Designing Your Home Garage for EV Charging

Just as the popularisation of automobiles made garages and carports standard features of new homes in the 20th century, current advancements in electric vehicle (EV) technology are incentivising homeowners to explore EV charging point installation in the UK. Installing a purpose-built EV charger at home offers several benefits for both homeowners and the wider community, making the investment worthwhile. Three of the most important advantages include:

Convenience

Charging your EV at home provides you with the utmost convenience. No more trips to public charging stations or waiting in line. All you have to do is simply plug in your vehicle when you're not using it and wake up to a fully charged battery—much like you would with your mobile phone.

Cost Savings

Home charging tends to be more cost-effective than using public charging points. You can further increase your savings by taking advantage of off-peak electricity rates to reduce your charging expenses, potentially saving hundreds of pounds a year. Moreover, properly installed home chargers can even boost the value of your property, making them a truly worthy investment.

Environmental Impact

Home charging allows you to control the source of your electricity, making it possible to opt for renewable energy sources and further reduce your carbon footprint. If your place of work also invests in workplace EV charger installation, the subsequent positive impact on the environment can be magnified.

Steps for Creating the Ideal Home Charging Setup

While it’s possible to charge an EV or hybrid vehicle from a regular UK 3-pin standard 220-240V home outlet, this tends to be several times slower than using a typical public EV charger. This is because public EV chargers are specifically designed to rapidly deliver the amount of current that modern EV batteries need for a fast charge. Installing a proper home EV charging point in your garage or near your carport will give you the same rapid charging capabilities at the convenience of your home.

Here’s what you need to do to safely integrate an EV charging point in your garage:

Find Out What Setup You Need

While there are a variety of EV charging systems available on the market, not all of them will necessarily be a good fit for your home, vehicle, or lifestyle. Even if you don’t have an EV yet, consider your daily driving needs and research the setup that best aligns with your driving habits and your future EV’s needs. If you need to accommodate multiple EVs, be sure to consider that factor as well.

Determine the Ideal Layout for Your Charging Point

Strategically plan the location of your EV charging point within your garage or carport. Accessibility, proximity to the incoming electrical supply, and the convenience of parking should all be taken into account. If your charger needs Wi-Fi access, you may also want to test and optimise the point’s location so that you won’t have to purchase a Wi-Fi extender.

Assess Your Home's Electrical System

Before diving into the installation process, evaluate your home's electrical infrastructure. Ensure that your electrical supply can handle the additional load required for charging your EV. In general, you’ll want your house to have at least an 80-amp cut-out fuse, with more amps being better to comfortably accommodate the EV charger as well as your home’s other appliances.

In the UK, many older homes may have electrical systems that offer less capacity than this. In a few cases, an upgrade may be necessary to accommodate the projected increase in power demand. You can book a home survey of your electrical system to determine whether you might need an upgrade.

Find a Professional Electrician to Update Your Home Electrical System

If your home electrical system needs to be updated, be sure to hire professional electrical contractors to make the upgrades. This should help ensure that your charging system can be installed without issues later on. More importantly, hiring professional contractors should help guarantee that the job is done to the highest safety standards. Simply run a search online for “EV charger installer near me” to find a reputable electrical contracting company that specialises in EV charging infrastructure.

Purchase and Install the EV Charging System that Best Suits Your Needs

After determining your charging requirements and ensuring that your home’s electrical system is up to the task, you’re now ready to choose an EV charging system for your garage. Some systems are fairly straightforward, while others offer smart features intended to ensure a seamless and sustainable home charging experience for your electric vehicle.

In any case, you can get in touch with an electrical contracting company that specialises in EV charging point installations to get a better idea of different systems’ feature sets. Once you’ve decided on a system, you can give your contractors the go-ahead to install it in your home.

As electrical vehicles become more popular, it will become more important for homeowners and property developers to either build EV-friendly spaces or repurpose existing infrastructure to better accommodate EVs. Being methodical in your approach to updating your home garage for EV charging not only enhances the practicality of electric vehicle ownership but also does away with the pitfalls of hasty installations. Implementing thoughtful design may even help contribute to a seamless transition into the EV era, ensuring sustainable and efficient charging in your home.