Electric Vehicle Charger Installation in Teesdale
Charge your electric vehicle at home with a professionally installed EV charger. Faster than a standard plug socket, cheaper than public charging stations, and perfect when paired with solar panels and battery storage. Our qualified electricians install EV chargers across Teesdale and County Durham, providing honest advice about what works best for your home and vehicle.
Solar Integration Experts
We don’t just install EV chargers – we’re solar PV specialists who can design complete systems that generate clean energy and charge your vehicle for free. If you’re considering both technologies, we can ensure they work together perfectly, maximising your savings and reducing your carbon footprint.
Honest Assessment of Your Electrical System
Some installers rush installations without properly assessing electrical capacity, potentially creating safety issues or poor performance. We thoroughly evaluate your supply, verify everything is suitable, and recommend any necessary upgrades before installation. No shortcuts, no surprises, just safe, professional work.
Long-Term Local Support
We’ve been serving Teesdale and County Durham since 2010. When you call with a question about scheduling, tariffs, or integrating your charger with other systems, you’re speaking to people who genuinely understand renewable energy technology. We’re not just EV charger installers – we’re your local renewable energy specialists, here for the long term.
Why Install a Home EV Charger?
Public charging stations are convenient for longer journeys, but they’re expensive – often costing as much per mile as filling up with petrol or diesel. Home charging is significantly cheaper, especially if you’re on a good EV tariff with lower overnight rates.
A dedicated home charger is also much faster than using a standard three-pin plug. Whilst you can technically charge an electric vehicle from a normal socket, it’s painfully slow – often taking 24 hours or more for a full charge. A proper EV charger can fully charge most vehicles overnight, ready for your morning commute.
The real game-changer is combining an EV charger with solar panels and battery storage. On sunny days, you can charge your car using free solar energy. Even a partial charge from solar power adds up to significant savings over a year. Some of our customers are effectively running their vehicles for free during spring and summer months, using nothing but energy they’ve generated on their own roof.
Home charging is also simply more convenient. You plug in when you arrive home, and your car is ready whenever you need it. No more planning trips around charging station locations or waiting at service stations whilst your car charges.
Tethered vs Untethered Chargers
When choosing an EV charger, one of the first decisions is whether you want a tethered or untethered unit. Both have advantages depending on your situation.
Tethered chargers have a charging cable permanently attached to the unit, much like a petrol pump. You simply pull the cable out and plug it into your car. They’re incredibly convenient – the cable is always there, always the right length, and you can’t forget it. Most people find tethered chargers more practical for daily use.
Untethered chargers have a socket where you plug in your own cable. This offers more flexibility because you can use different cables for different vehicles or connector types. If you have multiple electric vehicles with different plugs, or if you’re likely to change cars and aren’t sure what connector the next one will have, untethered gives you options.
The trade-off with untethered chargers is that you need to keep your cable in the car and remember to bring it with you. Some people find this inconvenient for daily charging, though it’s less of an issue if you’re organised.
Charging speed can vary slightly. Tethered units from quality manufacturers are optimised for their specific cable and connector, potentially offering marginally faster charging. However, for most domestic use, the difference is negligible.
We’ll discuss your vehicle, household situation, and preferences during our consultation to recommend the best option for you.
The Installation Process
Our straightforward installation process is designed to make your transition to solar energy as smooth as possible:
EV Chargers and Solar Power – The Perfect Match
If you have solar panels, or you’re considering them, combining them with an EV charger transforms your electric vehicle running costs. On sunny days, you’re essentially driving for free using energy generated on your own roof.
Here’s how the numbers work: a typical solar PV system might generate 10-15kWh on a good day. An electric vehicle might use 3-4kWh per 15 miles of driving. So even a few hours of good sunshine can provide enough energy for your daily commute without drawing anything from the grid.
If you have battery storage as well, the benefits multiply. Your solar panels charge your batteries during the day, and you can use that stored energy to charge your car in the evening when you get home. Without batteries, you’d need to charge during daylight hours to use solar power directly, which doesn’t suit everyone’s schedule.
Many of our customers have told us that adding an EV charger made them wish they’d installed larger solar systems initially. If you’re considering solar and you already have an electric vehicle, or you’re planning to buy one soon, it’s worth factoring EV charging into your solar system design. A slightly larger solar array can cover both your household consumption and your vehicle charging needs.
We work with both technologies daily, so we can design integrated systems where your solar, battery storage, and EV charger all work together efficiently. The initial investment is higher, but the long-term savings on both electricity bills and vehicle running costs are substantial.
Charging Tariffs and Running Costs
One of the biggest advantages of home charging is accessing cheaper electricity rates. Several energy suppliers offer special EV tariffs with significantly reduced rates during overnight hours – often 7-9p per kWh compared to standard rates of 25-27p.
On an EV tariff, you can set your charger to operate during the cheap rate period, typically between midnight and 7am. Your car charges overnight at a fraction of the cost of daytime charging. For someone doing an average daily commute, this might cost £1-2 per day compared to £4-6 at public rapid chargers or £8-10 in a petrol car.
The smart chargers we install can be programmed to take advantage of these tariffs automatically. You plug in when you get home, and the charger waits until the cheap rate kicks in before starting. You don’t need to remember to do anything – it’s all automated.
If you have solar panels without an EV tariff, you might choose to charge during daylight hours when your panels are generating. This requires being home during the day, which suits some people’s lifestyles better than others. The beauty of having both solar and a good EV tariff is flexibility – you can charge on solar when conditions are good and fall back to cheap overnight grid electricity when they’re not.
Public rapid chargers currently cost around 65-85p per kWh – comparable to petrol prices on a per-mile basis. Home charging, even without solar, saves you 50-75% compared to public charging stations.
Testimonials
In my 90th year and almost housebound I find that I have to rely more heavily on family, friends and a wide variety of firms and organisations. I have used Teesdale Renewables for many years for plumbing, heating and lighting issues. The office staff and workforce have been unfailingly efficient, helpfuland friendly over that time.Very recently I had a new central heating boiler installed and replacement lights fitted in the porch and under kitchen cupboards. The boiler change was completed within the day causing minimum disruption to the normal function of the house in respect of water and gas supplies and is proving to be very efficient and effective. The lights were installed in a few hours and are superb.I would never think of going anywhere else for the services provided by Teesdale Renewables so effectively and at reasonable cost.
Thank you for the excellent service from staff member of the electrician team- he was very capable, experienced and well mannered. I will definitely be using your services again.
Thanks for the invoice for the installation of our wood burning stove. We are delighted with the stove and with the work undertaken.
Smart Chargers and Future-Proofing
All the chargers we install are smart chargers – they can connect to your home WiFi and be controlled via smartphone apps. This isn’t just about convenience; it’s about optimising your charging for cost and efficiency.
Smart chargers let you schedule charging times, monitor energy consumption, and track costs. If you’re on an EV tariff, you can program your charger to only operate during cheap rate periods. Some chargers integrate with solar systems, automatically adjusting charging rates based on how much excess solar energy you’re generating.
The government has mandated that all new home chargers must be smart chargers, partly because this infrastructure will support future grid management initiatives. There’s growing discussion about vehicle-to-grid technology, where electric vehicles can feed power back into the grid during peak demand periods. Whilst this isn’t widely available yet, having a smart charger means you’re ready if these schemes become available in your area.
Future regulations may require EV chargers to have load balancing capabilities – automatically adjusting power draw based on overall household consumption. Smart chargers already have this functionality, preventing your electrical system from being overloaded if you’re running multiple high-power appliances whilst your car charges.
We install chargers from reputable manufacturers with good track records for reliability and ongoing support. You don’t want a charger from a company that might disappear in a few years, leaving you with unsupported technology.
Grants and Incentives
Currently, there are no government grants available for home EV charger installation. The grant scheme that previously offered £350 towards installation costs ended in 2022 for most homeowners.
However, it’s worth checking whether your vehicle manufacturer offers any incentives. When some customers purchase electric vehicles, particularly from premium brands, the manufacturer includes a free home charger or contributes towards installation costs as part of the vehicle deal. If you’re buying or leasing an electric vehicle, ask the dealer what charging incentives are available.
Some energy companies offer incentives for switching to their EV tariffs, occasionally including contributions towards charger installation or discounted smart chargers. These deals change regularly, so it’s worth shopping around when comparing energy tariffs.
Whilst the upfront cost of an EV charger installation is now entirely down to you, the running cost savings compared to public charging mean most people recoup the installation cost within a year or two of regular use. When you factor in cheaper home charging rates or free solar energy, an EV charger quickly pays for itself.
EV Charger Installation Questions Answered
How long does it take to charge an electric car at home?
Charging time depends on your vehicle’s battery size and the charger power output. A typical 7kW home charger can fully charge most electric vehicles in 6-8 hours – perfect for overnight charging. If you’re just topping up after a daily commute rather than charging from empty, it might only take 2-3 hours. Larger vehicles with bigger batteries take longer, whilst smaller EVs charge faster. The charger we install will be matched to your vehicle’s capabilities to ensure optimal charging speed without unnecessary expense.
Can I charge my car from a normal socket?
Yes, you can charge an electric vehicle from a standard three-pin plug socket, but it’s extremely slow – often taking 24 hours or more for a full charge. Standard sockets also aren’t designed for the sustained high current draw of vehicle charging, potentially creating a fire risk if used regularly. A dedicated EV charger is much faster, safer, and more efficient. If you’re serious about electric vehicle ownership, a proper charger is essentially a necessity rather than a luxury.
Will an EV charger work with any electric vehicle?
Most EV chargers work with most electric vehicles, as there are standardised connector types. In the UK and Europe, the Type 2 connector is standard for the vast majority of electric cars. Some older vehicles or imports might use different connectors, but adapters are usually available. We’ll discuss your specific vehicle during our consultation to ensure compatibility. If you choose an untethered charger, you have even more flexibility because you’re using your own cable that came with your vehicle.
What happens if I move house?
An EV charger is technically part of your property’s electrical installation, so it would typically remain when you sell. However, there’s nothing stopping you removing it if you want to take it to your new home – it’s essentially a plug and play unit once installed. Many people find that having an EV charger installed actually adds value when selling, particularly as electric vehicles become more common. Buyers with EVs or considering buying one see it as a valuable amenity that saves them the installation cost.
What if I move house?
Solar panels typically add value to your property – you’re offering buyers a home with lower running costs. The system stays with the house, and all warranties transfer to the new owner. Make sure the conveyancing solicitors include all documentation and warranties in the sale.
Can I install an EV charger if I have solar panels?
Absolutely – in fact, it’s one of the best combinations for reducing running costs. Your solar panels can directly power your EV charger during daylight hours, meaning you’re driving on free solar energy rather than grid electricity. If you have battery storage as well, you can store excess solar energy during the day and use it to charge your car in the evening. We can integrate your EV charger with existing solar systems or design a complete renewable energy setup that includes both solar and vehicle charging capability.
Do I need planning permission for an EV charger?
Generally, no. Installing an EV charger at your home is usually considered permitted development and doesn’t require planning permission. However, if you live in a listed building or conservation area, there may be restrictions. We’ll advise on any permissions needed during our site visit. The installation must still meet building regulations and electrical safety standards – which all our installations do as standard. We provide all necessary certification for the electrical work carried out.
Request My Consultation Today
Our straightforward installation process is designed to make your transition to solar energy as smooth as possible:
