Can You Charge an Electric Car at Home?

Electric vehicles have grown significantly in popularity over the past couple of years, and home charging has become one of the easiest ways to keep EV batteries charged and ready for everyday use.

But how can you charge your electric vehicle from the comfort of your own home? Below, we’re detailing the exact steps to fill up your EV battery at home. Plus, find details on the costs of home EV charging and tips to optimise the process.

The at-home charging process is straightforward. Follow these instructions to take your battery from 0% to 100% whenever needed.

Your EV purchase most likely included a charging cable. It may be called the EVSE, for Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment. You’ll need to find this cable for Level 1 charging. It’s compatible with a standard outlet. For Level 2 charging, you will need a dedicated home charger with a higher voltage instead.

Once you find the correct charging cable, plug it into your car’s charging port. If you can’t find the charging port, check the side and front of the vehicle. The car’s user manual should also include clear directions to find the port.

Then, plug the other end of the cable into your home charging station, such as the EcoFlow Power Pulse, a home battery like the EcoFlow PowerOcean (Single-Phase), or a standard three-prong outlet.

Dedicated home charging points are popular for their built-in safety features and convenience. You can set these up in the spot where you park your car, so it’s always easy to plug them in as needed.

Once the car is plugged into the charging power source and you’ve confirmed it is actively charging, you can give it time for the battery to fill up completely. Some cars can complete a full charge in just a few hours with a high-voltage charge, while others need up to 20 hours. Many people prefer to charge their cars overnight because of the extended charging times.

Once the car’s battery is fully charged, you can unplug the cable from the car and drive it.

The primary cost of charging an electric vehicle depends on whether you have a dedicated home charger or just use a standard outlet, as well as your electricity rates. 

If you’re using your vehicle's included EV charger and a standard outlet at home, you likely won’t have any associated charging station costs. However, most people use a dedicated home charger, which makes charging more efficient and safe. 

In the UK, installing a home charging point costs around £849, but can range from £800 to £1200. The UK’s Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) offers grants to cover some of the cost of home EV charging points, up to 75% with a maximum contribution of £350.

After this initial equipment cost, you only have to pay the standard electricity rate in your area. The average UK rate is around 24.5 pence per kWh. 

Home charging can be even more efficient and seamless by integrating these tips:

Electricity doesn’t cost the same at all points of the day. Many UK residents are on TOU (time of use) tariffs, which means the price varies based on the time of day it’s drawn from the grid. The energy is cheaper during off-peak hours (early morning, late evening) and more expensive during peak hours (late afternoon, early evening). If you can charge your EV when energy rates are cheaper, each battery charge will cost less than charging your vehicle during off-peak hours.

If you can’t adjust your schedule to leverage cheaper rates, you can draw energy during off-peak hours, store it in a backup battery, such as a portable power bank, and use that to charge your car when it’s most convenient.

A smart charger lets you schedule your charges, monitor your battery remotely, and analyse your energy use. They can integrate with home smart energy systems or WiFi networks, adding convenience, enhancing energy efficiency, and preparing your EV setup for the future.

No matter how much you optimise your charging schedule, you will still have to pay for the energy if you draw it from the grid. One way to avoid paying for EV charging is by using a renewable energy source, like the EcoFlow PowerOcean (Three-Phase), which uses solar power. You can generate energy from sunlight and store it in a backup battery that you can charge your EV with.

It may be tempting to constantly charge your EV to 100% or drive it until its battery life reaches 0%. However, both of these habits can do more harm than good to your EV battery’s health. Keep the battery level between 20% and 80% to preserve long-term battery capacity and extend its lifespan by several years. Many EVs allow you to set charge limits in their app or onboard settings.

Regularly inspect your EV charger to ensure safety and performance. Check for wear on cables, debris in ports, or signs of overheating. Clean connectors gently and keep the charging area dry.

You can charge an electric car at home in as little as four hours, but it can also take up to 20 hours. Why such an extensive range? It depends on the type of charger and the vehicle you have. A Level 1 charger uses a standard outlet and charges slowly, so you can expect around 8 to 20 hours of charging time.

A Level 2 charger, on the other hand, requires a dedicated charger and can fully fill a battery in 4 to 10 hours.

You can charge your electric car at home using a standard three-pin outlet or a dedicated home charging point. A specific EV car charger is recommended because it recharges faster and is safer.

Yes, you can plug an EV into a standard three-pin outlet. Most electric vehicles come with a cable compatible with standard outlets. This method is perfectly safe and will charge the car, but at a slower rate than if you used a dedicated EV charger.

Your charging routine will depend on how much you use your car each day, how far your EV’s range is, and the type of charger you have. Most EV owners charge their vehicle a few times a week, but those who drive more may require nightly charging.

Charging your electric vehicle doesn’t have to mean frequent stops at petrol stations and relying on commercial chargers. You can recharge your EV’s battery from the comfort of your own home with a standard outlet and charging cable or a dedicated home charger. A bit of strategy, including intentionally timing your charging and using renewable energy like the EcoFlow PowerOcean (Three-Phase) as a power source, can make your EV charging even more efficient and eco-friendly.