No, you do not need solar panels to install a home EV charger. The charger works perfectly with standard grid electricity.
Without solar:
- Overnight charging — schedule your charger to run overnight when electricity is cheapest. Tariffs like Octopus Go offer rates around 9p/kWh between midnight and 5:30am.
- Cost to charge — at off-peak rates, charging a typical EV from 20% to 80% costs around £3–£4, compared to £60–£80 for a tank of petrol
- Smart scheduling — all the chargers we install have apps that let you schedule charging for the cheapest times automatically
With solar (optional upgrade):
- Free charging — surplus solar electricity can charge your EV during the day at zero cost
- Solar diverting — some chargers (like Myenergi Zappi) can automatically divert surplus solar power to your car
- Maximum savings — combining solar, battery, and EV charging can virtually eliminate your fuel and electricity costs
Many of our customers start with just an EV charger and add solar later. We are happy to design a system that is ready for future expansion.
