The team at Rhino recently wrote all about how to get training in EV chargers as an Electrician. Today, we are here to expand on this info and share the average costs of the most popular EV chargers and why you should consider different ones.
Electric Vehicle chargers, or EV for short, are quickly becoming popular in homes and workplaces due to UK citizens moving towards electric cars. Additionally, the government has set strong EV targets, so we wanted to explore the costs involved and what to expect from an EV charger installation.
The percentage of electric car ownership continues to rise, with the expectation of 3 million more electric vehicles on the road by 2030. Once you are fully trained and able to install EV chargers, it's worth remembering a few points:
Electric car chargers must be installed on an exterior wall, and it goes without saying, close to where the vehicle is parked. As shown in this post, it's best to be as close as possible to the main electrical board in the home or office.
Electricians can train specifically to install EV chargers and will start by assessing the property and if any upgrades are needed for the chosen charger. Any work that needs to be done to bring the property's electricity in line with the needs of the charger needs to be done before any installation takes place.
After this, the electrician should look to install the charger at the most appropriate point in regards to the car, the power and where the customer hoped to position it. They then connect it to the outside wall and wire it into the main fuse box, and will add an isolator switch. After this, it's time to test the new charger.
Generally speaking, EV charger companies often have contractors or specialists who can install the charging point. However, as we cover plenty of Electricians in the UK, we have seen many starting to install EV chargers at properties across the country. On average, a customer is looking at a job taking between 2-3 hours as long as everything runs smoothly.
The location of the electricity distribution board
If a customer hopes to place a charger far away from the main power board, this will require extra drilling, installation of wires and more materials.
The electrical system in the property
If a home or office hasn't had an upgrade to its electrics for a good few years, then it may need to have more work done to bring the system in line with the demands required for an EV charger.
Which charger the customer chooses to install
Various chargers are available on the market, and some are more difficult to set up, depending on power requirements and charge speeds. This could take more time and effort from an electrician.
How old the property is
If the property is of a certain age, then it could well have a certain build quality. With things like extra thick walls and difficult access points, the work will take longer and require more effort on the tradesperson's part.
A handful of companies offer home charging solutions for anyone who owns an electric vehicle or is looking to install one for a customer.
Charging at a home or office is the most convenient way to run a car. It saves having to wait at a garage whilst the vehicle charges and is more cost-effective. Having your very own wall box installed then is a great way to improve the way your car runs whilst also making life a bit easier.
For a basic idea, the higher the kW the charger offers, the faster the car will charge. When you or a customer pulls up to a public charger, they offer a 'rapid' or 'ultra rapid' charge with speeds of 50 kW or 100 kW. A standard electric car with a range of around 300 miles would take around an hour and a half to charge at 50 kW.
EV chargers for a property will generally be 7kW and are designed to work like a mobile phone charger, offering a steady charge that will be complete in around 10 hours on a standard-range vehicle. Some properties can have higher-speed chargers installed. However, this will depend on the location and the power company.
Some of the more popular EV chargers include:
Chargers have become pretty high-level in the past few years with features like wifi and smartphone apps. As with every new technology, the price of the individual units is dropping, and depending on the box you choose, prices can range from £600 to £1,100.
If you were looking to install a rapid charger, it can be expensive and require work on the property. Guide prices can range from £3000 to £15,000. It's also worth remembering that Government grants have now finished for most people. The scheme initially set up has been replaced by the EV ChargePoint grant.
What's to come is exciting for our Electrician friends in the trades. The team at Rhino Trade Insurance are eager to see where the EV charging game takes us and wonders which companies break through the mould - Tesla is, of course, the current trailblazer. Whether you install electrical circuits for homes, rewire office buildings or do off-jobs around the local area, why not consider your next moves as an EV charge installer? As an Electrician, there will be plenty of opportunities around.
We have a plethora of quality insurance designed for Electricians in the UK. Our cover can be tailored to fit your business and can be taken out from £1 million up to £5 million. Call today on 0116 243 7904 or check out our website for more details. You can get yourself a price in less than a minute.
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