How Much Does EV Charger Installation Cost in London?

Home EV charging turns a car into something you refuel while asleep. A 7kW unit charges most electric cars from empty overnight, and off-peak tariffs like Octopus Intelligent make it dramatically cheaper than public rapid charging. But the installation itself can vary from around £900 for a simple job to £1,800+ for tricky properties — and knowing why helps you avoid overpaying or being caught by extras.

The baseline: what a straightforward 7kW install includes

For most homes we're installing a wall-mounted 7kW smart charger, a dedicated cable run from the consumer unit, a Type-A RCD or PEN-fault protection built into the charger, a dedicated MCB or RCBO in the consumer unit, all necessary containment, testing, certification and DNO notification. The unit itself, labour, materials and certification are all included in a fixed price.

What actually drives the cost up

Four factors change the price more than anything else: cable length, earthing arrangement, main fuse rating, and the state of the existing consumer unit.

Factor 1: Cable run distance

A charger fitted 3m from the consumer unit needs a short, cheap cable run. A charger at the end of a 25m garden or on a detached garage across a driveway needs armoured cable, external containment, weatherproof glands and potentially a trench. Long runs also need thicker cable to stay within voltage-drop limits (typically 5% for lighting/power circuits). This alone can swing price by £200–£500.

Factor 2: Earthing arrangement

UK homes use TN-S, TN-C-S (PME) or TT earthing. Outdoor EV chargers on PME systems need either a charger with built-in PEN-fault detection, or a dedicated earth rod installation (TT conversion for the charger). TT earth rods add labour but often provide the most robust safety on driveway installations.

Factor 3: Main fuse and load management

A 7kW charger draws around 32A. If you already have an electric shower, induction hob, heat pump and immersion on a 60A or 80A main fuse, adding a charger without load management would risk tripping the main fuse. A load-managed charger (or a separate CT clamp device) throttles the car charge when the house is drawing heavily, so nothing trips. This adds around £100–£200 in kit.

Factor 4: Consumer unit condition

If your existing consumer unit is old, full, or plastic, we may not be able to safely add a new dedicated circuit for the charger. In that case you'll either need a small dedicated garage-style unit alongside the main board, or a full consumer unit upgrade. Sometimes the upgrade is the right long-term answer — it's honest to raise it early rather than mid-job.

OZEV and workplace grants

The OZEV EV Chargepoint Grant is available for renters and flat owners (£350 towards installation), and there are grants for landlords fitting chargers on rental properties. Homeowners of freehold houses no longer qualify. As a Chargepoint Installer we handle the paperwork and deduct the grant from your invoice.

What to check before ordering

Before signing off a quote, confirm four things in writing: the exact cable route and length, the earthing method (PME with built-in detection, or TT with rod), whether load management is included, and whether the price includes DNO notification. Any charger installation should be notifiable under Part P and come with an Electrical Installation Certificate.

Book a free survey

We offer free EV charger surveys across Barnet, Finchley, Enfield, Edgware, Whetstone and North London. We'll measure the cable route, check your main fuse and earthing, and give you a fixed all-in price before you commit.