Choosing a home EV charger is not as simple as picking the cheapest unit online. The charger you install today will serve you for years — through vehicle changes, tariff switches, and evolving charging habits. Getting the specification right from the start avoids costly rework and ensures your charger performs reliably from day one.
This guide walks through the key decisions for Hertfordshire homeowners: charger type, power rating, smart features, and the electrical considerations that shape every installation.
Tethered or socketed?
The first decision is whether you want a fixed cable or a separate socket:
Tethered chargers have a cable permanently attached to the unit. You simply plug the connector into your vehicle — no separate cable to store or retrieve. Tethered units suit households with a single EV brand and a consistent parking position. They are the most convenient option for daily charging.
Socketed chargers have a Type 2 socket that accepts a separate charging cable. You provide the cable (usually supplied with your vehicle) and connect it each time you charge. Socketed units suit households that may change vehicles, charge multiple EVs with different connector types, or prefer to store the cable in the boot when not in use.
Neither option is inherently better — the right choice depends on how you use your charger. We discuss both during your free site survey and recommend based on your parking layout and vehicle.
7kW or 22kW?
Most home installations in Hertfordshire use a 7kW charger — the standard for single-phase domestic supply. A 7kW charger adds approximately 25–30 miles of range per hour, fully charging most EVs overnight.
22kW chargers require three-phase supply, which is uncommon in residential properties. They are typically specified for workplace or commercial installations where multiple vehicles charge simultaneously. Unless your property has three-phase supply already installed, a 7kW charger is the practical choice for home use.
A 7kW charger on a dedicated 32-amp circuit is the standard specification for Hertfordshire homes. Faster charging at home requires three-phase supply, which is rare and expensive to install.
Smart charging features
Modern chargers offer features that go well beyond simply delivering electricity:
Scheduled charging lets you set charging to start and stop at specific times — ideal for taking advantage of off-peak electricity tariffs. Many Hertfordshire homeowners save 50% or more on charging costs by scheduling overnight sessions.
App monitoring provides real-time and historical data on energy consumption, charging sessions, and costs. Useful for tracking spending and verifying that scheduled charging is working as expected.
Load balancing dynamically adjusts charging speed based on total household demand. If your oven, shower, and charger are all drawing power simultaneously, load balancing reduces charging speed to prevent overloading your supply. This is particularly valuable on properties with 60-amp main fuses — common in older Hertfordshire homes.
Our smart EV charging systems service specifies chargers with the smart features that add genuine value for your property and usage patterns.
Mounting location
Where the charger is mounted affects daily convenience and installation cost:
Garage wall — protected from weather, often close to the consumer unit, and discreet. Suitable where you park inside or immediately adjacent to the garage.
Driveway wall or post — necessary when you park on the driveway rather than in the garage. Requires weatherproof mounting and may involve a longer cable run from the consumer unit.
Car port or outbuilding — possible where parking is under cover but separate from the main house. Cable routing from the consumer unit needs careful planning.
During your site survey, we assess parking habits, cable route options, and mounting positions to recommend the most practical location. Properties in Berkhamsted and Hitchin often have detached garages requiring external cable runs — a factor that influences both specification and cost.
Electrical supply considerations
Your existing electrical supply shapes what is possible without additional work:
Consumer unit age and capacity. Pre-2008 consumer units may lack the RCD protection required for a charger circuit. Units with no spare ways need upgrading or extending before installation can proceed.
Main fuse rating. Properties with 60-amp or 80-amp main fuses may need load balancing to safely accommodate a 7kW charger alongside existing demand. Properties with 100-amp supplies typically have more headroom.
Earthing arrangements. Properties with TT earthing (common in rural Hertfordshire) require additional protection measures. We assess earthing during the site survey and specify accordingly.
These factors are covered in detail in our guide to home EV charger installation costs and our article on smart EV charging and load balancing.
OZEV grant and approved products
If you are eligible for the OZEV grant, your charger must be on the approved product list. This does not limit your options significantly — most reputable manufacturers have approved models — but it does mean verifying eligibility before ordering.
We specify OZEV-approved chargers as standard and handle grant application as part of our OZEV grant installation service. See our OZEV grant guide for eligibility details.
What to look for in a quotation
A thorough quotation should itemise:
- The charger unit make, model, and specification
- Cable run length and routing method
- Consumer unit work, if required
- Load balancing or smart features included
- Grant deduction, if applicable
- Electrical certification and commissioning
- Workmanship guarantee terms
Avoid quotations that list only a single headline figure without breakdown. The detail tells you whether the specification matches your property’s requirements.
What to expect from your survey
Choosing the right charger starts with understanding your property. Our guide to what to expect from an EV charger site survey explains the assessment process and how we use survey findings to specify your installation.
Book your site survey
Every property is different, and the right charger specification depends on your supply, parking, and charging habits. Book a free site survey and we will assess your Hertfordshire home, recommend the right charger, and provide a clear quotation — with no obligation to proceed.
