Guides
EV charging guides
Straightforward answers to the questions homeowners ask us most.
How much does an EV charger installation cost?
What actually drives the price of a home EV charger installation, and how to budget for it.
How long does EV charger installation take?
A realistic guide to installation timescales, from booking to switch-on.
What is the best home EV charger?
There's no single best charger — here's how to think about the choice.
Do I need a smart EV charger?
What a smart charger actually does, and whether it makes sense for you.
Can I install an EV charger at a house with no driveway?
Your options if you rely on street parking rather than a driveway.
Can I install an EV charger at a flat?
What to consider if you live in a flat or apartment.
Ohme vs Zappi
Two of the most popular smart chargers in the UK, compared at a glance.
Zappi vs Hypervolt
Comparing solar-friendly charging against a compact, minimal design.
Tesla charger installation
What's involved in installing Tesla's home charger.
EV charger installation requirements
A plain-English overview of what a home installation typically involves.
EV charger installation cost for a terraced house
What tends to affect price on a terraced street, and what to check before you get a quote.
EV charger installation cost for a semi-detached house
How driveways, side access and consumer unit location typically affect price.
EV charger installation cost for a detached house
Why larger plots and longer cable runs are the main cost factor for detached homes.
EV charger grants in the UK
A plain-English look at the government grant schemes that can help with the cost of a chargepoint, and who they apply to.
Cheapest ways to charge an EV at home
How tariffs, timing and smart chargers combine to bring down the cost of home charging.
Why is my EV charger not working?
Common reasons a home charger stops working, and when to call in a professional.
Wallbox EV charger installation: what to expect
A plain-English guide to having a Wallbox home charger installed in the UK — what the job involves, what affects the price, and how to find a suitable installer.
Wallbox Pulsar Plus: is it the right home charger?
What the Wallbox Pulsar Plus offers, who it suits, and what to check before you ask an installer to fit one.
Wallbox vs Ohme: which home charger should you choose?
A fair comparison of two popular smart home chargers — design, app, tariff features and who each suits best.
What is a wallbox? Home EV charging explained
In UK usage a "wallbox" is simply a wall-mounted home EV charger. Here is what one does, how it differs from a three-pin plug and what it takes to fit one.
Tethered vs untethered EV charger: which is better?
The difference between a home charger with a fixed cable and one with a socket, and how to choose.
7kW vs 22kW home EV charger: what can your home handle?
Why nearly every UK home uses a 7kW charger, and what a 22kW three-phase charger actually requires.
Can I install an EV charger myself?
Why home EV charger installation should be done by a qualified electrician, and what the rules require.
Do I need planning permission for an EV charger?
When a home EV charger is permitted development, and the situations where you need to check first.
EV charger earthing (PME) explained
Why earthing matters for outdoor EV chargers, what PME means, and why some quotes include an earth rod.
How to choose an EV charger installer
What to check before you accept a quote for a home EV charger installation.
EV charger installation checklist: get ready before the survey
A short checklist to prepare for your installer, so you get an accurate quote and a smooth install.
EV charger installation cost in Newcastle
What drives the price of a home EV charger installation in Newcastle, from inner-city terraces to the driveways of Gosforth and Jesmond.
EV charger installation cost in Durham
How Durham's mix of historic streets, conservation areas and newer estates affects the cost of a home EV charger installation.
EV charger installation cost in Sunderland
What affects the cost of a home EV charger installation in Sunderland, from riverside terraces to suburban driveways.
EV charger installation cost in Gateshead
How Gateshead's riverside terraces and outer estates change the cost and complexity of a home EV charger installation.
EV charger installation cost in Middlesbrough
What shapes the price of a home EV charger installation in Middlesbrough, from inner Victorian terraces to Coulby Newham and Nunthorpe.
EV charger installation cost in the North East
What to expect when pricing a home EV charger installation across County Durham, Tyne and Wear, Northumberland and Teesside.
How much does it cost to charge an electric car at home?
A simple way to work out your home charging cost per charge and per mile, and how tariffs change the answer.
Octopus Intelligent Go vs Octopus Go: which suits an EV owner?
The practical differences between two popular EV tariffs from Octopus Energy, and which kind of driver each suits.
Electric car vs petrol: how do running costs compare?
How to compare EV and petrol running costs fairly, and why home charging makes the biggest difference.
How to choose an EV electricity tariff
What to compare when picking a tariff for home EV charging, from overnight rates to standing charges and smart-meter requirements.
Do I need a new consumer unit for an EV charger?
When a consumer unit upgrade is needed before an EV charger can be fitted, and what it adds to the job.
EV charger with a long cable run: what it means for cost
Why the distance between your consumer unit and your parking space can change the price of an EV charger installation.
Home EV charger for a company or lease car
What to think about before installing a home charger for a company car, salary sacrifice car or lease car.
Three-phase EV charger at home: is it worth it?
What a three-phase supply is, whether your home has one, and whether a faster charger would actually help.
Running an EV charger cable across the pavement in Newcastle
What terraced-street homeowners in Newcastle need to know about crossing a public footpath with a home charger cable.
Running an EV charger cable across the pavement in Durham
Permission, conservation areas and alternatives for Durham homeowners without a driveway.
Running an EV charger cable across the pavement in Sunderland
What Sunderland terrace and rental homeowners should know before planning a charger cable across a footpath.
Running an EV charger cable across the pavement in Gateshead
How to approach Gateshead Council about a cable across a public footpath, and the alternatives if it is not possible.
EV charger keeps tripping the RCD or electrics
Why a home EV charger might trip your consumer unit, and why it should be looked at by a professional.
Smart EV charger offline or not connecting to Wi-Fi
Simple checks to try when a smart home charger shows as offline in its app.