Choosing a Home Car Charging Point
So you’ve decided to lease a plug-in electric vehicle and are waiting for it to arrive. Now what?
If you have off-street parking, it’s best to get a dedicated home car charging point installed so you can charge quickly and safely.
Our short guide tells you what to look out for when choosing an EV charging point.
What is an electric vehicle charging point?
It’s basically a large electrical socket, especially designed to charge an electric vehicle’s battery.
An electrician installs it on an external wall, or in your garage, and you connect the charging point to your car via a charging cable.
When charging, the cable is locked at both ends, meaning you can’t knock it out of either the car or the charging point accidentally – good for safety.
How do I choose one?
There are many EV charging points on the market from different manufacturers. They all differ from each other in various ways. Here are the key features to look out for when choosing a charging point:
Tethered or Untethered?
A TETHERED charger comes with a charging cable and plug permanently attached.
Advantages
- No need to hunt around for the charging cable in your boot – just grab the plug from the charging point, plug it into your car’s socket, and you’re good to go. Especially handy when it’s raining.
- You can always charge, even if you’ve misplaced your car’s charging cable.
Disadvantages
- Tethered chargers can look a bit messier on your wall.
An UNTETHERED charger does not have a charging cable and plug permanently attached.
Advantages
- Looks nice and tidy without a cable wrapped around it.
Disadvantages
- You have to get a charging cable out of your boot every time you want to charge.
Display
Some charging points have displays on the front.
This means you can see what’s going on without having to delve into an app.
It can be handy and reassuring to see at a glance that your car is charging properly.
Size
EV charging points also vary considerably in size.
There’s one that’s only 17cm tall, whereas another is 44cm tall. Widths and depths also vary.
Our main Charging Points page shows the relative sizes of some of the top chargers so you can compare.
Features
As you would expect from an electronic device, every model has a different set of features on offer. The main capabilities that are not shared by all the chargers include:
- Solar matching: If you have solar panels, you can enable the ‘solar only’ setting to ensure the car is only charged with the electricity generated by your solar panels. If you need to top up your car with grid energy, you can override the setting.
- Internet connection: Your charging point needs to connect to the internet for full functionality. Some chargers do this via a SIM card. Others connect to your home broadband, either via WiFi or a physical cable.
Cost
Cost is obviously a key factor when choosing a charging point.
Typically, they range in cost from about £800 to £1,100 inc. VAT and installation.
We have partnered with Rightcharge to offer you a wide selection of the latest chargers at great prices.
Want to pay for your charger in instalments? Rightcharge has a solution for that, too.
Questions?
Phone our dedicated EV team now on
0118 3048 688
or email us at
enquiries@selectcarleasing.co.uk
