While it is possible to charge your electric car with the 3-pin plug charger cable that came with your vehicle, it is slow and offers fewer options than a dedicated charge point. The reasons a dedicated charge point is better are:

Safety

Charging an electric car requires a high and consistent electric current over a long period. It is generally considered that a standard electrical socket is unsuitable for such a prolonged period of use and may cause overheating of the socket. The condition of your supply and its earthing must also be taken into consideration. A hidden problem could be dangerous and cause damage to your vehicle.

Faster Charging
A 2.3kW 3-pin plug adds around 10 miles of distance to your battery in an hour's charge. In comparison, a typical 7.4kW dedicated charging device will add around 30 miles every hour the car is connected. 

Convenience
Most EV owners charge overnight with a dedicated wall-mounted device, which means they wake up to a fully charged vehicle every morning and then charge at work to top up their range.

While this differs depending on the vehicle, electric cars have much lower running and maintenance costs than petrol or diesel. They have fewer moving parts, do not require oil or filter changes and have zero-rated UK road tax.

No, you should not install your own electric car charge point. Mains electricity if mishandled can be highly dangerous. We strongly advise against fitting your own EV charge point and instead recommend using an OZEV-approved EV charger installation company such as ourselves, SES. Our engineers are all experienced engineers and are qualified to carry out all the necessary electrical work. They very familiar with the EV chargers themselves and are able to set them up correctly and demonstrate how to use them. Not all electricians are qualified to install an EV Charge point. Please ask to see certification before the work commences.

At SES installations, we do not restrict ourselves to any particular EV charge point manufacturer. It is a significant advantage as we can recommend the most appropriate EV charger that fits your requirements. For instance, many charge points have lots of hardware and software which enable functions and features you may never use - but are part of the cost of the unit. By selecting a charger for you from a wide range of reputable brands, we can propose a tailored recommendation for you or your company. A customised solution can save you money; moreover, the range of units and what each can do, is expanding all the time and we are constantly reviewing new models and brands.

The government standard grant to homeowners is no longer active. Domestic flats and apartments can receive help with costs.

Companies installing EV charging at work can still receive up to £350 per charging point. Please ask us for details - we are approved installers.