Installing a home EV charger is now a standard element of a London renovation. Here is what the options are and what the installation requires.
Electric vehicle ownership in prime London has grown significantly in recent years, and the installation of a home EV charger is now a standard element of a renovation spec for properties with off-street parking. In a whole-house renovation, it is the right time to install the infrastructure — cable runs are cheap to do during construction and expensive to retrofit later.
Here is what home EV charging installation involves.
The basics: what type of charger do you need?
3-pin plug (Mode 2 charging): The standard three-pin plug can be used to charge an EV via a portable charging cable (supplied with most EVs). Charging rate: approximately 2.3kW, adding 8–10 miles of range per hour. Entirely adequate for overnight charging of a typical commuter EV. No installation required.
7kW single-phase home charger (Mode 3 EVSE): The standard dedicated home charger. A wall-mounted unit connected to a dedicated circuit from the consumer unit. Charges at 7kW (3× faster than a 3-pin socket), adding 25–30 miles per hour. Will fully charge most EVs overnight. This is the right specification for the vast majority of London residential properties.
22kW three-phase charger: Requires a three-phase electricity supply, which most London residential properties do not have. Not typically worth upgrading the supply for residential EV charging — the benefit over 7kW is marginal for domestic use.
50kW+ rapid DC charger: Commercial fast chargers. Not appropriate for residential use.
For the vast majority of residential applications, a 7kW single-phase EVSE is the correct specification.
Installation requirements
Electrical supply: A 7kW charger draws up to 32A. A dedicated circuit from the consumer unit (main fuse board) to the charger location is required — typically 6mm² twin-and-earth cable. The consumer unit must have sufficient spare capacity for the additional circuit. Many London period properties have consumer units that are at or near capacity; an upgrade may be required.
Cable route: The cable must run from the consumer unit (typically inside the house) to the charger location (typically on an external wall of the house, or in a garage). The route must be planned and the cable run in a conduit or within the wall structure. In a renovation, this cable run is incorporated in the first-fix electrical programme. In a retrofit, it requires drilling through walls and may involve surface-mounted conduit on the external face.
Charger location: The charger should be on the wall closest to where the vehicle parks, at a height of approximately 750mm from the ground. The cable must reach the vehicle's charging port (which varies by manufacturer — usually on the front or rear quarter panel). A cable length of 5–7m typically allows most parking configurations.
Protection: A dedicated circuit breaker in the consumer unit provides overcurrent protection. A Type A RCD (residual current device) or Type B RCD is required — the correct type depends on the charger specification. Many modern chargers include built-in Type B RCD protection.
Smart charging: Modern chargers include Wi-Fi connectivity and app control, allowing scheduling (charging overnight during cheaper off-peak tariff periods), energy monitoring, and in some cases vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capability. These features require a home network connection at the charger location.
Planning permission
In England, home EV charger installation is generally permitted development, subject to conditions: - The property is not a listed building - The charger is not within a site of special scientific interest - The charger is not forward of the principal elevation - The charger is removed when no longer in use
A charger on the front wall of a period property in a conservation area may require planning permission if it affects the character of the principal elevation — this is worth confirming with the LPA before installation in a conservation area.
OZEV grant
The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) provided grants for home charger installation. The scheme has been replaced and modified several times; at the time of writing, grants remain available for flat-owners and renters but not for homeowners in single-family dwellings. Verify the current position with an OZEV-registered installer before assuming a grant applies.
Charger brands
Quality home chargers available in the UK market: - Ohme, Wallbox, Zappi, EV Box, Andersen, Pod Point — all reputable units with good smart charging functionality - Andersen is a premium aesthetic option, designed specifically for the top end of the residential market with a very clean appearance
For a high-specification London renovation, the charger should be specified consistently with the external aesthetic of the property — a white plastic box on a period brick facade is an avoidable jarring note.
Future-proofing: conduit for a second charger
If there is any possibility that a second vehicle will be charged in future (second car, guests), installing conduit and spare capacity at the consumer unit during the renovation is much cheaper than retrofitting. The marginal cost of a spare conduit run during a renovation is £200–500; the retrofit cost is several times higher.
Cost
| Scope | Installed cost |
|---|---|
| Standard 7kW charger, straightforward cable route | £800–1,500 |
| Premium charger (Andersen or equivalent), longer cable run | £1,500–3,000 |
| New consumer unit capacity + charger | £1,500–3,500 |
These are supply and installation costs including electrical work. An OZEV-registered installer is required for grant eligibility and is generally required by charger warranties.
ASAAN's approach
ASAAN includes EV charging infrastructure in the electrical specification for renovation projects where the property has off-street parking or a garage. We coordinate the cable route and consumer unit provision during first-fix electrical works.
If you are planning a renovation and want to include EV charging infrastructure, contact us.
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