For people considering making the switch to an electric vehicle the cost of having an EV charger installed at their home is also something to take into consideration.
The cost of installing a home EV charger can range anywhere from €900 to €1,600 depending on the charger and the difficulty of the installation work itself.
Grant assistance from the SEAI can knock a significant amount off that price tag, with up to €300 available for most homeowners.
There are two main aspects of the cost of getting an EV charger installed, the price of the charger itself and the cost of the installation.
The price for a charger can vary by several hundred depending on its features. Similarly the cost of installing the charger.
EV Chargers
There are a growing number of electric vehicle chargers on the market in Ireland, with a broad selection of features and price points for Irish consumers to select from.
With everything from basic plug and charge models to more advanced units with a host of smart features and built in controls, the price of an EV charger unit can range from €350 for a basic Level 2 charger up to around €800 for a higher end model.
The factors governing the price of the charger itself include:
EV Charger Installation
The installation is the second part of the price tag for getting an EV charger installed, and can vary based on the installation method and whether any improvements are required for your home electrical grid.
An electrician may recommend improvements such as:
Home EV chargers are typically installed on the outside wall of a house, or in a garage, and connected to the domestic power supply. Any additional work which needs to be done as part of the installation process will increase the price.
EV Chargers and Solar Panels
One option for getting an EV charger for your home is to have it installed at the same time as home solar panels. Many solar panel installers also offer EV chargers, whether on their own or as an addition.
Getting an EV charger installed in a package with solar panels may get you a significant discount on the price. This will depend on the installer in question and is something anyone getting solar panels for their home should ask about.
EV Charger Grants
The SEAI offers grants to help homeowners with the cost of having an electric vehicle charger installed. The current grant for an EV charger from the SEAI is €300 per household.
This is available for all homeowners as long as they have off street parking available, use a Safe Electric registered installer, and choose from the list of approved EV chargers.
SEAI grant funding is also available for the owners of management companies of apartment complexes to cover between 60% and 90% of the cost of installing an EV charging network.
This covers all expenses such as cabling, controllers, civil works and installation costs, along with €600 per charge point.
Commercial EV Charger Costs
Many businesses are now installing EV chargers in their employee car parks for charging at work, or for commercial use at filling stations and other locations.
Commercial EV Charger projects will always be more expensive than home EV chargers, due to the larger more expensive units and greater installation complexity.
The cost of commercial EV charging projects will depend on whether businesses are using high-power AC chargers, Rapid Charging DC chargers up to 50kW in power, or High-Power DC chargers which can be anywhere up to 150kW-200kW in power. It also depends on how many chargers are being installed.
Installation itself will also be a more difficult, time consuming, and expensive task with commercial EV chargers.
The necessary electrical infrastructure might have to run a significant distance from the main building to the car park where the chargers are located, and connect a significant number of chargers.