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Moving EV charger
17 Dec 2020

Moving house? What can you do about your EV charger?

robin
By Robin
  • Read time: 3 minutes
If you are moving a house, you need to move with your EV charger. Note that initially, when you purchase a new EV charger you may be eligible for OLEV grant funding. However, if you are moving to a new home, you have the choice to either uninstall your EV charger and have it installed in your new house or install an entirely new one. Let us take a look at how the process works.

Location

All EV charging units are weather and water-proof. Thus, an accredited installer can choose to place them outside or inside the house, based on your preference. However, as you make that decision, you must know that the unit should be placed near where the EV is parked.

Most of the time, cables that are used for the EV chargers are not lengthy. Most of them are only around five to ten meters long. Also, it is a rule that EV owners must not use extension leads. It is not a great idea to have electric cables running along the pavements.

Therefore, if you are moving, make sure your new home has enough space for the installation of the charging unit. Note that those purchasing EV ready new builds don’t have to go through all this process.

EV charger installation

Safety

With the EV charging unit, your electric demand will rise. Therefore, before you start the installation process, be sure to ascertain that your electric cabling and household supply can handle the current your car will need.

The process will involve finding out the number of safety cut-outs available, in case the electrical installation gets overloaded. Therefore, when installing an EV charger at home, your expert will confirm that the electrical supply will work sufficiently after the installation.

Also, your installer must contact the District Network Operator so that they are aware of the installation. In case the house is EV charger-ready, and you still need another one, your expert will again communicate the same.

Permission

You will usually not have to seek permission in order to have an EV charging point installed in your new home. This is because all of the dealers are considered permitted developers. However, there are instances where you will need to seek permission ahead of the installation.

For instance, if the unit is more than 0.2 cubic meters in volume, very close to a highway, exceeds 1.6 meters in height, and is a listed building, you will have to seek permission. As the owner of an EV vehicle, you have to ensure that you have all the necessary permissions.

To do this, you want to contact the local authority planning officer. Also, be sure to talk to the landlord to find out if they are okay with the entire plan.

Can an EV charging point be installed at home?

Many people, especially those who choose to seek OLEV funding, always want to find out whether it is legal to go ahead with the plan of installing EV charging units. Suppose you fall in the same category; you must understand that this is not a DIY project that you can do alone.

Moving house EV charger

First, you must only hire a certified electrician to do the work. If you live in the UK, it is great to work with OLEV installers. Before they start working, the experts will inspect the property to determine the best spot to install the unit.

How long will the installation take?

Each installation process is unique. However, the standard installation should not take more than five hours. Once you have contacted the experts, you will need to share images of your property to find out if it meets the criteria. The team will then discuss with you the requirements. You should note that this is not part of the installation process.

In some cases, there might be some preliminary work before the actual installation commences. In case there is a lot of work that needs to be done, the team will communicate accordingly.

As part of the preparation, you need to understand that the area around the distribution board needs to be cleared. This should include the supply meter and the cable run route.

Based on the nature of your new property, the team will inform you about all that is needed. Suppose you have decided to go with a smart unit, be sure to have the Wi-Fi password ready because the installers will need it to complete the process. Smart units must be connected to the internet to function optimally.

What does the actual process entail?

Once you have communicated with an expert, they will arrive at the time requested. Make sure you are available when they get to your premises. In case there are emergencies you must take care of, let your installers know ahead of time.

They will share with you where your EV charging unit will be installed. This decision will be based on your off-set parking, the installation guidelines, and the power supply.

The experts will then complete the electric check of the current electrics so that they begin the work. Once they have started the installation of the power cable, they should not take more than five hours to complete the whole process, unless other issues arise.

After they are done with the work, your installer will test to ascertain that the charger is properly installed. They will also share a demonstration so that you only use the unit as recommended by the developers.

Final thoughts

If you are moving to a new home that does not have EV-ready structures, you will need an accredited installer to help you have the unit installed in your new home. Suppose you learn that the installation might be delayed because you don’t have sufficient power supply, contact the electricians to have the issue fixed. The unit will only function properly if handled correctly at all times; therefore, be sure to follow the guidelines.

Do you want the charging station mounted on the wall or on a pole?
Is the charging station for business or private use?

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robin

Written by Robin

Writes blogs about e-mobility and climate solutions for 50five.