Frequently Asked Questions

General

• What’s the difference between a three-pin plug and a wall-mounted charging system?

  Most electric vehicles are supplied with a three-pin plug as standard. This is the same as a domestic appliance plug. The problem with a three-pin plug is the speed of charge is very slow - a normal three-pin plug is limited to 3kW, whereas most wall-mounted charge points deliver up to 7.4kW of alternating current direct from your home’s electricity supply.

• What’s the difference between a tethered and an untethered charge point?

  A tethered charger has a cable that’s permanently attached - the best choice if you only have one vehicle to charge. An untethered charger is a more flexible option if you need to charge different models of vehicle as it allows you to swap between different cables.

• What’s the difference between slow, fast and rapid charging?

  A slow charge is your domestic three-pin plug. It can take overnight to charge a fully electric vehicle or between 2-4 hours for a hybrid.

  Fast charge units are the most common domestic chargepoints, charging an electric vehicle in around 3-6 hours.

  As the name suggests, rapid chargers are the speediest and can charge an electric vehicle to 80% in under an hour.

• Why should I purchase an EV charger from you instead of the vehicle manufacturer?

  Vehicle manufacturers’ lead times are traditionally long and branded units can be expensive. For a compatible EV charger supplied and fitted in no time at, you are better off using an approved installer like 247EV.

• What’s the difference between a Type 1 and Type 2 charger?

  Type 1 is a single phase cable used by early electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles which offers a slower charge of up to 22kW. Type 2 allows for faster charging of up to 43kW.

• How long does it take to charge an electric vehicle?

  The time it takes to charge an electric vehicle will depend on the size of your car’s battery and the speed of your charger. As a general rule, battery size divided by charging speed = time to charge.
  E.g., if your car has a 40kWh battery and you have a 7kw charger installed at your home, a full charge would take around 5 hours.

• How long is the warranty on your electric vehicle chargers?

  Most EV chargers come with an on-site 3-year warranty on parts and installation as standard.

• How much does it cost to charge an electric vehicle?

  Charging an electric car at home costs on average £8.40 for a full charge, but this varies depending on battery size, mileage and electricity tariff.

---

Domestic installations

• What will happen on the day of installation?

  Our installer will help choose the best position for your charger and will then fix the charger to an exterior wall by drilling into the wall. The mains power supply will need to be switched off briefly in order to install the RCBO (Residual current operated Circuit Breaker with Overcurrent protection) and connect it to the mains supply. Once the installation is complete our engineer will provide a full demonstration on how to use the charger and the engineer will require a sign off signature.

• How do you get the cable to go outside my property? Will you have to drill through walls?

  Our installer will need to drill a hole around 20mm in diameter and connect the cable to your mains distribution board/electricity supply meter. The cable will be neatly clipped to the wall between the distribution board and the ChargePoint.

• How long does it take to install a home EV charge point?

  Most domestic installations take between 2-3 hours.

• What is Active Load Management?

  Active Load Management protects the main cut out fuse at your property.  We fit a CT sensor over the main incoming power feed into the property.

  Once installed and configured, the charger monitors this consumption in real-time. In the event that charging would cause you to exceed the pre-set limit (usually 60amp), it automatically reduces the EV charging rate in order to protect your electrical wiring and avoid blowing the fuse in your meter whilst continuing to charge your vehicle.

• I am moving house. Can you arrange for an engineer to move my EV charger to my new property?

  Yes, we can arrange for an engineer to move your existing vehicle chargepoint to a new property, however you cannot apply for a grant to cover the cost of moving an existing chargepoint.

• How do home electric car chargers work?

  You can charge your electric car at any time of day and as often as you need to. It’s not always necessary to charge your car daily but drivers often choose to charge their car overnight. Overnight charging means you might be able to take advantage of cheaper off peak electricity rates and that your car is fully charged ready for the day ahead. You do not need to unplug once the battery is full, charging will stop automatically.

• Will the engineer need access to my property on installation day?

  Yes, they will need to access the mains distribution board/electricity meter inside your property.

• How quickly can you install a EV charger at my house?

  We can install your EV charger within 5 days subject to your network operator approval.

  Our simple to use survey will guide you through the process of applying for the £350 government grant.
  Subject to network operator approval we can supply and install your charger within 5 working days.

---

Grants for domestic chargepoints

• I am moving to a house with an old EV charger and I’d like a new one installed. Am I eligible for a grant?

  Yes, provided you have not previously received a grant.

• I already have one EV charger and received a grant for this. Can I apply for a grant for a second EV charger?

  Yes, you can apply for grants for up to two EV charging points at your property.

• How many chargepoints can I get grants for?

  Under the Office for Zero-Emission Vehicles (OZEV) grant scheme, you can claim for up to two charge points per household.

• Who is eligible for a grant?

  To qualify for a grant, you must:

  • Be the registered keeper of an eligible vehicle (or have ordered one)
  • Have your own off-street parking at your property
  • Install a smart charger model approved by the EVHS.
  • Be a homeowner who lives in a flat or lives in rental accommodation (flats and single-use properties)
• What grants are available for domestic properties?

  The Office for Zero-Emission Vehicles (OZEV) provides grants to subsidise the cost of purchase and installation of an electric vehicle ChargePoint across England and Wales. The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) grant covers up to 75% of the cost of one EV charge point and its installation, up to £350 incl. VAT.

  In Scotland, grants are issued by the Energy Saving Trust, with up to £250 per ChargePoint available, plus top-ups in some areas.

• Do I have to apply for a grant before I order my charger?

  As an approved installer, we will apply for the grant on your behalf as part of the order process.

• How do I apply for a domestic grant?

  As an approved installer, we will apply for the grant on your behalf as part of the order process. Learn more on the EVHS website.

• How do I know if my vehicle and chargepoint are eligible for grant funding?

  Check the list on the Government website. Alternatively, you can speak to a member of our knowledgeable team who will be happy to help.

---

Grants for commercial chargepoints

• What’s the maximum funding available?

  The Workplace Charging Scheme offers eligible businesses a £350 grant per socket. If you were to install the maximum of sockets (40), the total voucher funding would be £14,000.

• How many chargepoints can I get vouchers for?

  A single organisation can claim grant funding for up to a maximum of 40 sockets. These don’t have to all be located on the same site.

• Can I claim after installation or for historic EV chargepoints?

  No, all Workplace Charging Scheme voucher claims must be made prior to installation and are valid for 6 months. Organisations may not claim for chargepoints that have previously been installed.

• Is my organisation eligible for a grant?

  Grant funding is available under the Workplace Charging Scheme to registered businesses, charities and public sector organisations across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

  To be eligible for the grant you must:

  • own the property where the chargepoint/s will be installed or have consent from your landlord, and
  • have dedicated off-street parking for staff and/or fleet vehicles.