EV Charger Installation Requirements in the UK

The global automotive industry is undergoing a radical shift that will likely affect the demand for commercial energy considerably. The United Kingdom is leading this drive, and a speedy surge in the popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) is laying the foundation for a greener future.

The momentum for EV adoption here has shot up considerably over the last few years. Contributing to the cause, the British government has decided to ban the sale of new fuel-backed cars starting in 2030. This policy marks a fundamental shift in approach and a shared obligation to tackle the environmental crisis, which both consumers and businesses are embracing.

The growing demand for electric vehicles is driving the sale of electric chargers. They provide the energy to run these vehicles and reduce the rider’s carbon footprint. There is no denying that investing in a top-rated home EV charging station makes significant sense.

The process of installing an EV charger at home may seem like a hassle. However, working with an experienced electrician will ensure the chore is completed without any interruption. You will do well by developing a comprehensive knowledge of the EV charging point installation requirements.

Although EV charger installation at home takes time, you can expect to complete it within a few hours. If you are planning to install EV charging points at home in the United Kingdom, you must adhere to the regulations. We have developed this blog to provide essential information on EV charger installation requirements.

The Requirements for EV Charger Installation in the UK

If you are transitioning from fuel-backed cars to electric cars, you must make arrangements to get a home charging point. It’s a must-have, given that these chargers provide energy that substitutes for fuel.

However, before taking any steps, you must fully understand the EV charger installation requirements in the United Kingdom. Gaining expert knowledge in this topic will ensure you adhere to all regulations.

Overview of Regulations and Standards

The EV charger installation regulations and standards encompass an extensive range of aspects, including gear performance, electrical safety, installation schemes, and ecological considerations. Ideally, you must follow these standards to ensure protection for both riders and the public. Moreover, the regulations and standards allow smooth EV charging.

Key Regulations

a. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989

• Purpose: All electrical systems and installations must ensure safety and adequate maintenance.
• Application: It covers all electrical installations, including EV chargers. You must ensure the installation reduces the risk of fire hazards and electrical shock.
• Compliance: You must run appropriate risk assessments and guarantee total compliance with safety requirements for all installations.

b. The IET Wiring Regulations (BS 7671)

• Purpose: They provide a course of action for electrical installations in the United Kingdom.
• Application: BS 7671 contains stipulations for installing EV charging equipment to ensure safety and compliance with essential electrical standards.
• Compliance: You must adhere to these guidelines regarding circuit protection, wiring, and earthing arrangements.

c. The Building Regulations 2010

• Purpose: These guidelines touch upon several aspects of building construction, including electrical installations.
• Application: These regulations necessitate all electrical installations to adhere to specific performance standards to guarantee efficiency and safety.
• Compliance: Your installation projects must not affect the structural integrity of the building. It must maintain compliance with energy efficiency standards.

Key Standards

a. IEC 61851 (International Electrotechnical Commission)

• Purpose: They shed light on the general demands for EV charging systems.
• Application: They concentrate on the performance and characteristics of EV chargers, including communication protocols, safety requirements, and charging modes.
• Compliance: You must ensure IEC 61851 compliance for your charging equipment, which can vary by charger type.

b. BS EN 62196 (Type 2 Connectors)

• Purpose: It underlines the requirements for connectors involved in EV charging systems.
• Application: It focuses on testing, designing, and performing charging connectors to ensure interoperability between EV models and charging stations.
• Compliance: To guarantee compatibility with a wider range of electric vehicles, you must consider using connectors that comply with this standard.

c. ISO 15118

• Purpose: It identifies the communication protocols between electric vehicles and charging stations.
• Application: It facilitates features like plug-and-charge functionality, where the EV can begin charging by design upon connection.
• Compliance: You should explore this standard when installing advanced charging systems that facilitate innovative charging features.

Local Planning Regulations

a. Planning Permission

• Requirement: Depending on the location and type of installation, your EV charging installation will require planning permission. This is especially important for public or commercial chargers.
• Application: Neighbouring authorities could have specific regulations regarding the design, placement, and operation of EV charging stations.
• Compliance: You should check with the neighbouring planning authorities to confirm compliance with zoning and land use guidelines.

b. Permitted Development Rights

• Overview: Certain EV charger installations could come under permitted development rights. Therefore, you could install them without full planning permission.
• Conditions: Certain conditions apply, such as the charger should not cross a specific height and should not block public access.
• Compliance: You must familiarize yourself with local policies to determine whether your installation meets the requirements for these rights.

Technical Requirements to Install EV Charger

Electric vehicle charger installation presents certain technical requirements in the United Kingdom. You must ensure that the outer casing of your electrical charging outlets is not 0.2 cubic metres in size. You could explore the idea of using upstands for charging points. However, they need to be 1.6m or less and not feature more than one for each parking space.

Your EV chargers must be compliant with the following:

BS-EN-61851-1:2019

• Electrical Equipment Safety Regulations 2016
• Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations 2016
• BS 8300-1:2018

The design of your EV charger should allow for installations that adhere to the requirements of:

• The IET Code of Practice for EV Charger Installation
• The IET wiring regulations BS 7671:2018+A1:2020
• BS EN 61851-1:2019
• The Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002

Further EV Charger Installation Requirements

Your EV charger must only include charging stations with tethered cables like BS EN 61851-1:2019 Case C connection or EV socket outlets like BS EN 61851-1:2019 Case A or B connection.

Your EV charger should be UKCA marked according to the United Kingdom CA marking or CE marked according to 768/2008/EC Directive. Additionally, you must provide details of any precautions necessary to guarantee safe operation with active implantable medical devices and display them on the charging equipment as well.

If there are several outlets, you must consider categorizing the charging equipment based on the output power delivered at each outlet—this is after assuming all outlets are in use simultaneously. Where multiple connectors are associated with a single outlet, only a single connector should remain active. All other connectors must stay out of work when the outlet is in use. LEDs, lights, or displays must convey the charging equipment status.

Power Requirements for EV Chargers

There is a gaping lack of universal connectors for EVs and their diverse chargers. Things get complex here since each charger type has a set of connectors for AC or DC charging and low or high power.

We have compiled a list of each type of connector within each category.

Slow Charge Connectors:

• 3-pin 3kW AC
• Type 1 3-6kW AC
• Type 2 3-6kW AC
• Commando 3-6kW AC

Fast Charge Connectors:

• Type 2 7-22kW AC
• Type 1 7kW AC
• Commando 7-22kW AC

Rapid Charge Connectors:

• 50kW DC CHAdeMo
• 350kW DC
• CCS 50
• 43kW AC Type 2
• Tesla Type 2 120kW DC

Surely, you don’t want to be disappointed when you reach a charging station with low battery levels in your EV and encounter incompatible charging input. We recommend you browse the car’s handbook to understand the commercial EV charger installation requirements. Moreover, you could benefit from exploring the charging network provider’s website to gather more information.

What Is The Best Location To Install An EV Charger?

Identifying the best location for your EV charger will considerably influence your purchasing decision. Here are the options that you can consider for your installation project.

• Indoor Mounting

Mounting an EV car charging station inside a single-family home’s attached or detached garage is a convenient choice. However, if you want to park outside, consider the next option.

• Outdoor Mounting

If you plan to park outside to charge, you must explore mounting the EV car charger near the driveway or in a carport. If you don’t have a garage, you can consider mounting the charger on a post in a parking space or on the side of the house.

• Consider Convenience

You must consider convenience, especially if you plan to park your EV for overnight charging. Also, consider sharing the charger between multiple vehicles.

• Consider Proximity To The Electrical Panel

You must find out whether it’s an out-and-out circuit, or you will need to call a professional electrician to get a 240-volt outlet. Sometimes, they may consider implementing another panel to support electrical capacity.

• Determine the Side Of The Vehicle Your Charging Port Is On

Steer away from nuisance tripping and placing the charging station on the same side. Instead, pick a spot near the back of the vehicle where you can easily swing the cord to either side without developing entanglement.

• Calculate Available Wall Space And The Convenience Of Installing On That Wall

Installing an EV charger on garage studs is a simple proposition. However, running wires underground or through brick or installing atop vinyl siding adds more complexity.

Things to Consider Before Installing EV Charger

It’s necessary to highlight the fact that high-functioning EV car chargers depend considerably upon proper installation.

Is It Alright if I Engage in Installing the EV Charging Point on My Own?

You must not consider the EV charger installation process a DIY project without prior experience. We recommend that you always hire a skilled and certified installer to complete the installation properly.

There is no denying that it is an expensive proposition in the short term. However, it ensures proper and safe installation for your charger while also complying with all regulations. Furthermore, your EV charging point will lose its warranty if you do not employ a certified electrician for the installation.

As a certified EV charger installers we have detailed the essential factors you should consider when exploring requirements for electric car chargers.

• Safety

When installing, you must clearly understand your home’s electrical system and the charger itself. Your EV charger facilitates a considerable amount of electricity from your residential building into your vehicle.

Therefore, improper installation could put you at risk of electrical accidents. In the perfect scenario, you must consider steering off fire or electric shock by calling in experienced professionals who specialize in EV charger installation.

• Compliance

Deciding to work with an experienced EV installer ensures that you stay on the right side of national regulation compliance. An EV charger installer typically certifies the project with a government department when they complete the job. It confirms that the installation project is successful and has followed all national regulations.

However, don’t assume that the compliance certificate guarantees the reliability and safety of your installed charger. You could require it to qualify for insurance payouts in case of a future mishap.

• Price

There are no two ways about it- calling in a reliable and skilled installer is worth the investment in EV charger installation at home. You are paying the money to ensure safety and comply with national regulations. Although the minimum price for a proper installation job by an electrician starts at €700, the exact charges will vary from location to location. Also, your technical EV charger installation requirements will have an influence as well.

Furthermore, when evaluating the costs, you must concentrate on the national and local EV charging incentives. Some countries provide tax rebates and subsidies for individuals who want to install an EV charging station in their homes. Your residential location could determine if you are eligible for any reimbursement, which ranges from 15 to 90% of your initial EV charging installation costs.

• Services and Experience

You must focus on essential factors such as quality of service and technician training when exploring EV charging installation service options. You must ideally look for professionals or agencies that promise considerable expertise in EV charger installation. There is no denying that even the most trusted electricians are often oblivious to the regulations and technical EV charger installation requirements.

You should not pick an EV charger installer that is nowhere to be found once the installation project is complete. We recommend you go for an all-encompassing service package. Professionals or agencies that promise an end-to-end service will provide you with proficient insights and complete analysis. The best option here would be picking a comprehensive service that offers both the charger and its installation.

Standards for Electrical Safety and Building Regulations

Electrical Safety Standards

Your EV charger installation must adhere to the electrical safety standards and the minimum technical standards of the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme. Moreover, the charger should follow the IET Wiring Regulations stated in BS 7671.

Your EV charger installation should also ensure waterproofing to the minimum IP rating required by BS EN 61851. It should also promise the capacity to monitor and record energy consumption and convey it through the Open Charge Point Protocol.

Your EV charging point must ensure enough electrical supply potential to function at its specified capacity. Although 7kW chargers are ubiquitous, 3kW and even 22kW are rare but available.

Changes to Building Regulations in England

The building guidelines in England are incorporating changes to provide for EV charge points. The renewed guidelines apply only to England; however, the larger landmass of the British Isles is also considering its respective requirements to facilitate EV charge points. All new homes in England with accompanying parking must feature an EV charger installed.

All new commercial buildings with establishments undergoing a major renovation and with more than ten parking spaces must make room for at least one EV charger with cable routes for every five parking spaces.

Residential buildings that are having a major renovation and have more than ten parking spaces will now feature a minimum of one EV charge point per residence with an accompanying parking space and cable routes in all spaces without charge points.

Join the EV Revolution Today with Affordable EV Charging

There is no denying that installing an EV car charger at home is a useful and economical solution for EV owners. You must begin the journey by developing a strong understanding of the home EV charger installation requirement, the available options, and the associated costs. This will benefit you when making the ultimate decision about a home charging station.

Picking and installing a dependable EV charger for your car is extremely easy if you follow the recommended insights. You should consider compatibility, charging speed, intelligent features, and installation requirements. Moreover, you must have a detailed idea of your individual needs when making the final call.

Seek professional guidance and safe EV charger installation at home. You must give us a call at Affordable EV Charging. Our team can help you navigate the seemingly complex EV charging world, ensuring a flawless installation. The perfect home EV charger will provide an exciting blend of efficiency and convenience.