EV home charger installation FAQs

Our EV chargepoint installations are grouped into three categories.

They consider different factors that help us estimate how complex the installation is going to be:

• Where do you want your charger to be fitted?
• How long will it take to run a cable from your main fuse box to your charger?
• Will we need to drill through any walls?

A standard installation is included in the price of your charger. But if the installation is more complex and our engineers will need to spend more time at your home, it’ll cost a bit more.

Every home is different and you might want something more complex. For example, fixing your chargepoint to a pole or hiding cables under floorboards. In these cases, we’ll prepare a custom quote for you.

Nope! Anyone can apply for a charger installation.

Our charger installations start from £899 for a standard installation. We'll be able to let you know what kind of installation you require once you complete the application form.

Every home is different, and every customer has their own preferred setup, so it makes sense that every charger installation is unique.

There are a number of questions to consider when installing your EV charger, from where you want the chargepoint to be, how you want it to look, and where your fuse box is situated. So what kind of things do we take into account when giving you a quote?

• Does your charger of choice have a tethered lead (attached to the chargepoint) or do you want an untethered charger?
• How long does the cable that runs from the fuse box to the chargepoint need to be?
• Where do you want the charger to be installed?
• Aesthetically, do you want the cable hidden where it runs along the wall inside your house,
• Do you want your cable to run underground outside your house?

We'll be able to work out some of this information such as whether the electricity supply coming into the house is suitable for a car charger, or whether the fuse box might need an additional fuse to accommodate the EV charger.

At Octopus we can be pretty flexible when it comes to meeting your needs, but as a rule of thumb the longer the installation takes us the higher the overall install cost will be.

You’ll need to answer some questions about where you want the EV charger to be installed, and send us some photos so we can check your eligibility. That way we can decide how best to go about your installation.

If you’re looking to have a second charger installed at home, Octopus can do that for you. However, because the electricity demand on your home will be much higher, you’ll need the go-ahead from your local network, and the process can be time-consuming.

You may need to have your electricity meter exchanged for a 3-phase supply before we install your new charger. If you’re an Octopus Energy customer, we can help to arrange this for you. If you buy your electricity from another supplier, you will need to contact them directly.

In addition, we will need to send an EV & HP application form to your Distribution Network Operator (also known as an ENA application) to make sure that your local network can support the new electricity load. It can take a few weeks to get a response, but if they’re happy to proceed, we’re good to go.

This is where the electricity cable from the grid to your property is shared with another property. This is quite common for those living in terraced or sometimes semi-detached houses.

In this instance we need to put in a request to your local Distribution Network Operator (DNO) and get approval before we can book your installation.

If your supply is looped, it will need to be ‘un-looped’ from your neighbour, but this is free of charge, and often the work can be completed after your charger is installed.

The DNO will arrange for the work to be completed, and you may need your neighbours approval for it to go ahead. The work will involve running a new service cable from the main network to yours and your neighbour’s home, which may involve excavating in the street and on your property.

Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) manage the electricity supply infrastructure within your region, overseeing the cables and towers that distribute power to homes and businesses. They also fix power cuts and faults, and can help with queries about connecting a property or moving your meter.

The DNO works as a middle man between your home, energy suppliers and the National Grid. So if a change needs to be made to your electricity supply, (beyond the meter itself), they will usually need to be involved.

The DNO (Distribution Network Operator) looks after the local and regional electricity supply. They are responsible for the service cables coming into a property and the property’s main fuse.

We always inform your DNO that we’re installing a charger to confirm that your electric supply is ready for it. If you need a fuse upgrade or have a looped supply, the DNO will need to resolve this before we install the charger.

Usually, you don’t. If you have access to private parking, such as a driveway on your property, you can install a chargepoint without a permit. But it’s worth checking with your local authorities if you’re looking to install your charger in a shared space or if cables need to be trailed across pavements. They’ll also be able to advise on additional steps you’d need to take (e.g. using rubber cable covers).

To take advantage of our Intelligent Octopus Go tariff with cheap overnight charging, you'll need to:

• Be an Octopus energy customer
• Have a SMETS2 smart meter
• Have a compatible EV charger or a compatible vehicle

After filling out the application form, we’ll assess if you’re likely eligible for an EV chargepoint grant and we’ll help you claim it. In general, the grant is offered to people who own and live in flats or rent any residential properties. It covers up to £350.

'Tethered' means there is a cable permanently attached to the charging box at one end.

'Untethered' means that a cable plugs into your car at one end and the box at the other. So you’ll be able to source your own cable to charge your EV. For example, the one that was delivered with your EV.

Your cable will need to be long enough to comfortably reach your EV from your chargepoint. Depending on the brand you chose, the cables of our tethered EV chargers are between 5 and 8 metres long. Generally, this is enough for most houses where the box is on the outside of the house and the car is parked on a driveway.

Just like household plugs differ across countries, there are differences between EV chargepoint connectors. But luckily, there’s now a movement towards standardising these connections.

The standard for home charging and on the road - Type 2

Type 2 chargers are the standard for home chargepoints and all other 7kW connections on the road. All new EVs and most old ones are charged with a Type 2 connection. The notable exceptions with Type 1 chargers are the Nissan LEAF (before 2017) and the plug-in hybrid Mitsubishi Outlander.

Rapid charging - CCS

The standard for faster DC chargers (i.e. greater than 22kWh charging rates) is CCS. They look similar to Type 2 connections with additional “pipes” at the bottom of the plug to enable a greater charge rate. Good to know: Many cars aren’t able to charge faster than 11kWh. Check your vehicle handbook to see what yours can handle.

On top of the specifications listed above, all of our chargers use Rated Voltage: 230V and Rated Current: 32A.

They all have an output of 7.4kW and a protection degree of IP65

Charger sizes are as follows:

Ohme Home Pro

Enclosure Dimensions (H/W/D): - 170mm x 200mm x 100mm

Weight: 4kg

Ohme ePod:

Enclosure Dimensions (H/W/D): - 230mm x 140mm x 100mm

Weight: 1.5kg

myenergi Zappi:
Enclosure Dimensions (H/W/D):- 439 x 282 x 122mm

Weight: 5kg

Yes, you can. Would we recommend it? Not really. With such a low charge rate it can take you a long time to charge your electric vehicle this way.

It differs between chargers, but the EV chargers we offer are rated at around 7kW. To compare, a typical electric furnace draws about 10-20kW and a water heater uses 3-5kW.

We often get asked if an EV charger needs surge protection, RCD protection, or an earth Rod.

You can make your EV chargepoint super safe by adding Surge protection to your installation to protect your charger from ‘transient over-voltage events’ (for example lightning strikes).

We think so! If you have off-street parking, getting a home EV charging point is worth it for two major reasons: you won't have to rely on finding public EV chargers, and you can take advantage of smart tariffs that give you lower prices overnight. With our salary sacrifice scheme for electric vehicles, you even get the charger, with a standard installation, included.

Interested in an EV charger installation?

Call us: 0808 196 6842
Email: charging@octopus.energy
(our phone lines are open 9am - 5pm, Monday to Thursday, and 9am - 4pm Friday.)

Need support after installation?

Call us: 0808 175 1696
Email: ev-aftercare@octopusenergy.services
(Our aftercare phone line is open 8am – 8pm Monday to Saturday, 10am - 6pm Sunday. Or we answer emails 7 days a week, so we’ll be on hand to help asap.)

Check out our full complaints procedure here.

For the fastest response, fill out this form to raise any issues. Alternatively, you can email us on solar@octopus.energy or call 0808 196 6842.