatible with all Tesla, Nissan and Volkswagen car models and other brands like BMW, Audi and Mercedes.
The EO Mini Pro 2 has two charging ports to charge two vehicles simultaneously. You can also use it with other hypervolt EV chargers if you want to charge more than one vehicle.
EVBox Elvi
Since 2010, EVBox has provided charging options, initially focusing on enterprises. There are samples of how many miles a particular level (for example, Level 1) charging station will bring you each hour, which helps illustrate the various groups and rates of charging pretty effectively.
EVBox Elvi is a wireless charger for your electric vehicles. The wireless charger is compatible with all EVs and lets you charge your car wirelessly through a standard household outlet.
The unit is easy to install; plug it into an electrical socket and place it anywhere in the room you want to use it. The team has a built-in battery that will charge your vehicle while plugged in, so you won’t have to worry about running out of power while charging your EV.
The device features an LED indicator light that will show you when it’s ready to be used or if there are any problems with the connection between the device and your car battery.
Myenergi Zappi
Myenergi Zappi is a smart home charger for electric vehicles. The purpose of Myenergi is to optimize domestic electricity use. The device can charge your vehicle in about five to seven hours. It can be connected to the home Wi-Fi network, so you can easily monitor your car’s charging status anywhere in the world.
The Zappi has three charging options: rapid, eco, and eco+ mode. Fast charge uses both the grid and renewable energy sources to provide swift power (continuously monitored to pause car charging if there is too much consumption elsewhere in your house).
The gadget is pin code protected to prevent unauthorized users from using it, and timers can be configured to charge at the most economical times. Remote access to the device is also available.
The Myenergi Zappi app allows you to control your car’s charging process remotely and track its battery level and other helpful information. The device also has a safety feature that ensures your vehicle doesn’t overcharge when plugged into its external charger.
Zappi has a three-year warranty and starts at £779. 7kW single-phase or 22kW three-phase options are available.
Ohme home pro
The Ohme Home Pro is a self-charging EV charger installed at home, garage, or workplace. It’s designed to charge up to seven vehicles at once and has a built-in display showing each vehicle’s charging status.
The Ohme Home Pro is compatible with most major EV brands, including Tesla, Nissan, BMW and Audi. The Ohme Home Pro can be powered via AC or DC mains (220V). You can also connect it to your existing car charger if you have one. This makes it a flexible option for those who want to install only part of the charging station in their home.
The “lead” wall box on the site is their new Home Pro charger, which costs £949 when completely installed.
Wallbox Pulsar Plus
The Pulsar Plus and Pulsar Max are the company’s two primary charging stations for residential use.
The Pulsar Max is the brand’s newest model; it has a sturdy, streamlined design suitable for indoor and outdoor use and is offered in six vibrant colours to match your home’s decor. The device provides consumers with intelligent charging suggestions so you may get cheap supplies, for example, overnight while you sleep. It is also capable of delivering up to 22kW of power.
The Pulsars can be operated remotely using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and the Max can even take voice instructions from Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa.
The Plus and Max prices start at £589 and £639, respectively. The installation fee is £475, and the warranties on both units are three years.
Wallbox Pulsar Plus is a home EV charger with a built-in smart thermostat, allowing you to regulate your home’s temperature. The Plus is the smallest charger available from Wallbox; at just 16 cm by 16 cm, it fits perfectly in most garages. It has a five-meter cable and Type 1 or 2 connectors and can speed up charging to 22kW. (optional seven meters).
This device works well with all EVs but is especially good at dealing with those plugged in while charging.
The Wallbox Pulsar Plus can be installed in any room of your house and will automatically adjust the temperature based on how much power you’re using. This means charging an EV in winter or summer won’t make you uncomfortable.
The Wallbox Pulsar Plus also has an advanced safety system that prevents overcharging and overheating, so you never have to worry about your EV getting damaged while it charges.
Also read: Tips to know before switching to electric vehicles.
Wrapping Up
Charging an electric vehicle (EV) is a giant leap forward in sustainable transportation. After all, EVs are powered by electricity, so, like powering a conventional car, two critical elements are needed: how much you can power and what type of charging system you use. But replacing your gas-powered vehicle will be expensive if you don’t have a way to set it with the same amount of money. That’s why EV charging is growing in popularity.
