How much does EV charger installation cost? The answer to this question involves a number of variables, including the type of charger, professional installation charges, and potential hidden costs.
In this article, we explore the average charging station unit prices and the question of exactly how much an EV charging station contractor will cost you. We also investigate the additional expenses that can occur and impact the final cost of your home charger installation.
How much does EV charger installation cost?
Using a basket of 15 popular 7kW to 7.4kW EV chargers, we’ve calculated the average cost for an installed home charger is currently £1,171.64 in November 2023.
However, the actual costs will vary depending on how far your charger is from the consumer unit and how complex the installation job is. Always get a full and in-depth quote, and provide your installer with as much detail as possible to enable them to work out a precise cost of installing your EV charger.
To work out a range of EV charger installation costs, we’ve compiled a ‘selection ‘basket’ of fifteen widely used 7kW to 7.4kW chargers with the cheapest price including installation available on the web. This basket of chargers reflects a diverse cross-section of the market, with various price points, designs, and performance.
To calculate the current average cost of EV charger installation, let’s start with the starting prices of all 15 chargers:
- PowerHubb 7.4kW: From £899
- Hydra 7kW: From £899
- Indra Pro 7.4kW: From £949
- Easee One 7.4kW socketed: From £1099
- PodPoint Solo 7kW: From £999
- Ohme Epod 7.4kW Untethered: From £999
- Project EV 7.3kW ProEarth: From £999
- Ohme Home Pro 7.4kW Tethered: From £1099
- EO Mini Pro 3 7.2kW: From £1159
- Wallbox Pulsar Max 7.4kW: From £949
- Charge Amps Halo 7.4kW Tethered: From £1264
- Rolec WallPod 7.2kW HomeSmart: From £1297.6
- Rolec Zura 7.4kW Intelligent Charging: From £1369
- ivie 7.4kW £1099
- Andersen A2 7kW £1,594
*Prices are correct as of November 2023.
And then divide the total cost (£17,574.60 ) by the total number of chargers (15) to find the average:
£17,574.60 / 15 = £1,171.64
Therefore, based on the starting prices provided for these 15 chargers, the average cost for EV charger installation in November 2023 is approximately £1,171.64 A reminder that actual costs may vary based on different factors, such as installation complexity and additional features, we will run through these potential costs in the article below.
How much are EV charger installation costs changing?
| Month | Total basket cost | Average charger cost |
|---|---|---|
| November 2023 | £17,574.60 | £1,171.64 |
| September 2023 | £16,539.00 | £1102.60 |
The table indicates that the total cost of the basket of 15 EV chargers has increased from September to November 2023. Specifically, the total cost rose from £16,539.00 in September to £17,574.60 in November. This represents an increase of £1,035.60 for the entire basket over the two-month period.
Breaking it down to the average cost per unit we can see that in September, the average cost per EV charger unit was £1,102.60, while by November 2023, this average has risen to £1,171.64. This means there was an average increase of £69.04 per EV charger unit.
This increase could be due to several factors, such as a rise in manufacturing costs, changes in the supply chain, increased demand, or market conditions that have affected the pricing strategies of the suppliers. The consistent increase across the basket suggests that the price rise is not limited to a single brand or model but is reflective of a broader market trend in the EV charging industry during this period.
How much does an EV charging station contractor cost?
The labour cost for an independent contractor to install your EV charger for you will be in the region of £200 to £500 in the UK. For installations that require more extensive electrical work, costs could rise to £1,000 or more.
The cost of an independent contractor for installing an EV charging station can vary significantly, we spoke to a number of electricians and EV job board sites and none of the businesses we spoke to could sign off a final quote without visiting a property for an on-site assessment.
This suggests that if you choose an independent EV charger contractor then the cost is unlikely to be fixed, it will always vary depending on the property’s circumstances.
It’s recommended to obtain several quotes from qualified electricians or installation contractors in your area to get a more accurate estimation of the cost.
What information will an installation company need to provide a quote?
In order for an electrician to provide an accurate quote for installation, they will likely need some or all of the following information:
- Location
Where the charging station will be installed, both in terms of the address (to work out the travel costs) and where specifically at your property (e.g., garage, driveway). The distance from your consumer unit to the desired location will also affect the quote. They might request a sketch of the property, including the charger’s location, consumer unit & the electricity metre. - Electrical System
Information about your home’s current electrical system, including the capacity of your electrical service panel and whether it has room for a new circuit. - Charger Type
What kind of EV charger do you want to install and whether the unit is tethered or untethered? The charger’s power rating may also impact the cost. - Cable Run
The length and route of the cable run from the panel to the charger can impact costs significantly, especially if the cable needs to run through walls, ceilings, or underground. - Additional Work
Any additional work that might be necessary, such as upgrading the home’s electrical consumer unit, installing a new circuit, or making changes to meet safety regulations. - Your MPAN number
MPAN stands for Meter Point Administration Number. It’s a unique reference number that identifies the specific electricity supply point for a property in the UK. Often called a ‘Supply Number’ or ‘S-Number’, it’s usually found on your electricity bill. An installer might need to see your MPAN for a few reasons:- Identifying your supply: The MPAN is used to identify your specific electricity supply point among the millions of supply points in the UK.
- Connection and metering: If you have a new EV charging point installed, the installer might need to liaise with the distribution network operator (DNO) to ensure the supply can cope with the additional load, especially for higher-capacity chargers. The MPAN would be necessary for this communication.
- Meter exchange or alteration: If you’re having your electricity meter replaced or altered, the installer will need the MPAN to arrange this with your energy supplier or the DNO.
- Identifying your supply: The MPAN is used to identify your specific electricity supply point among the millions of supply points in the UK.
- A selection of photographs
An installer might request photos of your property for a number of reasons, mostly to get a better understanding of the installation environment and to help them prepare a more accurate quote.
The installer needs photos of the location of the consumer unit and the route to the EV charger position to assess the distance between the consumer unit and the charger’s location, the ease of access and the potential capacity of the consumer unit. they also may request a photo of the electricity metre to work out the type of meter and the location.
What are the additional costs of installing an EV charging station?
There are many additional costs that can increase the cost of installation.
The advertised price of an EV charger installation will always be caveated with various terms and conditions that detail the job requirements, even the best EV charger home installation companies will struggle to give an exact price for a complicated job.
When trying to estimate the overall cost, be sure to consider the following factors:
- Electrical Upgrades
If your home’s electrical system cannot handle the additional load of an EV charger, you might need to upgrade your consumer unit or even your entire electrical service. - Circuit Installation
The EV charger typically requires a dedicated circuit from your electrical panel. If your panel does not have a free circuit, you’ll need to have a new one installed. - Cable Conduit
If the charger’s location requires running cable through a wall, underground, or in other complex routes, you might need to install a conduit to protect the cable. - Trenching
If the cable between your panel and the charger must run underground, you’ll need to pay for trenching, which can be expensive depending on the distance and the ground type. - Charger Mounting
Depending on the installation site, you might need to pay for a pedestal or other mounting system for the charger. EV chargers must be mounted at least 750mm from ground level. - WiFi Upgrade
Smart chargers require a good WiFi connection. If your WiFi signal is weak at the charger’s location, you might need to upgrade your WiFi system.
You can get a good overview of potential additional costs by reading Podpoint’s installation Ts&Cs. This details the work that’s included in the cost of a standard installation, and the parts that are not.
Every installation is unique, and costs can vary widely based on numerous factors, so make sure you always get a variety of quotes.
What’s the cost of uninstalling or moving an EV charging station?
If you are moving house and you are considering what to do with your EV charger when you move, the bottom line cost of moving or uninstalling an EV charger will vary depending on the circumstances of the job. The labour costs for the basic task of moving or uninstalling an EV charger range from around £100 to £500, so you need to be certain about the decision before you hit the trigger and switch back to your EV granny charger. The actual overall cost could be more, depending on these factors:
- Uninstallation Complexity
If the charger is hard-wired into your electrical system and installed on a mounted bracket, it might take more time and effort to disconnect and remove it safely. - Moving the Charger
If you’re moving the charger to a new location, you’ll need to account for the costs of a new installation. This could involve running new electrical wiring and installing a new mounting bracket or pedestal. - Making good
After removing the charger, you might need to do some patchwork, especially if the charger was mounted on a wall or post. This could involve patching holes, repainting, or even repairing the electrical panel. - Disposal Fees
If you’re not planning to reuse or recycle the charger, you might need to pay disposal fees to safely and responsibly discard the charger.
Is it possible to get a government grant to reduce the installation cost?
As of the March 2022 OZEV grant changes, the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) is no longer available to all homeowners, but it is still possible for flat owners and people in rented accommodation to take advantage of the scheme. You can receive a government EV charger grant of up to £350 from the EVHS scheme upon completion of your installation.
The final word on how much an EV charger installation costs
Installing an EV charger at home is rarely the same between properties and the cost of EV charger installation can be influenced by a variety of potential additional costs such as electrical upgrades and cabling complexity.
Our data analysis from a basket of 15 popular chargers on the market shows that the average cost of a charging unit with installation is £1,171.64 in November 2023. However, these costs can vary significantly based on the details of the job and your property.
Remember, try and provide as much accurate information as you can in advance to your installer, this will give them every opportunity to provide an accurate quote in advance and should improve the chances of a smooth installation process. Details like photos of the installation location, electricity meter, consumer unit, and the proposed cable route will help the installer determine an accurate cost.
When relocating or uninstalling a charger, costs can also vary, ranging from £100 to £500, depending on the complexity of the work involved.
As the tech improves these costs are trending down, and as more houses adopt EVs the continuing demand will likely see prices drop further, so we hope to enjoy even cheaper installation costs in the future.
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.
