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Home EV Charging Guide

Your complete guide to electric car home charge point installation from Mer

Electric Vehicle Using Home EV Charging Point

In This Guide

Benefits  |  Product  |  Installation Process  |  Installation Costs  |  After Installation   |   Order Today

Charge at Home with Mer

EV Charging Solutions

One Perfect Home Charge Solution

Whether you’re considering purchasing an electric car or are already an owner, how you will stay charged up and on the road will be a key element in your everyday routine.

One of the most cost-effective and convenient ways to charge is to install an electric car charger at home.

This guide will help you to understand why a home charger could be the perfect solution for you.

Key Benefits

What are the benefits of installing an electric car charger at home?

Time Saving

Charge your electric car in around 5-8 hours

Safety

Keep you, your car, and your home safe

Cost Effective

Spend as little as £450-£550 annually

Time Saving 

Electric cars can be charged at home using a standard household plug, but this can be incredibly slow and, depending on the car, can take up to 43 hours to reach full capacity. 

7kW chargers are most common for a home electric car charger, as domestic properties generally have single-phase power. With a standard (7kW) home charger you can charge an electric car in around 5-8 hours.  

 

Safety 

Using an approved home EV charge point is not only quicker than using a domestic socket, but it’s also much safer. The Mer home charger is weatherproof, waterproof, built to last, and can be installed safely either indoors or outdoors. 

With intelligent sensors and temperature monitoring, the charger is protected from overheating, keeping your home safe. 

 

Saving Money 

One of the most common pros of EV drivers who have an electric car charger at home is the amount of money they save on ‘refuelling’ their vehicle. On average, drivers who only charge at home can spend as little as £450-£550 annually on charging their car. 


How Much Does It Cost to Charge at Home?

Many green energy providers such as Octopus Energy, offer off-peak EV tariffs allowing you to charge throughout the night for a much cheaper rate, such as 12p per kW. Using a smart charging app with the Mer home charger, you can schedule your vehicle to charge at set times to take advantage of the off-peak rates.

Vehicle Battery SizeCharge Time (100%)Cost of Full ChargeReal World Range
Hyundai Ioniq 38kWh 5 hours 26 min £12.92 165 miles
Nissan e-NV200 40kWh 5 hours 43 min £13.60 130 miles
Kia E-Niro 64kWh 9 hours 9 min £21.76 235 miles
Mercedes EQC 80kWh 11 hours 43 min £27.20 230 miles
Tesla Model S 100kWh 14 hours 17 min £34.00 315 miles
Cost of full charge based on an energy price of 34p per kW

The Product

EV Home Charging

Compatibility

We partner with Easee to offer the latest in intelligent, powerful charge points for the home. The home charging solution provided by Mer is compatible with all current EVs on the market. 

View Spec

Tethered or Untethered

Our home chargers are untethered with the ability to permanently lock in your cable via the smart app. A tethered charge point has a permanently attached charging cable, whereas an untethered charger is a socket only charge point. An untethered cable, will require you to plug your charging cable into the car and charger each time you charge.

Connectivity

With a home charger you can benefit from connectivity features for ease of control and integration. When connected to Wi-Fi, your EV charger will automatically update to ensure that you’re always future-proofed with the most recent software. The smart charging mobile app also allows you to connect and monitor your home charger activity and usage.

Woman with wall mounted Mer home charge point

The Installation Process

Mer electrician carrying out home charge survey

How Do I Install an EV Charger at Home?

Before any installation can take place, a qualified electrician or home charge expert will need to determine whether it’s possible to have an electric car charger installed at your home.

This is usually done by a remote survey: once you purchase your home charging unit you will be sent a link via text message with instructions to complete your remote survey. You will be asked several qualifying questions.

If you have any questions you can speak to one of our team at 03300 562 562 or email [email protected]

Remote Survey

A remote survey will ask questions about the following:

Location

Do you have a safe and sensible location for your home charger to be installed?

Electricity Supply

Can your home power supply support the demand for a home charger?

Permissions

Do you have, or need to acquire, permission to install a charge point at your home?

Location

In order to install a home car charging point, you need to ensure that the charger will be located reasonably close to where your electric vehicle will be parked to enable the charging cable to reach (around 5-10 metres).  It’s also preferable that you have off-street parking such as a driveway or garage.

In order to allow for safe use and accessibility, the charge point also needs to be installed at a height that is no lower than 0.5m, and no higher than 1.5m from the ground. 

We will ask you to complete a remote survey and send images of your property in order to determine whether a home install is possible. At this stage, our experts will also be able to establish whether your home charge point installation will be a standard or non-standard installation. 

 

Electricity Supply

Due to the demand on your electricity supply from a home car charger, it’s important that your main supply fuse, cabling and sockets are sufficient to handle the additional energy drawn. If the power supply is overloaded, the installation could cause a fire if safety measures are inadequate. 

 

General & Planning Permissions

It’s unlikely that many home EV charge point installations will require planning permission. However, there are some cases where planning permission may be necessary if the property is: 

  • Rented property – you may need to check with your landlord
  • A listed building
  • Close to a highway
  • Ground mounted and over 1.6m tall
  • Wall mounted and over 0.2 cubic metres in volume 

Standard vs Non-Standard Installation

Standard Installation

For a standard installation, your home car charging point will need to be firmly secured to a wall in a safe location. The cable will then be pinned flush to the wall (typically 1m to 1.20m high) and through the wall up to 60cm depth. We allow up to 15m of cabling between your meter and the charger for a standard install.

Non-Standard Installation

A non-standard installation will be required if the above criteria cannot be met. If you need a non-standard installation, a free on-site survey will be carried out to establish what steps should be taken next.

Contact Us for More Information
Mer Home Charge Point Wall Mounted

How Long Does the Installation Process Take?

Every charge point installation provider will have different processes and timescales.
With Mer, the overall process can take anywhere from a few days up to two weeks. Once you purchase a home car charging point, we’ll automatically send you a survey via text message to find out more about your property, so that we can be prepared for the installation. As soon as you return this to us, we’ll give you a call and arrange a date for your installation to take place. 

How Long Will the Installation Take On the Day? 

Every installation is different, but on average, a standard install with Mer takes between 2-3 hours. 


What Happens On the Day of Installation? 

  • One of our expert engineers will arrive at the previously arranged time. 
  •  Your engineer will discuss with you where your new home charger is to be fitted and plan the best route for your cable. 
  •  Next, your meter will be checked to ensure that there is a working isolator in place. 
  •  The charger is then connected and, starting in the meter cupboard, the cable is run to the charging unit, through the wall. The finished cable will be flush against the wall above ground. 
  •  The charger is then fixed in place. 
  • Your engineer will register your charging point and set it to 32 amps or 16 amps if you require less power (for example if your vehicle is a hybrid). 
  • You will receive a full demonstration of how to use your new home charge point and smart app using your mobile phone. 
  • Your home charger is then powered up and ready to charge your vehicle 

Do I Need to Prepare Anything Ahead of My Home Install? 

The only preparation that would be required is to ensure that the necessary areas (meter cupboard, charger location etc) have clear access. 

It’s also important to note that your home’s power will be switched off for around 1 hour. 

 

Will There Be Any Mess Caused by the Installation? 

There should be minimal mess created from your home charger installation. 

All your charge point equipment will arrive neatly packaged in one box. 

There may be a small amount of debris from creating your cable route, but once the installation is complete the engineer will ensure that any mess made will be cleaned up and removed from the property. 

 

Can I Use Other Household Appliances Whilst My Electric Car Charges? 

Yes. You can continue to go about your usual evening routine while your EV is on charge. The power from your home will be suitably distributed across all appliances. 

Our home charge experts have written a handy blog to guide you through the whole process. 

Costs and Grants

Young girl with woman standing by EV

How Much Does It Cost to Install an Electric Car Charger at Home?

The cost of installing a home car charging point varies depending on who you choose as your provider. You can purchase an Easee home charger, plus installation from Mer for £1145 – the price includes our aftercare service and 3-year warranty. 

What is the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme?

The UK government offers an Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS), also known as the OZEV grant, to help towards the cost of purchasing and installing a home car charging point. With the grant, you can claim up to £350 off the overall price.

You can check if you are eligible for the grant if you are:

  • A landlord
  • Live in a flat
  • Rent your accommodation
Check Eligibility

After Installation

Do I Get a Warranty with My Home Charger?

Yes. With Mers home car charging point you can be confident that you are covered with our 3-year warranty. 

Warranty covers: 

  • Unlimited callouts
  • Any new parts
  • Replacement units if required 

What Happens if I Want To Move Home?

If you decide to move home, you may wish to take your home charger with you. In this instance, a Mer engineer would be sent to your property to remove the charger only (cabling will remain) at a cost of £195. 

The removed charge point will then be replaced with a small covering to allow for the new occupants to fix a new charging unit. 

If you wanted to then reinstall the charger at a new property, you would be required to pay in full for a new installation. 

In many cases, it may be best to leave the home car charging point behind as this can add value to the property and save you money in the long run. 

 

Is My Warranty Affected if I Move Home and Take My Charging Point With Me?

No. The warranty will still be valid if you choose to take your home charger to a new property within your warranty period. 

Home Charge for Business

ev charging strategy

Supporting Your Employees

At Mer, we specialise in home charging solutions for businesses looking to support their employees with charging their electric vehicles at home.

Want to find out more? Visit our EV home charging for business page.

Learn More