Top electric car tips for home charging

If you’re new to the world of electric cars, taking the plunge into EV ownership can feel a bit intimidating – but it’s far easier than you may think. Lots of UK drivers have already made the switch and are enjoying the benefits, and they’ve got a wealth of experience to pass on to the next wave of electric car buyers. People like you.

That’s why we’ve handpicked a group of Nissan LEAF owners from our What Car? audience and asked them to share their top EV tips. Here, they offer their thoughts on home charging. If you want to find out more about going electric, they’ve got plenty of tips on motorway driving, on-the-go charging and city driving, too.

To find out more about the Nissan LEAF, head to nissan.co.uk/leaf

Meet our panel of Nissan LEAF owners

Gareth from Staffordshire has owned three electric cars. His favourite aspect of the Nissan LEAF is its “stupidly-cheap running costs”.

Christine from Fife has owned her Nissan LEAF for three years and loves the punchy performance and everyday usability.

Tony from Yorkshire has just bought a new Nissan LEAF, having owned a first-gen LEAF for three years. Equipment and comfort are his stand-out features.

Andy and his wife have owned their Nissan LEAF for a few months. Andy says the electric torque is “addictive” while the running costs are a huge positive.

What sort of home charger do I need?

For drivers used to popping out for a quick splash-and-dash of fuel, the idea of home charging is one of the biggest changes in mindset. There are actually a lot of benefits to plugging your electric car in overnight for a long, slow recharge, though, in terms of convenience, practicality and reduced running costs.

You can technically charge an electric car from a 3-pin plug, but as this is incredibly slow, it’s best reserved for emergencies only. Getting a dedicated home charger installed is a much better solution. But what speed of charger should you get?

The sweet spot is a 7kW home charger, which is three times faster than a 3-pin socket. It can recharge the 40kWh Nissan LEAF to its full 168-mile range in around 7h30m, or the 62kWh Nissan LEAF e+ model’s 239 miles of range in around 11h30m^[1][2]. “The 7kW charger is the best option for most people”, says Gareth. “It means you can comfortably recharge your car overnight, ready for the next day.”

It’s also worth thinking about whether you want your home charger to be ‘universal’ or ‘tethered’. A ‘universal’ charger is essentially just a socket in the wall, which means you use your LEAF’s on-the-go charging cable. A ‘tethered’ charger has its own dedicated cable – meaning that when you arrive home you simply grab one end and plug it into your LEAF. After you’re done, it’s neatly and tidily stored away.

Our panel of Nissan LEAF drivers says ‘tethered’ is the most convenient option. “Definitely go for tethered,” says Andy. “You don’t have to mess around plugging it in both ends – it’s much tidier.” Gareth agrees: “When it’s wet and cold you don’t want to be searching for your cable. Tethered is far easier to live with day-to-day.”

How do I get a charger installed?

There are a number of home charger installation companies out there – including Nissan’s preferred installation partners Pod Point and E.ON Drive.

Andy decided to get his charger installed through Pod Point: “The process was really simple. We went with Pod Point, because their charger doesn’t require an earthing rod, meaning we didn’t need to mess around with any groundwork. All we had to do was provide evidence that our Nissan LEAF was on the way, and the guys came and did the work quickly, efficiently and in a COVID-safe way.”

How much will a home charger cost to install?

When it comes to budgeting for a home charger, it’s worth applying for the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme from the Office for Zero Emissions Vehicles (OZEV), which will cover 75% of the cost of a home charger up to a maximum of £350 (inc. VAT)^[2]. This grant allows you to install a tethered 7kW charger from a company such as Pod Point for as little as £599.

How to find the best energy tariffs for home charging

Many home energy companies provide tariffs specifically designed for electric car owners. These tariffs let owners benefit from cheaper rates of electricity during the night and early morning. The result: even lower charging costs.

In pursuit of a smaller carbon footprint, compared to running a petrol or diesel car, Christine’s current tariff is with energy supplier OVO, while Tony and Gareth use a tariff from Octopus that boasts cheaper charging costs overnight. “We only charge at night,” says Gareth. “Not only is it cheaper, but there’s less strain on the grid.”

How much – and how often – should you charge?

As our panel of Nissan LEAF owners explains, it’s a common misconception that you need to constantly chase a full charge each time you plug in – even when charging at home. EV batteries charge best in a sweet spot of around 20% to 80%, meaning it’s only really worth charging to 100% if you have a long journey ahead of you.

“I graze for charge”, says Christine. “Only charge when you need to.” Andy takes the same approach: “We tend to let the charge get down to about 20% before we recharge the car. My wife only does short journeys here and there, so there’s really no need to keep the LEAF at 100% charge all the time.”

Remember to check out the tips from our Nissan LEAF-owning EV experts for long-distance motorway driving, on-the-go charging and city driving.

To find out more about the Nissan LEAF, head to nissan.co.uk/leaf

[1] Laminated lithium-ion 40kWh battery with 168 miles range and e+ 62kWh battery with 239 miles range. WLTP figures shown are for comparability purposes. Actual real-world driving results may vary depending on factors such as the starting charge of the battery, accessories fitted after registration, weather conditions, driving styles and vehicle load.

[2] Charging time is dependent on charging conditions, including charger type and condition, battery temperature as well as ambient temperature at point of use.

[3] Eligibility criteria apply. Please refer to the following site for details: gov.uk/government/collections/government-grants-for-low-emission-vehicles