EV Charging Point Installation Advice to Holiday Home Owners

Less than a year ago the Government officially confirmed that petrol and diesel cars would be banned from 2030, assuring that the country is heading to a greener, electric future. As electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular in the UK, there is a rising demand for holiday homes that offer charging point facilities to allow drivers to freely explore the area knowing that the car will always be ready to head for adventures. Applegarth highlights that ‘it’s only a matter of time before EV charge point installation becomes an essential feature of your holiday let.’

According to Zap Map Research (2021), new charge points are added on a daily basis and the charging point infrastructure is quickly evolving. Despite the South West area seeing an increase of chargers (chart below), the Isle of Purbeck is still behind in installing EV charging points, especially within holiday homes. We spoke to one of our holiday cottages owner, who has an electric car and installed a charging point over two years ago across two of her holiday cottages in Corfe Castle, she says “that it has been hugely beneficial.”

Benefits of EV charging points in your holiday home

Deciding to go EV route and install a charging point in your holiday home might feel like a big step, but there are plenty of advantages you could benefit from. First of all, EV charging contributes towards sustainable environment by powering transportation with electricity, not fossil fuels while attracting eco-conscious guests. With currently only a few EV ready holiday properties in Dorset, it is a great selling point that will give your cottage advantage over local competition.

Also, making the switch to electric could help you to cut on costs. The OLEV Grant, also known as Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) can reduce the cost of your home charger by up to £350. There are also plus grants and tax breaks.

If you decide to purchase EV and use a charging point yourself when guests are not in the property, experts say that it can cost less than 2p per mile to drive one, compared to 12p per mile for a petrol and diesel car, this can add up to big savings. It is calculated that on average the driver could save over £1000 a year (Table below explains annual savings comparing electric car vs petrol car).

“I have saved around £1000 over a year since installing EV charging point by Julian Harris” (AR Harris & Son Electrical Contractors) – explains owner of Russet and Daisy Cottages. It is worth mentioning that there is no road tax on pure electric cars.

Professionals at AR Harris & Son Electrical Contractors have pointed out that when the holiday home is under occupancy in off-season, additional revenue stream could be achieved by renting the charging point to others.

EV and Charging Points – The Drawbacks

There is no doubt that there are different upfront costs depending on the cottage and the charger you decide to go for. Any installation will need to be carried out by a professional. Local installer Julian Harris has quoted their rough cost guide at £700-£1000 (including grant). There are also a number of additional costs that could arise including installing a new fuse box or arranging a new driveway gate.

DCH have updated their booking terms to prevent guests from using a standard plug and extension lead to charge their electric cars due to safety concerns. DCH can incorporate a standard charge when guests book to cover electric from a charge point. The amount of electric used vis these charge points can be tracked by the owner through an app.

Criteria for OLEV Grant and Installation of EV Charger?

To be eligible for the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme you must meet the following criteria:

Can only claim one chargepoint per eligible vehicle and up to two eligible vehicles per household
Must have off road parking
Only certain car models can qualify (list can be found here: Vehicles eligible for the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme – GOV.UK (publishing.service.gov.uk)
Must install an OLEV-approved chargepoint
You have not already claimed the grant for your electric car

Types of Charger Points and Charging Units

There are three types of electric car charge points: rapid (43kW), fast (7kW or 22kW) and slow (3kW). In the UK market 3-7 kW chargers are the most popular within home charging and are widely recommended. Many UK households have a single-phase (AC) electricity supply and can support the additional 7 kW load. Julian Harris also installs 7kW chargers, which usually take about 7 hours to fully charge a car. Table below gives an idea on how long it takes to charge an EV from empty to full depending on charge point and different type of car.

There are over 40 different manufacturers providing charging units suitable for residential use. The standard units are wall-mounted, and available either with a tethered Type 1 or Type 2 cable, which can be plugged straight into the car. With professional advice from Julian Harris we will assist you in getting the best make according to the property.

Are You Ready to Take the First Step Towards Electric Future?

For all owners that are interested in wanting to know more please do Domi. You can contact AR Harris for further advice and a quote on 01929 424518. The company advise on most suitable make of chargers, most efficient tarrif and the best ways to monitor the usage of the electricity, which is often controlled via the smart charging app like ‘EV energy’ app.

Professionals suggest that the lead time to receive the right equipment can take approximately 3-4 weeks, but you should be able to get all equipment within 6 weeks guaranteed. To fit the charging point can take between 3 hours and a day depending on the type of the property.

DCH are working to add a new symbol of ‘charging point’ on the website to assist people with most suitable properties. We do hope there will be more holiday home owners showing an interest in working towards greener, sustainable and electric future, if not right away then in a very near future.