If you've just bought an electric vehicle — or you're about to — getting a dedicated home charger is one of the best investments you can make. Charging from a standard 3-pin socket is slow and over time can stress your household wiring. A dedicated 7kW home charger is faster, safer, and smarter.
Here's everything you need to know before you book.
Do you need a dedicated EV charger?
Technically, you can charge an EV from a standard 13A socket using a Mode 2 cable (the cable that comes with most cars). But this gives you roughly 2.3kW — meaning a 60kWh battery takes 26+ hours to charge from empty. It's also not designed for continuous overnight use on a standard socket.
A dedicated 7kW home charger (Mode 3) is the right answer for most homeowners. It's roughly 3× faster than a 3-pin socket, uses a proper dedicated circuit, and includes smart features like scheduled charging and load management.
Types of home EV charger
All home chargers are AC chargers — DC fast charging requires commercial infrastructure. The main difference is power output:
- 3.7kW (16A single phase) — slower, sometimes used where the property's electrical supply is limited
- 7kW (32A single phase) — the standard for most homes; fully charges a typical EV overnight
- 22kW (32A three phase) — requires a 3-phase supply, which most domestic properties don't have
For the vast majority of London homes, a 7kW charger is the right choice.
Popular home charger brands
There are several reputable manufacturers of home EV chargers in the UK:
- Ohme — smart scheduling, integrates with Octopus Go and other EV tariffs
- Zappi (myenergi) — popular with solar PV owners as it can charge from excess solar
- Wallbox Pulsar Plus — compact, app-connected, good for properties with limited space
- Indra Smart PRO — UK-made, smart tariff integration
We can supply and install any of these, or install a charger you've purchased yourself.
How much does home EV charger installation cost?
At Royal Docks Electrical, EV charger installation starts from £750 + VAT for a standard installation including the charger unit. This covers:
- Supply and installation of a 7kW smart charger
- Dedicated circuit from the consumer unit
- Earthing and RCD protection
- Completion certificate
Additional costs may apply if cable runs are long, if trunking is required on exposed external walls, or if your consumer unit needs an upgrade first.
OZEV grants — are you eligible?
The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) EV chargepoint grant offers up to £350 off the cost of a home charger, but eligibility rules changed in April 2022. The grant is now only available to:
- Residents of flats (both rented and owned)
- People who live in rental accommodation (houses as well as flats)
- People who live in listed buildings
Homeowners in standard houses are no longer eligible. We can advise on your specific situation and help with the grant application if you qualify.
What happens on installation day?
A standard installation takes 2–3 hours. Our engineer will:
- Assess your consumer unit and existing supply
- Agree the cable route to the charger location with you
- Run a dedicated circuit from the consumer unit
- Mount and connect the charger
- Commission the unit and set up the app if applicable
- Issue you with a completion certificate
You don't need to take a full day off — it's a half-day job in most cases.
Can you charge an EV in a flat or leasehold property?
This is more complex. If you own your flat on a leasehold, you'll typically need written permission from the freeholder to install a charger. In a block with shared parking, you may need a communal charging solution rather than a single home unit.
We've helped a number of E14 and E16 apartment owners navigate this — call us and we'll walk through your specific situation.
EV charger installation from £750 + VAT
Supply and install of a smart 7kW charger. Dedicated circuit, completion certificate, same-week availability.
Call 020 7473 7807FAQ
Most straightforward installations take 2–3 hours. If cable runs are long or trunking is required along external walls, it may take half a day. We'll give you a realistic time estimate when we survey the job.
Not always. We'll check your consumer unit when we survey. If there's a spare way and the overall supply is adequate, no upgrade is needed. If your board is old (no RCDs, or only a partial RCD board) we may recommend an upgrade for safety reasons.
Yes — this is one of the main advantages of a smart home charger. Tariffs like Octopus Go offer very cheap electricity overnight (typically 1–6am). A smart charger can automatically schedule charging to these windows, typically cutting your charging cost by 50–60% vs daytime rates.