The question is now moot: since 30 June 2022, all new home EV chargers installed in Great Britain must be smart by law under the Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021 (legislation.gov.uk). Standard non-smart chargers can no longer be legally installed. A smart home charger costs £700-£1,200 fully installed, and scheduling charging for off-peak electricity rates saves £400-£600 per year on tariffs like Octopus Go or Intelligent Octopus. From 1 April 2026, the OZEV grant increased to £500 per socket for renters, flat owners and landlords (GOV.UK).
Smart vs Standard EV Charger Comparison
| Feature | Smart Charger (2026) | Standard Charger (Legacy) |
|---|---|---|
| Legal to install new | Yes | No (banned since June 2022) |
| Typical installed cost | £700-£1,200 | Was £500-£800 |
| Off-peak scheduling | Yes, automatic | No |
| Annual charging cost (10,000 miles) | £250-£400 | £600-£900 |
| Annual saving vs standard | £200-£600 | Baseline |
| App control | Yes | No |
| Solar integration | Yes (most models) | No |
| Load balancing | Yes | No |
| OZEV grant eligible | Yes (£500 from April 2026) | No |
| Smart tariff compatible | Yes | No |
Charging costs based on 3.5 miles/kWh efficiency, 24.5p/kWh standard rate, 7-10p/kWh off-peak rate.
Why are all new chargers required to be smart?
The Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021 made it illegal to install non-smart home chargers from 30 June 2022. The law requires all new domestic and workplace chargers in England, Scotland and Wales to have smart functionality, including off-peak pre-configuration, demand-side response capability, and a randomised delay of up to 10 minutes to prevent grid surges (GOV.UK).
The regulations exist because if millions of EV owners plugged in at 6pm on a winter evening without smart scheduling, the National Grid could face demand spikes of up to 18GW. Smart chargers solve this by automatically shifting demand to off-peak hours, typically between midnight and 5am.
If you still have a pre-2022 non-smart charger, it remains legal to use. But when you replace it, the new unit must be smart-compliant.
How much do smart chargers save on electricity?
Smart chargers save £200-£600 per year by scheduling charging for off-peak electricity rates. The savings depend on your tariff structure:
- Octopus Go — 7.5p/kWh between 12:30am-4:30am vs 24.5p/kWh standard
- Intelligent Octopus Go — 7.5p/kWh for all smart-scheduled EV charging (up to 6 hours per night)
- OVO Charge Anytime — discounted rates during off-peak windows
- EDF GoElectric — lower night rate for EV owners
For a typical EV covering 10,000 miles per year with an efficiency of 3.5 miles per kWh, annual electricity consumption is around 2,857 kWh. At the standard rate of 24.5p/kWh, that costs roughly £700. At an off-peak rate of 7.5p/kWh, the same energy costs £214 — a saving of £486 per year.
The charger’s smart features make this effortless. Set your departure time and minimum charge level in the app, and the charger automatically schedules sessions for the cheapest available window.
Considering a home EV charger?
Which are the best smart EV chargers in the UK?
The top four smart chargers for UK homes in 2026 are the Ohme Home Pro, Hypervolt Home 3 Pro, Easee One and Andersen A3. Each has distinct strengths:
Ohme Home Pro — Best for smart tariff users
- Price: £535-£540 (unit only), £936 installed
- 7.4kW single-phase
- Built-in 4G connectivity
- Deep integration with Octopus and E.ON tariffs
- Automatically charges at cheapest half-hour slots
- Tethered (5m cable)
Hypervolt Home 3 Pro — Best all-rounder
- Price: £642 (unit only), £1,045 installed
- 7.4kW single-phase
- Premium build quality and design
- Excellent app with energy dashboard
- Solar diverting capability
- Tethered (5m cable)
Easee One — Best for minimalist design
- Price: £499 (unit only), £918 installed
- 7.4kW single-phase
- Compact, Scandinavian design
- Untethered as standard (use your own cable)
- Easy load balancing for multi-charger setups
- Strong smart home integration
Andersen A3 — Best looking
- Price: from £1,803 installed
- 7.4kW single-phase
- Multiple finish options (wood, metal, colours)
- Premium aesthetic for front-of-house installations
- Tethered (5.5m cable)
What OZEV grant is available in 2026?
From 1 April 2026, the OZEV grant increased from £350 to £500 per socket, covering up to 75% of the purchase and installation cost. The grant is available for renters, flat owners and residential landlords. Homeowners in houses with off-street parking are not eligible (GOV.UK).
Key eligibility details:
- Renters and flat owners — up to £500 per socket, maximum 75% of costs
- Residential landlords — up to £500 per socket, extended until 31 March 2027
- Workplace Charging Scheme — up to £500 per socket for businesses
- Homeowners in houses — not eligible (grant ended for this group in April 2022)
The charger must be OZEV-approved and installed by an OZEV-registered installer. Applications moved to a new platform on 1 April 2026, with assessments taking up to 10 working days.
Can smart chargers work with solar panels?
Yes. Most smart chargers support solar diverting, which uses excess solar generation to charge your EV for free. The Hypervolt Home 3 Pro, myenergi Zappi and Ohme Home Pro all offer solar integration. The charger communicates with your solar inverter or smart meter to detect surplus generation and automatically directs it to the car.
On a sunny day, a typical 4kW solar array generates 3-4kWh of surplus electricity per hour during midday. Over a summer, this can provide 1,500-2,000 miles of free driving. Combined with off-peak night charging for the remainder, many EV owners reduce their charging costs to under £100 per year.
FAQ
Can I keep my existing non-smart charger?
Yes. The 2021 regulations only apply to new installations. If you already have a non-smart charger, you can continue using it. However, you will miss out on off-peak tariff savings of £200-£600 per year, so upgrading often makes financial sense.
How long does installation take?
A typical home charger installation takes 2-3 hours. The installer mounts the unit on an exterior wall (usually near your driveway or garage), runs cabling from your consumer unit, and configures the smart features. Most installations require no planning permission.
Do I need a dedicated electricity circuit?
Yes. All home EV chargers require a dedicated circuit from your consumer unit (fuse board). The installer will assess your existing electrical capacity during a survey. If your consumer unit needs upgrading, this can add £200-£400 to the installation cost.
What charging speed should I expect at home?
A standard 7.4kW home charger adds approximately 25-30 miles of range per hour. A typical 60kWh battery charges from 20% to 80% in around 5 hours — easily achievable overnight. This is sufficient for the vast majority of UK drivers who cover an average of 20 miles per day.
Is a 3-pin plug charger an alternative?
A 3-pin granny charger provides only 2.3kW (about 8 miles of range per hour) and is intended as emergency backup only. It lacks smart features, is slower, and draws more current relative to its output. A dedicated smart charger is safer, faster and cheaper to run over time.
Get your smart EV charger installed at the best price.
Related: EV Charger Guide
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