Home charger installation and grants
A home charger is the single best thing you can do for cheap, easy Tesla ownership. Plug in when you get home and wake up to a full battery.
Which charger?
- Tesla Wall Connector: made by Tesla, simple, with a long cable.
- Other smart chargers: many brands work with any electric car. Some link to EV tariffs or solar panels.
Home chargers sold in Great Britain must be "smart" under the Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021: they connect to the internet, can be scheduled, and by default avoid peak hours unless you change the settings.
How fast?
On the single-phase supply most homes have, a home charger gives about 7 kW, which adds 25 to 30 miles of range an hour to a Model 3 or Model Y. See AC vs DC charging.
Installation
- An installer surveys your home: fuse size, cable route and earthing.
- Your electricity network operator may need to be told, and some homes need a bigger main fuse.
- Installation usually takes half a day.
Costs depend on the charger and how far the cable has to run. Get two or three quotes.
Grants
The government's EV chargepoint grant pays 75% of the cost of buying and installing a charger, up to £500, for people who rent a home or own and live in a flat, until 31 March 2027. You need private off-street parking, an OZEV-authorised installer and an eligible charger. The installer applies for you.
There are separate grants for landlords, workplaces and households with on-street parking. Check GOV.UK for current terms.