Smart charging is a safe and convenient way of charging your electric vehicle (EV) at times when demand for electricity is lower, for example at night, or when there is lots of renewable energy on the grid.
Charging during these off-peak times not only reduces costs for EV drivers by using cheaper energy rates, but also helps to prevent unwanted intervals of really high demand for electricity from the grid.
There are a wide range of smart chargepoint options available, each with different features and functionalities. Smart charging allows you to set your charging preferences, which may include:
The smart chargepoint sends these charging preferences via Wi-Fi, ethernet or 3G/4G/5G to a centralised cloud-based management platform. It will use network signals to monitor and manage charging to optimise energy consumption and ensure all your preferences are met.
It is possible to override smart charging as and when you need to. Simply plug in your EV and opt to immediately charge at that time, instead of waiting for an optimised charging time.
While different chargepoints may have different features, this is what you’ll need to get the most out of using a smart chargepoint:
You’ll need access to off-street parking to have a home smart chargepoint installed.
There are a variety of smart chargepoints on the market, with various features to choose from, depending on your needs.
A smart chargepoint can be tethered (meaning it has a permanent EV cable attached to it), or untethered (meaning it will have a socket that an EV cable can be connected to), depending on your preference. An EV will come with cables to use with an untethered chargepoint.
A smart chargepoint will typically require either 3G/4G/5G or home Wi-Fi connectivity.
A smart chargepoint may require a mobile phone app to set and change charging preferences, depending on the model you choose.
Smart meters are the next generation of energy meters that are replacing traditional meters across Great Britain. They support EV energy tariffs that save consumers money, by enabling the energy supplier to accurately record when energy was used at the cheaper rates. Get in touch with your energy supplier about arranging an installation at no extra cost.
EV energy tariffs have differing rates during day (peak) and night (off-peak) hours. Lower tariffs are typically applied during the night rate, allowing you to charge your vehicle overnight at a lower cost.
Many energy suppliers now offer specific tariffs tailored to EV owners, with differing costs, benefits and off-peak hours available. However, these tariffs apply to all the electricity usage in your home, so consider when and where you use electricity around the house when deciding if an EV energy tariff is right for you.
The EV chargepoint grant, funded by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV), provides funding of up to 75% towards the cost of installing electric vehicle smart chargepoints at domestic properties across the UK. It replaced the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) on 1 April 2022.
It is available for homeowners who live in flats and people living in rental accommodation (flats and single-use properties) who have dedicated off-street parking.
To be eligible for the grant scheme, the applicant must own, lease or have use of a qualifying electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle and they must not have already claimed the grant (either the EV chargepoint grant or the previous EVHS grant) for their EV. A person can only claim one chargepoint per eligible vehicle and household.
The average cost of a smart chargepoint will depend on the type of chargepoint and the features that are important to you. Several comparison sites are available online but do keep in mind that some sites may make a commission from selling you a chargepoint.
Rightcharge is an independent comparison site that allows you to compare smart chargepoints and EV energy tariffs. Following the EVHS grant in April 2022 onwards, Rightcharge expects the cost of a smart chargepoint and installation combined to start at £900 for homeowners, except for apartment blocks and workplaces.
Other comparison sites are available below :
Find out about the benefits of getting a smart meter, or find out how to get one.
Last updated: 3 December 2024