New homes to have electric vehicle charging points by law

Government plans will soon make it a legal requirement for new homes to be built with charging points for electric vehicles (EVs). Around 80% of EV charging is expected to take place at home making this is a crucial step on the road to electromobility at scale.

But what if you want to drive an EV and you’re not planning to move home any time soon? Don’t worry – there are plenty of other charging solutions available including discounted EV charging point installation as well as a range of public charging options. But first, let’s take a look at the proposed charging point legislation.

ROAD TO ZERO DRIVING EV CHARGING POINT INSTALLATION

With a third of the UK’s carbon emissions generated by transport, reducing CO2 from cars is at the heart of the government’s ambitious net zero targets. And electric cars are poised to keep Britain moving while reducing emissions.

As part of the push for more Ultra-Low Emission Vehicles (ULEVs) on our roads, the government has consulted on whether:

New residential buildings with a car parking space should be built with a chargepoint.
Every residential building undergoing major renovation with more than 10 car parking spaces should have cable routes for electric vehicle charge points in every car space.

Given the push towards a net zero future, it seems likely that these policies will become law, providing a major boost for EV drivers and those considering a move to electromobility.

HOW FAST WILL A PRE-INSTALLED EV HOME CHARGE POINT CHARGE A TYPICAL BATTERY?

Although it’s possible to charge an electric car from a normal three-pin socket, the government is proposing to make EV home charge points fast chargers with a: “minimum power rating output of 7kW, [that’s] fitted with a universal socket that can charge all types of electric vehicle currently on the market…”

This kind of EV home charge point will take a typical 60kWh EV battery from empty to full in just under eight hours. If home builders decide to upgrade to a 22kWh charge point this could be reduced to around five and a half hours.

IS THERE A COST BENEFIT TO THIS APPROACH?

According to the government’s consultation paper, installing an EV charge point at home will add an additional cost of around £976 per car parking space. Completing EV charging point installation up-front is significantly less costly than retrofitting a device once a home has been built.

Will home builders pass these costs on to new home buyers? Possibly. However, it’s worth noting that running your car on electricity is around 75% cheaper than using petrol or diesel. Tusker customers typically save £750 per year in fuel when switching to an electric vehicle. Which will quickly offset any costs that might be passed on.

WANT TO DRIVE AN EV BUT NOT PLANNING TO MOVE HOME?

Moving into a new home with an EV home charge point already installed isn’t the only way to make home charging possible. If you’re staying put but want to drive an electric vehicle, installing an ev charge point at home is perfectly possible and affordable. By taking advantage of the government’s grant scheme – which contributes up to £500 towards EV charging point installation – you’ll also have access to a broad selection of trusted EV charging providers.

NOWHERE SUITABLE TO INSTALL AN EV HOME CHARGE POINT?

Don’t panic. There are plenty of alternatives:

EV charging apps pinpoint the location of over 28,000 charging points all over the UK – you can charge in public car parks, at supermarkets and a wide range of other parking spots. They also enable you to pay for any electricity you use when charging your car using the wide range of EV charging providers.
Lamp post charging – over 1,000 EV charge points have been fitted to lamp posts in London providing charging for residential on-street parking. They’re also present in other cities, like Dundee. Watch out for more of these chargers being rolled out across the UK’s 7.5m lamp posts.
Armadillos, geckos and limpets – are another kerb-side charging point initiative. These charging devices can be attached to walls, pavements and street furniture – all you need to do is pull up and charge.
Virgin Media’s street cabinets – if there’s an electric cabinet owned by Virgin Media near you it could soon be transformed into an EV charge point. Charging your car could be as simple as parking down the road and picking your car up in the morning on the way to work.

As fans of the electromobility revolution, we’re right behind the government’s push for all new houses to come complete with EV home charge points. But if moving to a new home for the sake of a charging point is too extreme, here’s a quick recap of the alternatives:

Making the most of government grants by installing an EV charge point at home.
Signing up to one of the many EV charging providers and charging in public using an EV charging apps to locate points and pay for electricity.
Seeking local charging alternatives – like lamp post, limpet and street cabinets – so you can charge your EV close to your home.

Browse our full range of electric cars and find out just how affordable they really are.