Electric car: how to install a charging station at home

© Unsplash/Andrew Roberts

Faced with the higher price of public charging stations and the long charging time of a traditional electrical outlet at home, the home charging station stands out as a particularly practical in-between. But its installation can raise some questions and gray areas that are sometimes difficult to understand for the layman. So we are trying here to simplify the concept by offering you all the information you need to install a charging station at home.

Why install a charging station at home ?

As long as you have an electric car, the installation of a charging station at home can ultimately lead to real savings. Furthermore, the long charging time when you plug your car into a traditional household outlet can be a major obstacle for consumers who are not yet convinced. The alternative, to save time, is to use a public terminal with faster charging, but such a practice has a cost.

© ionity

The home charging station answers all these questions: it allows faster charging at home, while being largely less expensive than a public terminal. This also offers the possibility of not having to leave your car charging all night, which could impact battery life.

What steps should be taken to install a terminal in an individual house, a condominium or as a tenant ?

As long as you own a detached house, installing a charging station in your home will be particularly simple. All you have to do is call a professional to give you a quote (depending on the model you choose), then let them carry out the necessary work.

On the other hand, if you wish to install a charging station in a co-ownership, things get complicated: you have a right to the socket, but you will need to consult with the co-owners. If they do not wish to benefit from such equipment, you will then have to install an IRVE (Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure) at your expense, then detail the work to be carried out with your co-ownership association. On the other hand, if the co-owners agree, parking spaces can be equipped with electric charging stations.

© Pixabay/AKrebs60

If you are the tenant of a detached house, you can ask your landlord to install an electrical terminal, but the latter is free to refuse the request (even if you offer to pay all the charges). If you are a tenant in collective accommodation, you once again benefit from the right to take. You can therefore install an electrical terminal at your own expense, but take out insurance to cover any damage caused by the installation.

Which type of terminal to choose ?

First of all, you need to determine the charging power you need. If you are taking short trips, charging power ranging from 3.7kW to 11kW will be more than enough. In some cases, the use of a reinforced grip may be sufficient. If you still opt for a charging station, choose between models capable of charging 3.7, 7.4, 11 or 22 kW, depending on your needs. This will also depend on the charging capacity of your battery.

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Note also that manufacturers of electrical terminals often offer additional options. This could include mobile applications for remote charging control, badge access control or additional sockets for charging other vehicles at the same time.

How much does it cost to install a home charging station?

The reinforced socket remains the least expensive solution: it costs around €500, installation included. For home charging stations, it will be more expensive. Count between 1200 and 2000€ with the installation. If this price will fluctuate, it is mainly in relation to various factors to take into account during the quote. We talk in particular about the choice of the brand and model of the terminal, the distance between the location of the terminal and the electrical panel, the work to be carried out to install the terminal, etc.

It will also be important to check whether the charging cable is taken into account when establishing the quote: the latter can sometimes be forgotten from the invoice, whereas it can cost between 300 and 500€.

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What aid can you benefit from to install a charging station ?

If you have to pay up to €2000 for installing a terminal can be a hindrance for many consumers, fortunately there are various aids to make the operation less expensive. For example, under certain conditions, it is possible to benefit from VAT at 5.5% for the installation of an electrical terminal. On the other hand, installing an electric car charging station entitles you to a tax credit corresponding to 75% of the total price paid up to €300 per household and per station.

© Citroën

In the context of collective housing, specific aid is also provided. We think, for example, of the “Individual solution” help. of the Advenir program: the latter allows you to benefit from a 50% discount on the tax-free price of a charging station, without exceeding €960 help.

Where and how to install a home charging station ?

As soon as you have chosen the terminal to install, you can contact an IRVE technician, who will be responsible for providing you with a quote for the installation. The professional then determines whether your electrical installation will be able to support the presence of the terminal. He then chooses the ideal location for the terminal on your property. Finally, once he has obtained your agreement, he will be able to take care of the work necessary for the installation, and you will then be able to enjoy your new electrical terminal at home.

Note that it is impossible to consider installing home charging yourself. Even if you are a DIYer, stations over 3.7 kW must be installed by an IRVE professional. However, you can install a reinforced socket alone, without having to go through a professional, since the latter does not exceed the 3.7 kW required for professional help.

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