EV Chargers

Switching to an electric vehicle is only half the equation. To get the most from EV ownership, you need a home wallbox charger and the right electricity tariff to charge as cheaply as possible. Overnight EV tariffs can reduce your per mile energy cost to under 3p, a fraction of petrol costs. Switcheroo helps you find the cheapest EV electricity tariff to pair with your home charger.

Ofgem’s Q2 2025 price cap stands at £1,849 a year. Standing charges alone add up to around £338 across both fuels before you use a single unit.

This guide covers everything: types of home charger, installation costs, available grants, and the best overnight EV tariffs in the UK market.

Do You Need a Home EV Chargers?

Technically, you can charge from a standard  pin socket. But a dedicated home wallbox (7kW) charges approximately 4x faster, is safer for long term use, and qualifies for the EV Chargepoint Grant. For most EV owners who park at home, a wallbox is the right investment.

Types of Home EV Chargers

How Much Does a Home EV Charger Cost?

• Charger hardware, £500–£1,000 for a quality 7kW smart charger (Ohme, Andersen, Pod Point, Zappi).
• Installation, £200–£500 depending on cable run length and electrical upgrades needed.
• Total typical cost, £700–£1,500 installed.
• EV Chargepoint Grant, £350 government grant available for homeowners and flat owners. Applied by the installer.
• Net cost after grant, typically £350–£1,150.

The EV Chargepoint Grant

The UK government’s EV Chargepoint Grant provides £350 towards the cost of a home wallbox charger. The grant applies to homeowners, flat owners with dedicated parking, and some renters. It’s applied by your OZEV approved installer. You don’t claim it separately. Installers must be on the approved list. Find one at gov.uk/apply-for the electric vehicle homecharge scheme.

The Best EV Electricity Tariffs in 2026

The cheapest overnight EV tariffs reduce your charging cost to 7–10p/kWh, compared to the standard rate of 24–28p/kWh. At 8p/kWh, a 60kWh battery costs £4.80 to charge, under 2p per mile for a 250 mile range vehicle.

Which EV Tariff Is Best?

Intelligent Octopus Go is widely considered the best EV tariff for most drivers. It smar charges your car automatically at the cheapest overnight rate without you needing to set timers. Compare all available EV tariffs at your postcode on our Compare Electricity page.

Home charging is almost always cheaper per mile than public rapid chargers. At 7p per kWh on an overnight tariff versus 80p+ at motorway chargers, the maths strongly favours charging at home.

• Inform your home insurer that you’ve had a wallbox installed: it typically has no impact on premiums but is worth noting
• Check whether your energy supplier offers a dedicated EV tariff before installing, as it may affect which charger model works best
• Choose a smart charger that integrates with your energy tariff: overnight scheduling can halve your per mile charging cost
• Get at least two installation quotes, as prices vary considerably between installers
• Check whether your property is suitable: a dedicated off street parking space and a single phase electricity supply are the main requirements

Before You Install a Home EV Charger

The cost difference between home and public charging is stark. Charging at home on a standard tariff at 24p per kWh costs around £3.60 to add 50 miles of range to a typical mid size EV. On a smart overnight tariff at 7-9p per kWh, the same 50 miles costs just £1.05-1.35. Public rapid chargers on motorway services typically charge 79-89p per kWh,  up to 12 times the overnight home rate. This means a 200-mile top up that costs under £6 at home could cost £35+ on a rapid public charger. For households that can charge overnight, the annual saving versus predominantly using public chargers is often £500-£1,000 depending on mileage. The payback on a home wallbox installation (typically £800-1,200 installed) can be under two years for regular drivers.

EV Charging Costs: Home vs Public

Home EV chargers fall into two main categories. A trickle charger uses a standard 3 pin socket and adds around 8 miles of range per hour,  manageable if your commute is short but impractical for regular long distance drivers. A dedicated home wallbox is the smarter option: a 7kW unit adds around 30 miles per hour of charge, and most EVs with a 60kWh battery will go from near empty to full overnight. Some homes have a three phase electricity supply that can support a 22kW wallbox, adding up to 90 miles per hour,  typically only useful for larger battery vehicles or rapid partial charging. Popular wallbox brands include Ohme, Pod Point, Wallbox, and Zappi, each with slightly different smart features and app integration. Smart chargers that schedule charging for overnight cheap rate periods are well worth the marginal extra cost.

EV Charger Installation: What to Expect

Installing a home EV charger typically takes 3–4 hours and requires a qualified electrician certified by a scheme like NICEIC or NAPIT. The installation process involves assessing your consumer unit (fuse box) to ensure it has spare capacity,  most homes do, but older properties may need an upgrade. Cable routing from the consumer unit to the charger location is planned to avoid trip hazards and comply with safety standards. The electrician will install a dedicated circuit with its own breaker, essential for safe operation. Smart chargers (now mandatory in UK regulations) communicate with the grid and your EV, enabling features like off peak charging and load balancing. If your charger is rated 7kW or higher, the installer must notify your distribution network operator (DNO), though this doesn’t usually delay installation it’s just a notification for network planning. Installation costs typically range £500–£1,500 depending on cable run distance and consumer unit upgrades needed. Many installers offer payment plans, and the government’s OZEV scheme has provided £350 grants for eligible homeowners, though funding is limited. Book your installation well in advance; good installers have waiting lists.

EV Charging Costs: Home vs Public

Charging at home is dramatically cheaper than public charging. Most energy suppliers offer dedicated EV tariffs with off peak rates around 7p/kWh for overnight charging (10pm–7am), compared to 24p/kWh for daytime rates. A typical 40kWh battery (enough for 150 miles) charges for roughly £2.80 overnight on a dedicated EV tariff. This equates to approximately 1.8p per mile, vastly cheaper than petrol at £1.30/litre. Public rapid chargers cost 50p–£1.00/kWh, or £20–£40 per 40kWh charge. For a 150-mile journey, rapid charging costs £20–£40, compared to £2.80 at home. Standard (22kW) public chargers cost 25–40p/kWh. The cost per mile for public charging is 13–27p, comparable to petrol. Home charging is unbeatable for daily use; public charging is essential only for longer journeys. If you have off street parking and can install a home charger, the payback versus petrol/diesel is swift, easily under two years for average users. This financial advantage is a major reason EV adoption is accelerating in the UK.