This article takes you through the EV charger installation requirements in the UK, with an in-depth dive into the requirements for each stage of the installation process.
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What are the EV charger installation requirements?
The requirements to install an EV charger in the UK are:
- Off-street parking must be available (including a driveway, carport or garage)
- You need to be the legal property owner or have written permission from the owner
- A qualified electrician completes the installation
- The charger will need to be connected to Wifi, this is a requirement for Smart charger functionality
- The charging unit is a minimum of 2 metres from a public road
- Your installer should provide a compliance certificate once the unit is in place
- There must be accessibility to a fusebox
- No upstand that exceeds 2.3 metres is permitted
Height Guidelines for EV Charger Installation
When installing an EV charger, there are specific height guidelines that you need to follow. Here are the current industry standards and best practices:
- Socket Outlet Height: According to the IET Code of Practice Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Installation (4th Edition), the socket outlet should be positioned between 750mm and 1200mm above ground level. The draft PAS 1899:2022 specification further refines this, recommending that the charger socket be installed between 750mm and 1000mm above ground level.
- Controls and Interactive Elements: The IET Code of Practice advises that controls should be installed between 750mm and 1200mm above ground. The draft PAS 1899:2022 suggests a slightly narrower range for interactive elements and controls, recommending a height between 800mm and 1000mm above ground level.
- Display Screen Height: For display screens, the IET Code of Practice recommends a height between 1200mm and 1400mm, ensuring visibility from both standing and sitting positions. The draft PAS 1899:2022 specifies that the top of any screen interface should be between 1100mm and 1300mm above ground.
Power Requirements for Electric Car Chargers
1. Slow Chargers (Up to 3.7 kW)
- Power Requirement: Typically 3.6 kW or 3.7 kW.
- Charging Speed: These chargers usually provide around 6-8 miles of range per hour of charging.
- Suitable For: Home charging for overnight as a granny charger upgrade.
2. Fast Chargers (7 kW to 22 kW)
- 7 kW Chargers:
- Power Requirement: Requires a 32A single-phase connection.
- Charging Speed: Provides approximately 25-30 miles of range per hour.
- Suitable For: Home charging, suitable for most electric vehicles.
- 22 kW Chargers:
- Power Requirement: Requires a 32A three-phase connection.
- Charging Speed: Provides approximately 75 miles of range per hour.
- Suitable For: Workplaces or homes with three-phase power and EVs that support faster AC charging.
3. Rapid Chargers (43 kW to 50 kW)
- Power Requirement: Requires a 63A three-phase connection for AC charging, or DC chargers at 50 kW typically need a significant power supply.
- Charging Speed: Can provide 60-80 miles of range in about 20-30 minutes.
- Suitable For: Public charging stations, supermarket charging, motorway service stations, and areas where a fast turnaround is required.
4. Ultra-Rapid Chargers (100 kW and above)
- Power Requirement: Typically requires a 125A three-phase connection or higher, depending on the power rating.
- Charging Speed: Provides 100 miles of range in as little as 10-15 minutes, depending on the vehicle and charger.
- Suitable For: High-traffic public charging stations, especially along highways and main roads for long-distance travelers.
Key Considerations:
- Electrical Supply: Ensure your property or installation site can support the required electrical load, particularly for fast and rapid chargers.
- Circuit Protection: Adequate circuit protection (e.g., RCDs and MCBs) must be installed in line with safety regulations.
- Compliance: All installations must comply with the IET Wiring Regulations (BS 7671) and other relevant standards.
Where to Install an EV Charger
Providing you are working within the boundaries of your own property and charging in an ‘off-street’ area, the requirements for the charger’s location really come down to personal preference based on your own requirements.
Considerations for the location of an EV charger include:
Access to the fuse box
The accessibility of your fuse box is a requirement for installing an EV charger. The closer and less complicated the route to your fuse box is, the easier it will be for your EV installation company to complete the work.
EV charger installers typically quote for a standard installation with up to 10m of cabling, if your fuse box is more than 10m from your car the quote will be higher. Some installers, such as ivie, offer longer cabling routes included with the cost of a standard installation:
Access to Wifi
Smart chargers should be connected to an internet connection to allow you to access the charger via an app and manage the charging process. This connection gives your charger the ability to partner with your electricity supplier and only charge your car when the electricity rates are cheaper.
Therefore you will need to test the strength of the Wifi signal in your preferred installation location and consider a Wifi booster if there is a lack of signal.
Charging port location
The location of the charging port on an EV will differ between manufacturers. For example, Tesla favours a vehicle’s rear because this reduces the cable size and is more efficient for charging. In contrast, Ford has always placed their charging port on the front of a vehicle so that the driver will notice it upon entering and be less likely to forget the cable is tethered and just drive off!
Make sure you check which side the charging port is located on your EV model before installation to plan accordingly.
Visibility from the street
This is not a practical requirement but an aesthetic decision. Consider how the front of the house will look with an EV charging unit on display and how you (or other decision-makers in the house!) might feel about that.
Where Not to Install an EV Charger
Let’s look at where not to install an EV charger.
Too far from your EV
Measure the distance of your charger’s standard cable length and work out exactly where you will park your vehicle to charge, be sure to give yourself plenty of additional wiggle room in case you change your car to a larger model in future.
Rented accommodation or public places
If you rent your property you may still be able to get permission from your landlord to install an EV charger, but without permission, you cannot legally complete an installation.
Within 2 metres of a public road or footpath
A charging unit should not face a public highway and nor can it be within 2 metres.
Appropriate mounting height in the UK
In the UK the minimum height that you are required to mount your EV charger at least 750mm above the ground. The increased height of an EV charger reduces the potential risks of electric shocks and other hazards that may come into play if the charger is too low.
Think about going for a higher mount, up to 1200mm, as it can make things easier when connecting and disconnecting your charging cable. A higher charger is easier to reach, making it better for EV owners with back problems or difficulties bending down.
Special Considerations
Installing an EV charger upstand in your driveway
You can install an EV upstand on your property in the UK, providing it meets the requirements of being under 2.3 metres tall starting at the level the car is parked on. You are only permitted to install one upstand per parking space.
Leasehold property requirements
Not all leases are the same so there is no hard and fast rule for leasehold properties.
It is common for a lease to specify that the landlord should provide explicit permission for any alterations to the building. There are maintenance considerations for the unit and any external communal parts. Therefore it is important to review your lease and consult with your landlord before scheduling the installation of an EV charger at a leasehold property, you may be obliged to do so under the terms of your lease.
Planning permission
In most cases, you do not need planning permission to install an electric vehicle (EV) charger at your home. The Town and County Planning Order 2015, states that EV chargers are considered to be ‘permitted development’, meaning it does not require specific planning permission.
However, there are some circumstances where you might need to consider getting planning permission:
- Listed Buildings or Conservation Areas: If your property is a listed building or located within a conservation area, you might need to apply for planning permission.
- Flats and Maisonettes: People living in flats and maisonettes may need planning permission to install an EV charger.
- Commercial Properties: Businesses might need to obtain planning permission if they wish to install a public charging station, depending on the local council’s policies.
Building Regulations (Part S)
Building regulations require the installation of EV charging points but only for new dwellings. The government is continuing to encourage the UK population to make the switch from petrol to electric vehicles and in June 2022 the building regulation requirements were updated to further encourage drivers to switch.
Document S provides full building regulation guidance for construction companies.
Building Regulations Part S is a new set of rules introduced in the UK, designed to future-proof homes by insisting that builders make provisions for the installation of electric vehicle charging points.
Under Part S, new homes and existing homes that are being extensively renovated (to create 10 or more dwellings) are required to have EV charging facilities for any associated parking spaces. The regulation also applies to new residential and non-residential buildings, buildings undergoing a significant change of use to become dwellings (like a barn conversion), and mixed-use buildings that are either new or undergoing substantial renovation.
For new homes, the regulations stipulate that there must be an EV charging facility for each parking space equivalent to the total number of dwellings.
A key feature of Part S is the price cap of £3,600, which ensures that installing an EV charger isn’t massively expensive. This cap refers to the average cost per charger and applies to new residential buildings but not to changes in use, major renovations involving 10 or more dwellings, or new non-residential buildings. If the cost per charger is anticipated to exceed this cap, cable routes for the charging points must be installed in the associated parking spaces.
Key takeaways about the Part S building regulations and EV chargers:
- Part S applies to all new residential and non-residential dwellings, changes of use or major renovations
- New residential buildings with associated parking must provide provisions for dedicated EV charging
- The full definition of associated parking is found in Part S (for example installing an EV charger in a garage qualifies as associated parking, a driveway qualifies as associated parking, and on-street parking does not qualify)
- The total cost of charging port installation is capped at an average price of £3,600 per port, so if your quotation costs are higher you should share this information with the building control body as proof of why you are not able to meet your obligations
Safety Standards
The government set a high safety standard bar for both cables and EV charging units. Charge points must meet the following standards to comply with government regulations:
- The Open Charge Point Protocol provides the ability to store and communicate electricity usage data
- BS 7671 regulations provide the minimum requirements for wiring the unit
- BS EN 61851 requires the unit to have a minimum level of protection against the weather
- Building regulations part P provide the minimum technical electrical safety standards for UK installations
John is the Editor and Spokesperson for Electric Car Guide.
With over 20 years of writing experience, he has written for titles such as City AM, FE News and NerdWallet.com, covering various automotive and personal finance topics.
John’s market commentary has been covered by the likes of The Express, The Independent, Yahoo Finance and The Evening Standard.
