Home charging is the single biggest reason EV ownership works in London. Charging overnight on an off-peak tariff can cost under 8p per kWh, roughly 2p a mile, against 15–20p on public rapid chargers. The install is straightforward when it is done properly, and a headache when it is not.
Step one: can your supply take it?
A 7.4kW charger draws 32A continuously. Before anything is fitted, your electrician must carry out a maximum demand and diversity assessment against your main fuse, usually 60A, 80A or 100A in London housing stock. Older terraces and converted flats frequently still have a 60A service fuse.
Where headroom is tight, the answer is not to skip the assessment, it is load curtailment: a CT clamp on the incoming tails lets the charger throttle back automatically when the oven and shower are on. Every reputable charger supports it.
PEN fault protection, the bit that matters
Most London properties use a PME (TN-C-S) earthing system. On an outdoor charge point, a broken supply neutral can make the car's bodywork live. BS 7671 requires this to be addressed, either with an earth rod and TT arrangement or, far more commonly today, a charger with integrated open-PEN detection. Ask your installer which one they are using, if they cannot answer, do not let them start.
DNO notification
In London your distributor is normally UK Power Networks. Installations up to 32A single phase can be notified after the fact, within 28 days. Larger or multiple charge points need approval before installation. We handle the paperwork either way, you never need to speak to them.
Tethered or untethered?
- Tethered, cable permanently attached. Fastest to plug in, no cable to carry. Best for a driveway or garage where the cable can be hung neatly.
- Untethered, a socket you plug your own cable into. Tidier on a street-facing wall, future-proof if you change cars, and easier to replace if the cable is damaged.
Flats, shared drives and no off-street parking
This is where London differs from everywhere else. Options that genuinely work:
- Allocated bay in a communal car park, needs freeholder consent and a dedicated supply, often from your own meter via a submetered feed.
- The EV chargepoint grant for flat owner-occupiers and renters, worth up to £350 towards a socket with off-street parking.
- Cross-pavement channels, several London boroughs now permit gully solutions for kerbside charging; we can advise which schemes are live.
What a good install includes
- 1Dedicated circuit from the consumer unit, never a spur off an existing ring
- 2Type A RCD plus DC leakage protection, or a Type B where required by the charger
- 3Correctly sized 6mm² or 10mm² cable based on the actual route length and installation method
- 4Full test results, an Electrical Installation Certificate, and Building Control notification
- 5App set-up, off-peak schedule and smart tariff configuration before we leave
Typical London cost for a 7.4kW smart charger, supplied and installed: £750–£1,200 depending on charger and cable run. Call 07938 382020 for a fixed price after a free photo survey.
Need this doing?
Free advice, then a fixed price
Call and describe what's happening, or send a photo. We cover all London, mon–sat 8am–8pm · emergency call-outs 24/7.
