UK has seen a massive surge in the EV market in recent years, with sales increasing by 186% in 2020 alone. Nowadays, around 400,000 EVs are on the roads cruising in the UK, and more than 750,000 plug-in hybrids. 

Car manufacturers such as Nissan, Tesla, Ford, and Vauxhall are all striving to provide options for affordable plug-in models, so it’s no surprise to see this large increase in EV purchases. You can even get a £1,500 discount if the EV is priced under £32,000 – this is part of the plug-in car grant (PICG) funded by the UK government. 

So the statistics and policies clearly speak for themselves – and it’s only going to grow further as the UK gears up for the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel vehicle sales. 

And with the increase in the use of EVs, comes the demand for EV chargers. The UK is already making big investments in its EV charging infrastructure so there couldn’t be a better time to jump into the loop. 

But what do you get from using EVs and why is the world increasingly planning to ditch fossil-fueled vehicles completely? And as an EV owner, what’s the information you need when looking for the best EV charger? The UK has plenty of facilities and options for consumers, so let’s get into it. 

Is getting your hands on an EV worth it?

The UK government is offering a £2,500 grant to buyers who purchase an all-electric vehicle, and this is sure to pique the interest of many who are planning their next car purchase. But what are you getting out of it? Let’s take a look at the various pros and cons of being an EV owner in the UK today. 

Pros of EVs 

• Low Running Costs 

  Nothing empties your wallet more than having to fill up your car with fuel. With electric vehicles, you’ll be able to save this cost because charging your EV will cost you far less – especially if you manage to find a free public charging point. 

  • Close to Zero Noise

    Yes, that’s right. EVs have powertrains that are close to silent, making them an obvious attractive choice to those consumers who can’t stand the noise fuel-powered vehicles make. Even starting up your EV will be void of any kind of noise, and the only thing you’ll hear is the tyres and wind when on the move. 

  • High Acceleration 

    Even though it is a common fact that EVs may prioritize clean driving over performance, that doesn’t mean they lack in the latter compared to other cars. Electric motors deliver ‘instant torque' which means that the car accelerates the second your footsteps on the accelerator. 

    Fossil-fueled cars do not have this type of acceleration advantage, and only deliver maximum torque once their motor’s rpm reaches a particular point. The only downside is that high acceleration may cause a detrimental effect on the EV’s battery life, but you can choose to switch on or off this type of special performance mode. 

  • Leasing Made Easy 

    Large upfront costs that come with buying an EV can be avoided through lease deals. Buyers can make fixed monthly payments over a certain period of time and with the rise in EV technology, this is beneficial for drivers. 

  • Low Maintenance Requirements

    Servicing EVs will hardly be a headache because their maintenance needs are comparatively very low to fuel-powered vehicles. Relevant experience of mechanics is required but you will be free from things like oil changes, replacement of catalytic converters, fuel filters, etc. 

    EVs also comes with regenerative braking – it is an energy-saving mechanism where the electrical energy produced by the motor is turned into heat and instead converts it into electricity. And this helps the car’s brake pads last a long longer compared to a petrol/diesel car. 

    Cons of EVs

  • Range Anxiety 

    The range EVs can drive is far less compared to their fuel-powered counterparts, and when they were first introduced EVs could barely hold 100 miles on a full charge. This makes traveling difficult for drivers who live farther away from city areas – if they are not able to find a public charging point every few stops, then that’s a major inconvenience. 

    However, EV technology keeps improving and we are getting close to seeing EVs reach up to 200 miles in a single charge in the near future. 

  • Lack of Public Charging Points 

  Riding a fuel-powered vehicle means having it easy whenever you have to make a pit stop at a petrol station because they are everywhere. On the other hand, despite UK’s attempt at making public EV chargers more accessible, there’s still a long way to go before they are convenient enough for drivers. 

  • Long Charging Times 

  Compared with filling up a tank of petrol taking less than five minutes, EVs taking anywhere between 30 minutes to 12 hours to charge at full just feels too unfair. 

  The charging time may differ depending on which model the EV is and if you managed to get your hands on one of the faster EV chargers. UK still has a developing public charging point infrastructure so the easier choice would be to find the best home EV charger. UK is home to many electrical wholesalers that will allow you to find what you’re looking for. 

  Public EV Chargers UK

  Public EV chargers are spread all across the UK and you can find the one closest to you using a chargepoint map. The biggest advantage from a public EV charger station is their flexibility. Rapid charge points are often available where you can charge your EV within minutes, and you can also find cheap charging points near you as well. 

  However, the lack of stability is still somewhat an issue and a considerable drawback when it comes to public EV charging points. Things like costs, charging speeds, and availability depending on the location you are at are all problems that EV owners may face. 

  

  Home EV Chargers – UK

  Many people may find public charging points inconvenient for a number of reasons, and so would rather place their bets on finding the best home EV charger. The UK allows grants depending on the kind of charge point you install, so it is beneficial to look into that as well. 

  The biggest advantage that comes from EV home chargers is being in control. You will know exactly how much your EV charger will cost you to use every time you use it, and it will always be available and at your disposal. 

  You can also create your EV charging schedules that suit your routine and schedule so you are never off guard with an uncharged EV when you need to hit the road.

  The upfront cost and certain electrical requirements are the major cons of EV home charging. If you are just one person then it may not be as feasible as you think to have a domestic EV charger installed at your home, since it is an investment of both time and money. At the same time, the convenience it brings is something vital to consider. Read more about EV chargers! 

   

   

  4 Mistakes to Avoid When Buying a Home EV Charger

  Before getting to which EV home chargers are worth the buy, let’s look at what not to do when you are shopping for one. Knowing your way around technical aspects around power and installation is one thing, but there are some other things you should think about as well. 

  Just like any other piece of furniture you own becomes an extension of your house, the same goes for EV chargers. UK homeowners spend a lot of time making sure their homes look impressive, so EV chargers should be a part of that too. 

  Avoid a dumb charging station

  What is a dumb charging station? It is an EV charger device that only charges your car and provides no extra features such as LAN/WiFi connectibility. Sure, it will get the basic job done but a smart EV charger will be a much better investment. 

  A smart EV charger will allow you to program your start and finish charge times, and so taking advantage of cheaper energy tariffs in the early hours of the morning will be a piece of cake. Look out for a device that automatically updates too, it will be sure to elevate your experience.

  Look Out for Messy cables

  Who says you have to tolerate large cables everywhere just because you decided to own an EV? There are always clever hidden cable and plug storage designs for the best home EV charger. UK electrical suppliers and electricians will be sure to help you find a good place where you can keep your cable out of sight. 

  EV Chargers Don’t Have to be Ugly

  EV chargers don’t have to be hideous lumps of metal that ruin the aesthetic of your home – nowadays finding a sleek and modern device is easy; and when you spot a beautiful one you can be sure it’s the best EV charger. UK electrical supplier Garo has some of the most aesthetically pleasing designs among EV chargers on the market today. 

  The Bigger Picture – Investment 

  Always remember that home EV charging solutions are quickly becoming a great investment for both homes and businesses in the UK – this is the bigger picture that most people miss. As the world moves more toward EVs, the installation of home EV chargers is becoming a desired value-add to properties. 

  In fact, many UK property developers are already installing EV chargers on their new high-end properties and other domestic developments. And since EV chargers are known to be fixed devices that can’t easily be moved around it gives the advantage of a long life expectancy. 

  Best Home EV Charger – UK

  You have to think long and hard when figuring out which one out of the hundreds is the best EV charger. UK has many trusted EV charger suppliers that it becomes difficult to figure out which one would be the best for you, so here are two that are worthy of being called the best home EV charger: UK edition. 

  1. Garo Standard Domestic Wall Charger

  This GHL Garo Homecharger can easily be the best home EV charger the UK has ever seen. This device has been manufactured with safe and efficient EV charging as a priority. It will get the job done whether it’s installed at home, in workplace areas, or in car parks. 

  This Garo device sports a 7.4kW socket Type 2 and some of its features include DC monitoring, and installed DLM, a motorized interlock for advanced safety, and a built-in DC leakage protection. 

  It comes with a Type 2 tethered lead, LAN connection, RFID option, and PME fault protection. Moreover, it is RCBO protected for safety purposes and a simple installation process. 

  Having no walls suitable for the placement of this device is no problem either because a Garo pillar stand is available which can be installed easily on concrete floors or on a Ø60 mm tubular post. A cut-out template is also included for fast and simple installation.

  

  2. Garo (Fixed Lead) Standard Domestic Wall Charger

  The GARO Standard Domestic Wall Charger with a fixed cable comes with a Type 2 connector, 7-22kQ, and with or without an energy meter. Its main features include Mode 3 communication and can either be mounted on the wall or on a GHL stand. 

  This EV home charger comes with various options such as a local load balance, an RFID reader for additional security, and WiFi communication. It has a DLM installed to protect the main fuse and a motorized interlock that prevents the cable from being removed while charging. 

  In addition, there is back-office software available from third-party OCPP software providers. This is one of the best home EV chargers that also sports a PME fault detection which disconnects all phases and earth if a PME fault is detected. 

  

  Read more about our detailed guide on Garo EV Chargers, click here. For further information about Garo’s best home EV charger (UK) cost and other details, click here.