Branch Locator
Blog
Toolbox
Favourites
Account
Basket
VAT:
Ex
Inc
Electric Vehicle Charging
Filters
Type
Colour
Brand
Material
Price
Please select your collection branch...
Please enter your delivery address...
Showing 1—30 items of 69
Electric Car Chargers
City Plumbing offers a comprehensive range of EV chargers at competitive prices. Whether you need to comply with legal requirements for new builds or retrofit a charger to an existing property, our extensive selection meets diverse customer needs.
Explore smart, app-controlled chargers compatible with solar PV and battery storage, ensuring safe, efficient, and future-ready installations for every customer. Get in touch with us today to find the perfect charger for your needs and secure your installation.
The Legal Requirement For Home EV Chargers
The electric vehicle (EV) market is rapidly growing, making EV charger installation an urgent requirement for many customers. Electric cars now make up 4.5% of all vehicles on the road, and this share continues to climb [Source: eVisionEVs, July 2025].
This market growth translates into two primary use cases for charger installations:
- New Homes: Homes built since 2022 must include an EV charge point, creating steady demand for compliant installation services.
- Existing Homes (Retrofitting): As vehicle adoption increases nationwide, there is a significant and immediate need to retrofit chargers for existing residential properties.
Types of EV Chargers Explained
- Domestic Chargers (Home Use):
Power: Typically 7kW (single-phase AC).
Management: Designed for a single user with basic smart control (app scheduling, remote start/stop).
Primary Goal: Convenience, cost control (charging during off-peak times), and simple, compliant installation.
Load Management: Often uses Dynamic Load Balancing (DLB) accessories to protect the home's main fuse.
- Commercial / Workplace Charging:
Power: Higher output, often 11kW or 22kW (requiring three-phase supply), or DC Rapid charging (50kW+).
Management: Requires advanced network features, including multi-user access (RFID/App), detailed usage tracking, remote diagnostics, and the ability to set tariffs/billing.
Primary Goal: Speed, managing multiple users, revenue generation, and sophisticated load management across a bank of chargers.
Installation: Much more complex, often requiring pedestals and professional electrical design.
- Cables & Leads (The Connection):
Tethered: The cable is permanently attached to the charger unit, offering high convenience but limited to one connector type (usually Type 2).
Untethered (Socketed): Unit has a standard socket, allowing the user to plug in a separate cable. This offers flexibility for different cable lengths and connector types (e.g., Type 1 or Type 2).
Specialised Cables (e.g., EV-Ultra): These cables combine power conductors and a data cable (Cat5e) within a single sheath, streamlining smart charger installation.
- Installer Accessories (Essential Components):
Electrical Safety: Includes dedicated EV Consumer Units, special RCBOs (circuit protection), and PEN fault protection devices to ensure compliance with wiring regulations (BS7671).
Mounting: Items such as pedestals (for non-wall mounting in car parks), backplates, and protective impact barriers for commercial sites.
Load Control: CT Clamps and DLB kits that monitor the electrical load and dynamically throttle the charger's power output to prevent overloading the main supply.
Management: Cable holders and tidies for safety, and RFID tags/payment terminals for commercial access and billing.
Key Benefits of EV Chargers
Smart Units for Homeowners (Wi-Fi and App-Controlled)
Smart chargers are now the standard for domestic installation, offering significant financial and safety advantages:
- Cost Savings: Allows homeowners to schedule charging sessions automatically to align with the cheapest off-peak electricity tariffs, often saving hundreds of pounds annually.
- Safety and System Protection: Dynamic Load Balancing (DLB) monitors household electricity use and reduces the charger's output as needed. This prevents the main fuse from tripping or from causing a system overload.
- Remote Control & Monitoring: Homeowners can start, stop, or adjust charging sessions from anywhere via a smartphone app and receive detailed energy usage reports to track costs and efficiency.
- Future-Ready Updates: Receive over-the-air (OTA) software updates to keep the unit compliant with evolving regulations and compatible with new EV models.
Overview and Performance Metrics for Workplaces
Commercial and workplace chargers provide advanced features that transform a simple amenity into a valuable business asset:
- Revenue Generation: Businesses can set charging tariffs for staff or public users, turning the car park into a profit opportunity.
- Corporate Sustainability (CSR): Provides measurable metrics on energy use and carbon reduction achievements, helping businesses meet Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and sustainability goals.
- Employee Attraction & Retention: Acts as a premium workplace amenity, significantly boosting employee satisfaction and attracting talent.
- Centralised Management: Networked systems enable administrators to remotely monitor, track usage, and diagnose faults across multiple charging units from a single dashboard.
EV Chargers Future-Proofing the Installation
Installing an EV charger is an investment in future-proof infrastructure, supported by legislation and energy trends:
- Compliance with New Home Law: Chargers meet the mandatory Part S Building Regulations (effective June 2022), which require new homes and major renovations with associated parking to have an EV charging point.
- Compatibility with Renewable Energy: Modern smart chargers are designed to integrate seamlessly with Solar PV and home battery systems. This allows customers to charge their vehicles using free, clean, self-generated energy, dramatically reducing operating costs.
- Growth into V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid): Many smart units are built with future V2G capability, enabling the car's battery to feed energy back into the home or the grid, establishing a fully bidirectional, resilient home energy ecosystem.
- Growing Area of Work: With the government's plan to ban new fossil fuel cars by 2030, demand for qualified installers is rising. Seize the opportunity—position yourself in the stable and expanding EV charging market now.
Frequently Asked Questions About EV Chargers
How Much Does an Electric Charger Cost?
The cost of an electric car charger depends on model, features, and whether installation is included.
- Charger Unit (Supply Only): A standard 7kW "fast" charger unit typically costs between £450 and £800. Units with advanced features, such as solar integration, can cost more.
- Charger Unit with Standard Installation: The typical price for a 7kW charger, including standard installation (assuming a straightforward setup), is generally £949 to £1,200.
- Factors that Increase Cost: Installation costs can increase due to long cable runs (over 10 meters), drilling through thick or multiple walls, and necessary upgrades to your home's electrical system.
----------------------------------------------------------
Do I Need to Upgrade the Customer’s Electric Supply Before Installing an EV Charger?
Depending on the property's system age and capacity, you may need to upgrade the customer's electrical supply. The installer must notify the local Distribution Network Operator (DNO) for approval. The DNO will decide if an upgrade is needed.
Potential Required Upgrades:
- Service Head Fuse: Older properties often have 30- or 60-amp fuses, which may need to be upgraded to 80 or 100 amps to handle the high, sustained load of an EV charger. The DNO often provides this fuse upgrade free of charge.
- Consumer Unit (Fuse Box): If the existing fuse box is old, a replacement or the installation of a new, dedicated consumer unit for the EV charger may be necessary to meet modern electrical safety standards (BS7671).
- For high-power chargers (11kW or 22kW), the home may need to move from a single-phase to a three-phase supply. This upgrade is often costly and time-consuming, requiring the DNO's involvement.
- Looped Supply: If the property has a "looped supply" (where the electricity is shared with a neighbouring property), the DNO must resolve this before installation.
----------------------------------------------------------
What Is the Difference Between Tethered and Untethered Chargers?
The key difference lies in the charging cable.
Tethered vs. Untethered EV Chargers Comparison
- Cable:
Tethered: The charging cable is permanently attached to the charger unit.
Untethered (Socketed): The charger has a socket/port; the cable is detachable and separate.
- Convenience:
Tethered: High convenience—simply unravel the attached cable and plug it into the car.
Untethered (Socketed): Lower convenience—the user must retrieve a separate cable, plug it into the unit, and then plug it into the car.
- Flexibility:
Tethered: Restricted to the connector type on the fixed cable (usually Type 2 in the UK/Europe).
Untethered (Socketed): Highly flexible—you can use different cables for different car connectors (Type 1 or Type 2) or desired cable lengths.
- Aesthetics:
Tethered: Can look less tidy, as the cable is always visible or stored on the unit.
Untethered (Socketed): Offers a tidy, minimalist appearance; the cable can be stored away completely.
- Future-Proofing:
Tethered: Less future-proof; if you buy a new car with a different socket type, you would need a new charger unit.
Untethered (Socketed): More future-proof; if you change cars, you just buy a compatible replacement cable rather than a whole new unit.
----------------------------------------------------------
Are EV Chargers Compatible With Solar PV?
Yes, many modern EV chargers are fully compatible with solar PV (Photovoltaic) systems. Contact City Plumbing for guidance on choosing the best model to maximise your solar integration and energy savings.
Many manufacturers offer models with built-in or optional features to integrate with home solar. These "solar-compatible" chargers allow users to:
- Charge using 100% solar surplus power (often called "Eco+" or "Solar Only" mode). This ensures the car only charges when your solar panels are generating excess power, minimising reliance on grid electricity.
- Popular brands known for their solar integration include MyEnergi (Zappi), Hypervolt, and Ohme.
----------------------------------------------------------
What Do I Need to Know About Installing an Electric Car Charger?
For a general EV charger installation, key things you need to know are:
- Installer Certification: The installer must be certified and qualified (e.g., NICEIC or equivalent) to fit EV charging points and comply with all current wiring regulations (BS7671).
- DNO Notification: The installer must notify the Distribution Network Operator (DNO) before or immediately after installation. The DNO checks the available capacity of the local electricity supply.
- Earthing Arrangements: EV chargers require specific safety measures related to earthing. Many modern smart chargers have built-in PEN fault protection, often negating the need for a separate earth rod, simplifying installation.
- Location: The charger must be located in an area with adequate Wi-Fi or mobile signal to ensure that the smart features (such as smart scheduling and solar integration) comply with the UK's Smart Charge Points Regulations.
- Charge Rate: The most common domestic installation is a 7kW charger, which is considered a "fast" charger. The customer must have a power supply capable of supporting the charger's rated capacity.
What Types of EV Chargers Does City Plumbing Sell?
City Plumbing stocks electric car chargers from several reputable brands, including:
- Easee
- EO
- Evec
- Hive
- Hypervolt
- Indra
- Kelvelec
- Lewden
- Midea
- myenergi
- Ohme
- Rolec
- Wallbox
From cables to sockets and smart chargers, all our EV products are available to purchase online or in-store, and are competitively priced to help all customers stay on budget.
Buy EV Chargers at City Plumbing
City Plumbing is preferred by all in the trade and by homeowners searching for a reputable local plumber's merchant.
Offering all customers a high Trustpilot rating, alongside a mass of knowledge from four-plus decades of experience, and superior plumbing and heating products and advice, we’re here to help you get the job done.
With more than 350 branches nationwide, our prices are competitive to help ensure you finish all your projects on budget.
With several Delivery Options and a Click & Collect service, if you’re looking for a City Plumbing near me, type your postcode into our branch locator to find your nearest City Plumbing Supplies. Or, find out more by visiting our Renewables Hub.
Help & Feedback
Chat With Us
Give Us Feedback