New driveway rule change affecting every home in England has begun

In a move to accelerate the UK's electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, the Department for Transport announced at the end of May that planning permission was no longer required to install EV chargers in England. The change is now in place for private homes, public streets and workplaces.

The Government's decision aims to slash bureaucratic hurdles, making charger installation far simpler, addressing concerns that obtaining local council planning permission could take up to nine months.

Eliminating such barriers is key to encouraging more motorists to transition to EVs, particularly those deterred by the lack of personal off-road parking facilities.

Lilian Greenwood, Minister for the Future of Roads, commented on the policy change at the time: "We're cutting down on paperwork to power up the EV revolution so that drivers, businesses and those looking to make the switch will have more chargepoints to power from and less red tape to deal with.

"We continue to make the switch to EVs easier, cheaper and better by investing over £2.3 billion to support drivers and back British carmakers through international trade deals, creating jobs, boosting investment and securing our future."

Jack Cousens, head of roads policy at the AA, emphasised the necessity for the Government to maximise the rollout of EV chargers and welcomed the easing of planning regulations as a measure that "will help accelerate installations".

He added: "The crucial element is ensuring grid connection in a timely manner. This is especially important in rural locations and areas where there is no dedicated off-street parking."

RAC's senior policy officer Rod Dennis welcomed the news, saying that enticing more motorists to opt for an EV as their next vehicle depends on "removing the obstacles some people face".

But he warned that the "relatively high cost of public charging... still needs to be tackled".

The convenience of home charging can revolutionise the EV experience. It guarantees a dependable place to recharge and enables access to lower electricity tariffs, potentially reducing the running costs of an EV significantly.

But what does it take to install a home charger, and what should you consider beforehand?

We've compiled all the essential advice and considerations for you.

For the easiest installation of a home charger, having off-street parking is ideal. A driveway or designated parking spot ensures constant access to your charger.

Positioning it on the side of your house means easy connectivity to your vehicle.

However, there are some alternatives if you don't have a driveway. For instance, in terraced properties, gullies can be installed into the pavement allowing a cable to run out to the car without posing a tripping hazard.

To get this installed, you'll likely need to consult with your local council.

If you're living in a flat, your options may be more limited. However, there are incentives available for flat owners to assist with installation costs.

Whether you can install a charger also depends on whether you own your property. If you're renting, you can still have a charger installed, but you'll need to discuss it with your landlord before starting any installation to ensure they're agreeable.

In most cases, a standard home wallbox delivering around 7kW of charging power will suffice. With one of these, you can fully charge a typical EV overnight.

Plus, in most cases, these standard chargers can be installed with minimal fuss.

There's also the option to upgrade to a faster charger, which can deliver up to 22kW of power, fully charging an EV in about five hours. However, to have one of these, you'll need a three-phase power supply and since this isn't standard in most UK homes, you'll need to upgrade your home energy supply, which could incur additional costs.

It all depends on whether you really want or need that faster rate of charge.

There are two types of chargers to consider – tethered and untethered. The former comes with a charging cable permanently attached to the main 'box', eliminating the need to connect your charging cable each time.

However, these units tend to be bulkier due to the attached cable being stowed away in a large 'reel', similar to a traditional hosepipe reel.

On the other hand, untethered units require you to bring the cable with you and connect it to the box each time you charge. These chargers are smaller, making them ideal if you're concerned about space.

The downside is that you'll need to carry a cable with you each time.

The good news is that there are numerous charger suppliers in the UK, so you should find one that suits your needs.

Once you've chosen a charger, the provider will usually guide you through the installation process. Most will organise a pre-installation survey of your home, or you'll need to provide the dimensions of your property and the location of your consumer unit.

This allows the installers to properly install the charger.

An engineer will typically conduct a home visit to assess your property before commencing work. The installation of chargers necessitates an armoured and upgraded cable, which will be run from your consumer unit to the outdoor area where the charger will be situated.

This could involve drilling through walls or laying cabling beneath floorboards, but the engineer will guide you through their planned approach and potential impacts on your home.

Following the completion of this preliminary work, the charger can be installed. Most chargers are delivered separately by post in time for the start of the work.

Installations generally take around four hours, although this may vary depending on the complexity of your property and any unforeseen issues. Be aware that the engineer may need to temporarily disconnect your home's electricity supply.

Additionally, if your charger has 'smart' capabilities enabling it to connect to the internet, they'll test this, which may involve connecting it to your home router.

Once your charger is installed, you can carry on with your current energy provider; you'll simply pay its standard unit rate for electricity. However, one of the most cost-effective ways to run an electric vehicle is by switching to an EV-friendly tariff.

With these, you'll be able to access a lower cost of electricity by charging at off-peak times, or by allowing the charger to intelligently stop and start a charge depending on demand.

Similarly, like the charger itself, there are numerous energy suppliers with EV-focused tariffs to explore. Compare them to see which one suits you best.

If you're considering buying an electric vehicle, it might be worth checking if the car manufacturer is offering any kind of charger deal. Some firms, for example, provide a free charger and installation with the purchase of a new car, which can help cut your overall costs.

However, if you're installing it separately or can't find a deal, then you should budget between £500 and £1,000 for the installation and charger. Most charger providers combine the cost of the unit and the installation, which simplifies the calculation.

For instance, Ohme offers its standard ePod charger for £949, inclusive of the installation cost. However, there may be some additional costs if your installation requires extra cabling or if there are any complications with the process.