EV charger installation
EV charging, powered by your own solar
How chargers work, what to look for, and how they pair with solar panels.
How EV chargers work
From power source to charged car in three steps
Power comes from your supply
Electricity flows from your grid connection, your solar panels, or your battery. A smart charger draws from whichever source is cheapest or most available at that moment.
The charger controls the flow
The unit manages current, speed, and safety as it delivers power to the vehicle. Smart chargers add scheduling, solar matching, and load management on top of that.
Your vehicle charges
Power enters the car and charges the traction battery. Most owners top up overnight or during the day while parked, rather than waiting for a full charge each time.
Can I charge my EV with solar panels
Charging from solar vs charging from the grid
Charging from the grid
Available 24 hours a day
- Draws from your standard electricity supply
- Costs whatever your tariff charges per kilowatt hour
- Off-peak overnight rates reduce the cost significantly
- No dependency on weather or time of day
- Works with any home charger without modification
Charging from solar
Effectively free fuel from your roof
- Uses surplus electricity from your solar panels
- Costs nothing when generation exceeds your other demand
- Requires a smart charger that can detect and match solar output
- Most effective when you park at home during daylight hours
- Can be paired with a battery to extend solar charging into the evening
Most setups blend both automatically. Smart chargers prioritise solar when available and switch to grid when generation drops.
What is a 7 kW EV charger
Charger speeds explained
3.6 kW
Slow
Adds roughly 15 miles per hour
An older standard that is mostly phased out for new installs. You may still find 3.6 kW chargers in older properties or in portable units. Adequate for very low mileage drivers.
7 kW
Standard home
Adds roughly 25 to 30 miles per hour
The UK standard for home EV charger installation. Fits a typical single-phase domestic supply. A full overnight charge on a 60 kWh battery takes around 8 hours.
22 kW
Fast
Adds roughly 75 to 80 miles per hour
Requires a three-phase electricity supply. Mostly found at workplaces, commercial properties, and larger sites. Most UK homes have single-phase only.
50 kW+
Rapid and ultra-rapid
Public infrastructure only
Found at motorway services and dedicated charging hubs. Requires purpose-built grid infrastructure. Not a domestic or standard commercial install.
For most UK homeowners, 7 kW is the right choice. Higher speeds require three-phase power that most homes do not have.
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Start your solar journeyDo I need a smart EV charger
Smart charging features to look for
Smart chargers do more than deliver power. These are the features that make the most difference for a solar-paired install.
Solar matching
Charges only from solar surplus when available. The charger reads your generation and adjusts draw in real time, so you are not pulling from the grid when panels are producing.
Off-peak scheduling
Automatically charges during cheap overnight tariff windows. You set a departure time, the charger does the rest. Works with Octopus Go, Intelligent Octopus, and similar tariffs.
App control
Start, stop, schedule, and monitor charging from your phone. Most smart chargers show real-time power draw, session history, and cost per charge.
Load balancing
Monitors your overall household demand and reduces charger output when other high-draw appliances come on. Prevents nuisance tripping on older consumer units.
OZEV compliance
Required for all UK EV charger installations. OZEV-approved installers must be used. Non-compliant installs can cause insurance and resale complications.
OCPP support
Open Charge Point Protocol allows the charger to communicate with third-party energy management systems. A future-proof standard, particularly relevant for commercial and multi-unit installs.
EV charging for every property type
EV charger installation across different properties
Residential
Detached and semi-detached homes
Driveway charging is the most common setup. The charger mounts on an external wall close to where the vehicle parks. A cable run connects back to the consumer unit.
Most installs at detached and semi-detached homes are straightforward. A full overnight charge on a 7 kW unit suits most daily mileage needs.
New build
New build developments
Part S of the Building Regulations now requires EV charge points or cable routes on most new homes and non-residential buildings. The requirements cover parking spaces, cable routes, and accessibility.
We design and install Part S-compliant EV infrastructure at build stage, coordinating with developers to meet regulatory requirements from the start rather than retrofitting later.
Commercial
Commercial premises
Staff charging, fleet charging, and customer charging each have different technical requirements. Commercial EV charging installations are often paired with on-site solar to reduce the running cost per charge.
Larger sites may require a three-phase supply, load management systems, and OCPP-compatible hardware that integrates with energy management platforms.
Agricultural and rural
Agricultural and rural properties
Rural properties often have three-phase electricity already available, which opens the door to faster charging speeds. Longer cable runs from the consumer unit to the parking area are common.
Solar pairing is particularly effective at rural properties with large roof areas and high daytime generation. A battery can extend solar charging into the evening for overnight EV top-up.
What does an EV charging installation include
The components of an EV charging installation
The charger unit
Wall-mounted or pedestal-mounted and hardwired into your electricity supply. Not a plug-in device. The unit controls the rate and safety of charging and connects to your home network for smart features.
Isolator switch
A required safety component installed near the consumer unit. Allows the charger circuit to be isolated independently for maintenance or in an emergency. Part of the standard installation specification.
CT clamp or load monitor
Clips onto your incoming supply cable at the meter. Reads total household demand in real time and feeds that data to the charger for load management and solar matching.
Cable run
Connects the charger to your consumer unit. Routed internally where possible. Length and route affect install complexity and cost. Longer runs or external conduit add time to the job.
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Start your solar journeyHow long does it take to charge an electric car at home
What to expect on a home charger
Charging time depends on battery size, charger output, and how you use the car. These are the numbers that apply to most domestic installs.
Full charge on a 7 kW unit
A typical 60 kWh EV battery takes around 8 hours to charge from empty on a 7 kW home charger. Most owners do not charge from empty each time.
Most owners top up, not fill up
Plugging in each night and adding 30 to 60 miles of range is the more common pattern. At that level, a 7 kW charger finishes well before morning.
Charging speed varies
Real-world charging speed depends on battery temperature, state of charge, and the vehicle's onboard charger limit. Some cars cap at 7.4 kW even if a faster supply is available.
Solar charging takes longer but costs nothing
Solar-matched charging limits draw to the surplus from your panels, which is typically lower than the full 7 kW. Charging is slower, but the electricity is effectively free.
Can I install an EV charger myself
EV charger installation is a regulated area
- EV chargers must be installed by a qualified electrician registered with an OZEV-approved scheme
- DIY EV charger installation is not legal in the UK and will invalidate your home insurance
- All installations must be notified to your distribution network operator before work begins
- The installer must provide a certificate of compliance on completion
Unlike fitting a light fitting or a standard socket, EV charger installation requires OZEV-approved certification. Professional installation is not optional. It is a legal requirement.
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Start your solar journeyCommon questions
EV charger installation FAQ
Ready to take the next step
Add EV charging to your setup
If you know your property type, the pages below give a more detailed picture of what an EV charging installation looks like for your situation. If you want to talk it through first, call or email directly.
Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm