Home Charging

If you’re leasing your first fully electric car on the Motability Scheme, they'll arrange and cover the cost of a home chargepoint and a standard installation.

Many find that having a home chargepoint is the most convenient and cost-effective way of charging their electric car but you’ll need to have off-street parking next to your home, like a driveway or garage for an installation.

You’ll have to pay extra if you need a non-standard installation. For example, if your parking space is not next to your home or your electrical equipment needs to be upgraded.

How much does it cost to charge my car (EV)?

The cost of Electric Vehicle charging at home does vary depending on which EV you have and your tariff. Being on the right tariff with your provider can help keep costs lower. We'd always advise you shop around to ensure you’re on the best tariff for you and speak to your provider ahead of having a chargepoint installed. A top tip from us would be to enquire about a lower rate during evenings, as this is when most people tend to charge their EV.

As an example, an average home charging cost of the Toyota bZ4X (available on the Motability scheme) costs around £25. However, we can’t stress enough how this does vary depending on each individual provider, tariff and EV.

How long does it take to charge an electric car at home?

This very much depends on the electric vehicle you are charging, however as an example we’ve found from an empty battery to full, a standard home/public charger (7kw) tends to take around 9 hours (Toyota bz4X), whereas a 3-pin plug roughly 31 hours.

What is a non-standard installation?

It's a home charge point installation where more work is needed and will be at an extra cost. You can find more details where this may be applicable below.

I can't charge at home but I still want an EV, can I do this?

Absolutely! As mentioned, if you don't have a convenient place to put a home charging unit, Motability offer a free subscription to BP Pulse On The Go so you can charge out and about. The subscription lasts for the lifetime of the vehicle with no monthly payments - you just pay a discounted rate for the energy you use (on a BP Pulse charger only). You can find out more about BP Pulse by clicking here.

Things to remember...

• Home charging is considered the easiest and most convenient way to charge
• Motability can only provide a chargepoint installation for your first fully electric car on the Scheme
• Installing your chargepoint is at no extra cost, if you have private, off-street parking and no extra work is needed
• Extra costs can apply if parking is not next to your home or your electrics need to be updated
• Permission will need to granted for installation if you do not own your own home
• Shop around to make sure you’re on the best tariff for you before installation
• Speak to your provider about the most of cost-effective charging times

​You might need a non-standard installation where:

• Your parking space is not right next to your home
• The charging unit has to be mounted on something other than your home, like a fence or a post
• The cable route from your meter or unit is longer than 15 metres
• Drilling through more than one whole is required for the cable route 
• Upgrades are required on your electrical equipment

If you have any questions about EVs on the Motability Scheme or charing, contact us here.