EV Charger Installation for London Homes: OZEV Grant, Pod Point, Andersen, Ohme, and Part P Guide

THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGEPOINT GRANT (FORMERLY THE OLEV DOMESTIC RECHARGING SCHEME AND BEFORE THAT THE EVHS) IS ADMINISTERED BY OZEV AND PROVIDES A GOVERNMENT GRANT OF 75% OF THE COST OF PURCHASING AND INSTALLING AN EV CHARGER AT A DOMESTIC PROPERTY, UP TO A MAXIMUM OF £350 PER CHARGER.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA AS OF 2025: THE PROPERTY MUST BE A DOMESTIC DWELLING (HOUSE, FLAT, OR BUNGALOW). THE VEHICLE ASSOCIATED WITH THE CHARGER MUST BE A PLUG-IN ELECTRIC VEHICLE (FULL BEV OR PLUG-IN HYBRID) FROM THE CURRENT OZEV APPROVED VEHICLE LIST. THE APPLICANT MUST INSTALL A CHARGER FROM THE APPROVED CHARGEPOINT LIST (SEE BELOW). THE INSTALLATION MUST BE CARRIED OUT BY AN OZEV-AUTHORISED INSTALLER.

FOR FLAT DWELLERS IN LONDON: THE GRANT FOR FLATS IS AVAILABLE ONLY WHERE THE CHARGER IS INSTALLED IN A PRIVATE OFF-STREET PARKING SPACE ASSOCIATED WITH THE FLAT (NOT A COMMUNAL AREA UNLESS A SEPARATE LANDLORD GRANT IS USED). MANY LONDON FLAT OWNERS DO NOT HAVE PRIVATE OFF-STREET PARKING AND ARE THEREFORE INELIGIBLE FOR THE DOMESTIC CHARGEPOINT GRANT. THE SEPARATELY FUNDED EV INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT FOR CAR PARKS (FOR LANDLORDS OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS WITH 5 OR MORE FLATS) IS A DIFFERENT ROUTE.

PRACTICAL NOTE: MOST OZEV-AUTHORISED INSTALLATION COMPANIES (POD POINT, ANDERSEN, OHME, HYPERVOLT, ROLEC, CHARGEMASTER, ZAPPI BY MYENERGI) HANDLE THE GRANT CLAIM ON BEHALF OF THE HOMEOWNER — THE GRANT AMOUNT IS DEDUCTED FROM THE CUSTOMER'S INVOICE AT THE POINT OF INSTALLATION. THE HOMEOWNER DOES NOT NEED TO APPLY DIRECTLY. THE NET CUSTOMER COST AFTER THE £350 GRANT IS TYPICALLY £500 TO £900 FOR A STANDARD HOME CHARGER INSTALLATION.

THE FOLLOWING CHARGERS ARE ON THE OZEV APPROVED CHARGEPOINT LIST AND ARE THE MOST WIDELY INSTALLED IN LONDON RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES.

POD POINT SOLO 3 (7.2KW): THE MARKET-LEADING HOME EV CHARGER IN THE UK. POD POINT IS A BP-OWNED BRAND (NOW BP PULSE). THE SOLO 3 IS AN UNTETHERED SMART CHARGER (TYPE 2 SOCKET, NO CABLE INCLUDED — CABLE IS CONNECTED FROM THE VEHICLE SIDE), FEATURING: WI-FI AND 4G CONNECTIVITY FOR REMOTE MONITORING AND SCHEDULING; INTEGRATION WITH ENERGY TARIFFS (OVO ENERGY, OCTOPUS ENERGY, E.ON NEXT); OLEV/OZEV GRANT ELIGIBLE; IP54 WEATHER RATING; 7KW SINGLE-PHASE (32A) OUTPUT. THE POD POINT APP ALLOWS SCHEDULE SETTING, ENERGY TRACKING, AND SMART TARIFF INTEGRATION. RRP APPROXIMATELY £849 + INSTALLATION (LESS £350 GRANT).

ANDERSEN A2 (7.4KW): POSITIONED AS THE PREMIUM HOME EV CHARGER IN THE UK MARKET. THE ANDERSEN A2 IS DISTINGUISHED BY ITS PREMIUM BUILD QUALITY (ANODISED ALUMINIUM FACEPLATE, AVAILABLE IN MULTIPLE COLOURS AND MATERIALS INCLUDING TEAK WOOD, BESPOKE COLOUR MATCHING, BRUSHED STAINLESS STEEL) AND ITS CABLE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (INTEGRATED CABLE RETRACTOR OR TETHERED CABLE HOLDER). THE A2 IS A TETHERED CHARGER (TYPE 2 CABLE INTEGRATED WITH RETRACTOR) OR UNTETHERED VERSION AVAILABLE. FEATURES: SOLAR INTEGRATION COMPATIBLE; ECO MODE FOR OFF-PEAK CHARGING; APP CONTROL AND SCHEDULING; OCPP PROTOCOL SUPPORT. RRP APPROXIMATELY £1,200 TO £2,000 DEPENDING ON FINISH + INSTALLATION (LESS £350 GRANT).

OHME HOME PRO (7.4KW): THE SMART TARIFF-INTEGRATED CHARGER. OHME'S PRIMARY DIFFERENTIATION IS DEEP INTEGRATION WITH SMART ENERGY TARIFFS — THE CHARGER AUTOMATICALLY CHARGES WHEN ELECTRICITY IS CHEAPEST (INCLUDING OCTOPUS AGILE AND INTELLIGENT OCTOPUS INTEGRATION, WHERE THE CHARGER IS DISPATCHED BY THE ENERGY SUPPLIER TO CHARGE AT OFF-PEAK OVERNIGHT RATES). THE OHME HOME PRO IS ALSO COMPATIBLE WITH HOME ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (GIVENENERGY, SOLIS, MYENERGI EDDI) TO OPTIMISE SOLAR SELF-CONSUMPTION. RRP APPROXIMATELY £799 + INSTALLATION (LESS £350 GRANT).

HYPERVOLT HOME 3 (7.3KW): HYPERVOLT IS A UK-FOUNDED MANUFACTURER. THE HOME 3 FEATURES IP65 WEATHERPROOFING (HIGHER THAN MOST COMPETITORS), INTEGRATED CABLE HOLDER, WI-FI AND APP CONTROL, SOLAR DIVERT CAPABILITY (ROUTES EXCESS SOLAR GENERATION TO THE EV RATHER THAN EXPORTING TO GRID), AND SMART CHARGING SCHEDULING. MANUFACTURED IN THE UK. RRP APPROXIMATELY £649 + INSTALLATION (LESS £350 GRANT).

ZAPPI BY MYENERGI (7KW / 22KW 3-PHASE): THE ZAPPI IS THE LEADING SOLAR-DIVERT CHARGER — DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY TO MAXIMISE EV CHARGING FROM ROOF-MOUNTED SOLAR PANELS. THE ZAPPI OPERATES IN THREE MODES: FAST (GRID POWER ONLY, 7KW), ECO (CHARGES FROM MINIMUM 1.4KW GRID PLUS ANY AVAILABLE SOLAR EXCESS), AND ECO+ (CHARGES ONLY WHEN SOLAR GENERATION EXCEEDS HOUSE CONSUMPTION — FREE SOLAR MILES). RRP APPROXIMATELY £799 + INSTALLATION (LESS £350 GRANT).

HOME EV CHARGER INSTALLATION IS A NOTIFIABLE ELECTRICAL WORK UNDER BUILDING REGULATIONS PART P (ELECTRICAL SAFETY IN DWELLINGS). THE INSTALLATION MUST BE CARRIED OUT BY A PART P REGISTERED ELECTRICIAN AND SELF-CERTIFIED THROUGH A COMPETENT PERSON SCHEME (NAPIT, NICEIC, ELECSA) OR NOTIFIED TO THE LOCAL AUTHORITY BUILDING CONTROL.

CABLE SIZING FOR A 7KW (32A) HOME EV CHARGER: THE STANDARD CIRCUIT FOR A 7KW HOME EV CHARGER IS A DEDICATED RADIAL CIRCUIT FROM THE MAIN CONSUMER UNIT. THE CABLE IS TYPICALLY 6.0MM' TWO-CORE-AND-EARTH PVC-INSULATED (6242Y FLAT TWIN+EARTH) IN 19MM CONDUIT IN THE WALL, OR 6.0MM' SWA (STEEL WIRE ARMOURED) BURIED DIRECTLY IN THE GROUND TO AN EXTERNAL GARAGE OR CAR PORT CHARGE POINT. THE CABLE IS PROTECTED BY A 40A TYPE B RCBO (RESIDUAL CURRENT CIRCUIT BREAKER WITH OVERCURRENT PROTECTION) IN THE CONSUMER UNIT — NOT A STANDARD MCB, AS AN RCBO PROVIDES BOTH OVERCURRENT AND RCD PROTECTION ON THE SAME DEVICE.

DC FAULT PROTECTION: ALL EV CHARGERS THAT DO NOT HAVE BUILT-IN DC FAULT DETECTION (MODE 3 TYPE 2 AC CHARGERS CAN PRODUCE A DC COMPONENT TO THE FAULT CURRENT THAT MAY BLIND A STANDARD AC RCD) REQUIRE A SEPARATE DC FAULT PROTECTION DEVICE (DC RESIDUAL CURRENT MONITOR). MOST MODERN OZEV-APPROVED CHARGERS (POD POINT SOLO 3, ANDERSEN A2, OHME HOME PRO) HAVE BUILT-IN DC FAULT PROTECTION AND DO NOT REQUIRE AN EXTERNAL DC RCM — THE ELECTRICIAN SHOULD CONFIRM THIS FOR THE SPECIFIC CHARGER BEING INSTALLED.

DNO NOTIFICATION FOR 7KW CHARGER: CONNECTIONS UP TO 3.68KW (16A SINGLE PHASE) REQUIRE NO DNO (DISTRIBUTION NETWORK OPERATOR — IN LONDON, UK POWER NETWORKS UKPN) NOTIFICATION. CONNECTIONS OF 3.68KW TO 11KW (16A TO 48A SINGLE PHASE) REQUIRE A G100 DNO NOTIFICATION TO UKPN. FOR A 7KW (32A) CHARGER, A G100 NOTIFICATION IS REQUIRED — THE ELECTRICIAN TYPICALLY HANDLES THIS AS PART OF THE INSTALLATION. THE DNO NOTIFICATION IS NOT AN APPROVAL — IT IS A NOTIFICATION, AND UKPN WILL ONLY OBJECT IF THE LOCAL GRID GENUINELY CANNOT SUPPORT THE LOAD (RARE IN MOST LONDON RESIDENTIAL AREAS).

THE REAL FINANCIAL BENEFIT OF HOME EV CHARGING IS ONLY REALISED WITH SMART CHARGING AND A TIME-OF-USE ELECTRICITY TARIFF.

OCTOPUS INTELLIGENT TARIFF (FORMERLY INTELLIGENT OCTOPUS): THE MOST POPULAR TIME-OF-USE EV CHARGING TARIFF IN THE UK. OCTOPUS ENERGY DISPATCH EV CHARGERS DIRECTLY (POD POINT, OHME, HYPERVOLT, ZAPPI, AND OTHERS ARE DIRECTLY INTEGRATED) TO CHARGE WHEN WHOLESALE ELECTRICITY PRICES ARE LOWEST — TYPICALLY 23:00 TO 05:30 AT A FLAT CHEAP RATE (APPROXIMATELY 7P TO 10P/KWH AS OF 2025). THE REST OF THE DAY, THE TARIFF IS A NORMAL DOMESTIC RATE (APPROXIMATELY 24P TO 28P/KWH). INTELLIGENT OCTOPUS CAN REDUCE EV HOME CHARGING COST BY 50 TO 70% COMPARED TO UNSCHEDULED DAY-RATE CHARGING.

OCTOPUS AGILE: A HALF-HOURLY VARIABLE TARIFF WHERE ELECTRICITY PRICES TRACK THE WHOLESALE MARKET — SOMETIMES NEGATIVE (MEANING THE ENERGY SUPPLIER PAYS THE CUSTOMER TO USE ELECTRICITY). SUITABLE FOR TECHNICALLY SOPHISTICATED USERS WHO WANT TO MAXIMISE SAVINGS BY SCHEDULING CHARGING TO THE LOWEST-COST HALF-HOURS.

SOLAR INTEGRATION: WHERE THE PROPERTY HAS A ROOF-MOUNTED SOLAR PV SYSTEM, A SOLAR-DIVERT CAPABLE CHARGER (ZAPPI ECO+/ECO MODE, OHME HOME PRO, HYPERVOLT SOLAR BOOST) INTEGRATES WITH A SOLAR GENERATION MONITOR (MYENERGI HARVI OR OHME SMART METER INTEGRATION) TO DETECT WHEN SURPLUS SOLAR GENERATION EXCEEDS HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION AND DIVERTS THE EXCESS TO CHARGE THE EV. THIS PROVIDES EFFECTIVELY FREE EV MILES FROM DAYTIME SOLAR GENERATION. FOR A TYPICAL LONDON HOUSE WITH 4KWP OF SOLAR, 1,000 TO 2,000 KWH OF FREE EV ENERGY PER YEAR IS ACHIEVABLE — EQUIVALENT TO 3,000 TO 7,000 FREE EV MILES.

LONDON RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES PRESENT SOME SPECIFIC INSTALLATION CHALLENGES COMPARED TO RURAL OR SUBURBAN PROPERTIES.

CABLE ROUTE FROM CONSUMER UNIT TO PARKING SPACE: MOST LONDON TERRACES HAVE THE CONSUMER UNIT IN THE HALL OR UNDER THE STAIRS. THE CABLE ROUTE TO A FRONT PARKING SPACE (TYPICALLY CROSSED BY A VEHICLE CROSSOVER THROUGH THE PAVEMENT) OR REAR PARKING SPACE (VIA A GARAGE OR REAR YARD) MAY REQUIRE DRILLING THROUGH WALLS, LAYING UNDERGROUND SWA CABLE IN CONDUIT AT 600MM MINIMUM DEPTH (UNDER DRIVEWAYS), OR RUNNING ALONG THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING IN SWA CABLE PROTECTED BY EXTERNAL TRUNKING OR CONDUIT.

COMSUMER UNIT CAPACITY: OLDER LONDON TERRACES MAY HAVE SMALLER CONSUMER UNITS WITH LIMITED WAYS (NUMBER OF CIRCUIT POSITIONS). ADDING A DEDICATED 32A CIRCUIT FOR AN EV CHARGER MAY REQUIRE EITHER A REPLACEMENT CONSUMER UNIT (TYPICAL COST £400 TO £800 AS PART OF THE EV INSTALLATION) OR A SECONDARY DISTRIBUTION BOARD (WHERE A SPARE WAY IS NOT AVAILABLE IN THE MAIN UNIT).

PHASE AND SUPPLY CAPACITY: STANDARD LONDON RESIDENTIAL SUPPLY IS SINGLE-PHASE 100A (CUTOUT FUSE 100A). A 7KW (32A) EV CHARGER USES 32% OF THE MAXIMUM AVAILABLE SUPPLY CURRENT AND IS WELL WITHIN THE 100A SERVICE SUPPLY FOR A STANDARD TERRACE. ONLY IN EXCEPTIONAL CASES (VERY HIGH EXISTING ELECTRICAL LOAD, OR DESIRE TO INSTALL 22KW THREE-PHASE CHARGING) WOULD A SUPPLY UPGRADE FROM UKPN BE NEEDED.

CONSERVATION AREAS AND LISTED BUILDINGS: SOME LONDON CONSERVATION AREAS AND ALL GRADE I AND GRADE II* LISTED BUILDINGS REQUIRE PLANNING CONSENT FOR NEW EXTERNAL ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT. WHERE THE CHARGE POINT IS ON THE EXTERNAL WALL OF A LISTED BUILDING, OR HIGHLY VISIBLE FROM THE PUBLIC HIGHWAY IN A CONSERVATION AREA, PLANNING ADVICE SHOULD BE SOUGHT BEFORE INSTALLATION. IN MOST CASES, A DISCREETLY POSITIONED CHARGER ON A GARDEN WALL OR GARAGE DOES NOT REQUIRE CONSENT.

INDICATIVE COSTS FOR STANDARD HOME EV CHARGER INSTALLATION IN LONDON (AFTER APPLYING £350 OZEV GRANT WHERE ELIGIBLE) ARE AS FOLLOWS.

STANDARD SIMPLE INSTALLATION (CONSUMER UNIT TO CHARGER DIRECT INTERNAL ROUTE, CABLE UNDER 10M, NO GROUNDWORKS): £600 TO £900 INSTALLED, AFTER £350 GRANT. THIS COVERS THE MAJORITY OF LONDON TERRACES WHERE THE CONSUMER UNIT IS IN THE HOUSE NEAR THE FRONT WALL AND THE CHARGE POINT IS ON THE EXTERNAL FRONT WALL ABOVE A DRIVEWAY OR FRONT PARKING SPACE.

INSTALLATION WITH GROUNDWORKS (UNDERGROUND SWA CABLE TO REAR GARAGE OR OUTBUILDING, CABLE OVER 15M, INCLUDING TRENCH EXCAVATION): £900 TO £1,800 AFTER GRANT. THE EXTRA COST IS FOR GROUNDWORKS: EXCAVATING A TRENCH, LAYING 100MM CONDUIT IN SAND BED, INSTALLING SWA 6.0MM' THREE-CORE CABLE, AND REINSTATEMENT OF PATHWAY OR DRIVEWAY SURFACE.

INSTALLATION REQUIRING NEW OR UPGRADED CONSUMER UNIT (CU FULL, OR OUTDATED FUSE BOARD NEEDING REPLACEMENT WITH RCBO CONSUMER UNIT): ADD £400 TO £800 TO ABOVE COSTS.

PREMIUM CHARGER (ANDERSEN A2 WITH CABLE MANAGEMENT): TOTAL INSTALLED COST AFTER GRANT TYPICALLY £1,400 TO £2,500, REFLECTING HIGHER UNIT COST.

ANNUAL RUNNING COST COMPARISON: FULLY ELECTRIC CAR USING APPROXIMATELY 25KWH PER 100 MILES. WITH OCTOPUS INTELLIGENT (7P/KWH OVERNIGHT): 25KWH X 7P = £1.75 PER 100 MILES. WITH STANDARD RATE (26P/KWH): 25KWH X 26P = £6.50 PER 100 MILES. AT 10,000 MILES/YEAR, INTELLIGENT TARIFF SAVES APPROXIMATELY £475 PER YEAR IN HOME CHARGING COSTS VERSUS STANDARD-RATE HOME CHARGING.