[AyrshireColin]

Is it doable?

I’m considering signing on the dotted line but currently debating the merits of a home charge point.

I can charge for free at work and that will be the case until 2025 when it will be reviewed. Current chargers are 7.5kw (which I’m told = slow, but I’m parked up for 8-10hrs per day), a new bank is going in currently which I’m told ‘will be bigger’.

I downloaded Zap Map and there are free chargers everywhere in the town I live.

It seems like a home charge point is just what you do, but I’m currently questioning if it’s needed or just dropping £1k for the sake of it (pulled that number from thin air).

Doable or daft?

[DougMcL]

There are less expensive ways to get a home charger at 7kw. Having a commando 32 amp socket installed in your garage and buying (eBay) a Tesla UMC with a commando adapter is one. Answer to your question is yes. I always charged at work for a year and never at home.

[AyrshireColin]

Originally Posted by DougMcL

There are less expensive ways to get a home charger at 7kw. Having a commando 32 amp socket installed in your garage and buying (eBay) a Tesla UMC with a commando adapter is one. Answer to your question is yes. I always charged at work for a year and never at home.

It’s not even about the cost, that side is what it’s is. Just where my head is at is that there seems very little point in spending anything on home charging if I’ll not need/use it…that’s the theory though. I maybe framed my initial question wrong as what I really meant was does the theory play out as reality or is it just a terrible idea!

Your reply is confirming where my thoughts are though.

[DougMcL]

I had a BMW i3 with a crappy range of around 100 miles and rarely charged it at home. My commute was 14 miles each way. I doubt I could do it today though as I would never get on the work charger, but your setup sounds much more amenable.

[KCH1984]

If you're rarely going to be charging at home, I wouldn't rush to get it done. Different when there were still incentives/grants available, and if buying new some manufacturers (BMW) are currently offering their own incentives.

You'll likely be able to 'granny charge' using a 3-pin plug and outside socket anyway if you needed to top up overnight and then rapid charge when out and about. Like I said, probably would hold off until the local council starts charging for the public use ones.

[JustChris]

Easily do abble yes with the 3 pin granny charger alone.

[KRS_SN]

I wouldn’t put up with the inconvenience of not having a home charger.
For instance the 5 'free' chargeplace Scotland chargers around where I live are all 'occupied' in real Time when i check via the chargeplace Scotland app. You can check ones in the area via the app too.The charger at work can be occupied or worse an ice may park in there.

[robbiep]

Originally Posted by AyrshireColin

Is it doable?

I’m considering signing on the dotted line but currently debating the merits of a home charge point.

I can charge for free at work and that will be the case until 2025 when it will be reviewed. Current chargers are 7.5kw (which I’m told = slow, but I’m parked up for 8-10hrs per day), a new bank is going in currently which I’m told ‘will be bigger’.

I downloaded Zap Map and there are free chargers everywhere in the town I live.

It seems like a home charge point is just what you do, but I’m currently questioning if it’s needed or just dropping £1k for the sake of it (pulled that number from thin air).

Doable or daft?

Is free workplace charging not viewed by HMRC as benefit in kind ?

That would be my first concern, no way in hell you want a tax bill landing on you at some point in the future.

As to the charging speed, 7kW is perfectly fine if a car is parked up for a few hours, you don't need more.

The other way to look at the home charge point is that it's future-proofing - you've got charging available all the time.
If loads of people at work get EVs then charging might be a problem, public chargepoints aren't always working or available.

[DB118D]

Absolutely it can be done but no public chargeable tariff will be cheaper than charging at home.

I'm 2 years and 24k miles into EV ownership and have no home charger. My local authority (East Dunbartonshire) have offered free charging although this will be removed on 2nd October. If i use these, I will be 40p/kWh for standard/fast chargers and 70p/kWh for rapids plus an overstay fee.

I can also charge for free at work, or make use of the Tesla network.

[DB118D]

Originally Posted by robbiep

Is free workplace charging not viewed by HMRC as benefit in kind ?

No, it's not (yet!)

[AyrshireColin]

Appreciate the replies.

I'm just going for it with no home charger. If I quickly realise that I'd like one at home then I'll get one.

I'll have to charge once per week with normal usage.

I have counted and have x36 free chargers all within 1/2 a mile of my house (more importantly in and about places I am as a matter of course, maybe just means taking the car on the odd occasion rather than walking).

I play football twice per week and my son trains once per week at the local SoccerWorld, that's 0.4 of a mile from the athletics center which has x14 free chargers, so again I can easily just park, charge and walk.

I can charge for free at work (it's a works car park so no concern re. ICE cars in charging spaces - just not a thing).

Thant's my starting point. If I quickly realise that I'd prefer a charge point at home then it's no big deal - nothing ventured, nothing gained and all that!

[djcowlin]

Sounds like a good plan, though I would check via the Zapmap app to make sure that the ChargePlace Scotland chargers near you are actually working - the ones near us in the Borders break/get vandalised and don't seem to get fixed.

You can also get a £400 rebate on the cost of home charger installation from the Energy Saving Trust in Scotland if you live in a sufficiently rural postcode.

[KRS_SN]

I have discovered the ev charging bays at work and taken out the cables from the boot.

someone had parked in my designated parking space and the ev bay was the only one that was available.

It is free to charge your EV.

My battery is 77kwh which gives 200 miles
That's what I need in a week.
The charger seems to be giving around 9kwh/hr
So I need it plugged in for around 8 hours a week
I'm at work for atleast 40 hours a week.
Home charging point as back up

Octopus intelligent leccy for the hot tub, dishwasher, washing machine,tumble dryer etc timed to come on at 2330. I estimate this saves well over £100pm vs standard tariff.