Choosing The Right EV Charger

According to this study, electric cars are here to stay with a growing market share. Petrol and diesel prices reached new highs and now more than ever the appeal of electric cars is clear.

At Marton Electrical we understand that electric cars aren’t without their problems, first and foremost being charging. It’s slower than traditional refuelling and, while growing, the network of electric chargers still needs improvement.

Government grants are available for EV charging being installed at home and the workplace but which charger should you go with?

You might not have realised it but not all chargers are the same, some are better built than others while others offer user-friendly features and even smartphone apps.

Budget

Of course, this is going to be a priority, there are several price points to suit all budgets and the current OZEV grant means you can save up to £350 on a charger. Lower cost chargers might not be as good looking as the pricer alternatives but still offer plenty of usability and ease of use.

Mid-range options are the safe bet if you can afford them, they tend to offer style, quality and features you might not get on the cheaper alternatives. The top of the line chargers offer everything you could want in a charger but you pay for the privilege.

Tethered or Untethered

There are two types of home EV chargers, tethered and untethered, each has its list of pros and cons.

A tethered EV charger means a charging cable is always attached to the charging unit. Most people are happy enough with this since the cable is always at hand but you are limited in the cable length. This can be a problem for people with restricted space or where parking might be a little bit competitive.

You might also be restricted by the type of vehicle you can charge, different EVs have different connections, type 1 or 2, so make sure the tethered charger will fit your vehicle.

Untethered chargers are just the socket with no permanently attached cable. You’ll have to supply your charging cable and find somewhere to store it although some manufacturers provide the cable with the car.

An untethered charge point offers more flexibility since it can charge any electric vehicle, they are also easier on the eyes since there is no permanently attached cable.

Ultimately the choice is yours and down to what you need.

Style and Features

A charger is primarily a functional device, obviously, but most people don’t want an ugly box attached to your home. EV chargers come in a range of shapes and sizes, some even offer custom designs so when you’re choosing a charger narrow down what you need from it and then take a look at which options catch your eye.

Finally, some chargers offer more features than others, while you want a charger to power your electric vehicle some extra features make it that much better. Maybe you want a charger with a built-in tariff to work out costs or want to be able to control it from your phone. The options are out there if you want them.