Start With Your Car and Where You Park

Before you look at a single charger, check two things: what your car can actually accept, and where it will sit overnight. Charging speed is always limited by the weakest link in the chain, and that is usually the onboard charger built into the car rather than the box on your wall.

Most modern electric cars have a 7kW onboard charger, which is the practical ceiling for a single-phase UK home supply. Some larger models accept 11kW, and a few smaller or older cars are capped at 3.6kW. If your car tops out at 7kW, buying a 22kW unit will not charge it any faster — it will simply cost more and add nothing.

• Battery size and daily mileage: a 40kWh car doing 30 miles a day is perfectly happy on a 3.6kW charger.
• Overnight window: a 7kW charger adds roughly 20 to 30 miles of range per hour, which suits almost everyone.
• Off-street parking: you need a driveway, garage or allocated bay close enough for a cable run. A charger cannot be installed for a car parked on the street.

Power Ratings Explained

Understand the four options before deciding, because the differences matter more than the marketing suggests.

• 2.3kW (a three-pin plug): a stopgap at best. Untethered, unprotected and hard on domestic sockets. Not a long-term solution.
• 3.6kW (16A): sensible if your supply is limited or you do low mileage. Adds roughly 10 to 15 miles per hour.
• 7kW (32A): the UK sweet spot. Works on a standard single-phase supply and covers the vast majority of households.
• 22kW (three-phase): only worth it if your home has a three-phase supply and your car can accept 11kW or 22kW on AC. Most cannot.

If you are unsure, ask your installer to check your supply and your car's specification sheet before you order anything.

Tethered or Untethered?

This is the decision most people agonise over, and it comes down to tidiness versus flexibility.

A tethered charger has the cable permanently attached. You simply uncoil it and plug in. It is quicker, neater and means you are never searching for a cable in the rain. The downside is a fixed length, usually 5 or 7 metres, and a cable that will eventually wear out.

An untethered charger is just a socket. You use your own Type 2 cable, which is handy if you already have one, if you want to keep a spare in the boot, or if you might change cars. The unit itself is often cheaper, but you will need to buy a cable if you do not have one. Untethered units also tend to be more compact and easier to replace later.

Whichever you choose, check the connector type. Type 2 is the UK and European standard, but some older cars use Type 1, so confirm before ordering.

Smart Features Worth Paying For

A "smart" charger is one that can communicate — with your phone, your energy tariff, or your solar panels. Some features are genuinely useful, others are padding.

• Scheduled charging: essential if you are on an off-peak tariff, letting you charge overnight when electricity is cheapest.
• Dynamic load balancing: monitors your home's consumption and reduces charging power so you do not trip the main fuse. Very valuable in older properties.
• Solar diversion: if you have panels, this diverts surplus generation into the car rather than exporting it.
• Firmware updates: a charger that can be updated stays useful. One that cannot will date quickly.
• App and connectivity: check the Wi-Fi signal reaches your parking spot. If it does not, look for a unit with a built-in SIM or consider a signal booster.

One caution: a charger that relies entirely on a cloud service can lose smart functions if that service is withdrawn. Local control options are worth having.

Installation, Safety and Paperwork

A home charger is not a DIY job. It involves earthing arrangements, protection devices and notification to your distribution network operator, and it should be fitted by a qualified electrician registered for the work.

• Earthing: many UK homes use a combined neutral and earth supply. The installer must assess this and fit appropriate PEN fault protection.
• Protection: look for an integrated Type A RCD with 6mA DC detection, or a Type B device, plus surge protection.
• Weatherproofing: an IP54 or IP65 rating is sensible for an outdoor unit.
• Consumer unit: check there is spare capacity for a dedicated circuit.
• Warranty and support: three to five years on the unit is typical. Ask what happens if it fails.

Check whether any current government grant schemes apply to your property, as these change over time and can cover a meaningful slice of the cost.

Future-Proofing Without Overpaying

The sensible approach is to buy a well-made 7kW smart charger with a good warranty, install it properly, and not chase specifications your car cannot use. That covers today and most of tomorrow.

If you do want headroom, look for a unit that supports firmware updates, is compatible with solar and time-of-use tariffs, and is ready for vehicle-to-grid technology as it arrives. Expect to pay in the region of £500 to £1,200 fully installed, depending on cable runs and whether your consumer unit needs work.

Get two or three quotes, ask about aftercare, and pick an installer who explains the earthing and protection details rather than glossing over them. A good charger, fitted well, will quietly serve you for a decade.