Home EV charging has two separate costs: the installation and the electricity you use afterwards. Neither has one standard price for every home. Glow Electric installs EV chargers across Belfast and Northern Ireland from £625; your final quote depends on the charger and the work needed at your property.
This guide covers the costs to check before booking. For current models and installed from-prices, see our EV charger installation page.
What can change the installation price?
The cable route, distance from the electricity supply, parking position and condition of the existing installation all affect the work. A long cable run or groundworks can make one installation more expensive than another using the same charger.
- Charger and cable: choose a model and cable length that reach the car comfortably in its normal parking position.
- Electrical work: ask whether the quote includes any protection, supply or consumer-unit work identified at survey. An older consumer unit does not automatically mean it needs replacing.
- Access and groundworks: agree who is responsible for digging, making good and any work outside the electrical installation.
- Setup and handover: check that testing, commissioning and an explanation of the controls are included.
Compare the whole written scope, including VAT and exclusions, rather than just the price of the charger online. Solar’s VAT treatment should not be assumed to apply to a standalone EV charger.
How much electricity will charging use?
Use the electricity drawn at the wall and your actual unit price. Energy recorded as entering the car’s battery can be lower because charging has losses. If you use several rates, split the charging between those rates before adding up the cost.
Charging cost = electricity drawn in kWh × price per kWh. Divide that cost by the miles driven on that energy to estimate your charging cost per mile. This is a calculation method, not a claim that every EV achieves the same efficiency.
For an annual comparison, include your mileage, the share charged at home and the share charged elsewhere. Compare with your own previous fuel spending. A generic petrol comparison may bear little resemblance to your car or driving.
Does charging overnight always cost less?
No. The clock alone does not change the price on a flat-rate tariff. Check whether your Northern Ireland supplier offers a suitable time-of-use tariff, its cheaper hours and its eligibility requirements. A Great Britain tariff advertised online may not be available at your address.
The Energy Saving Trust’s charging guide explains tariff options and why charging speed depends on both the car and chargepoint. Check current prices with your supplier rather than treating an example in a guide as your rate.
A lower overnight rate can come with different daytime rates or standing charges. Compare the cost of electricity for the whole household, not only the car. Then check that the charger can follow the schedule you need; smart controls do not automatically find the cheapest tariff.
What about solar charging?
A compatible setup can use surplus solar generation to charge the car when it is at home. That reduces grid purchases, but the electricity is not cost-free: the panels cost money and using surplus can mean giving up an export payment.
If you also have a battery, discuss which load should get priority. The car, battery and house cannot each use the same unit of surplus electricity. Compatibility and control settings matter more than a promise of “free miles”.
Grants and ongoing charges to check
The government grant for eligible renters and flat owners currently covers 75% of qualifying costs, capped at £500. Check the full eligibility and application process before work starts; it is not an automatic discount for every homeowner.
Ask about warranty conditions, any paid connectivity or app features, and what support is included. These depend on the product and contract. Do not assume either that a subscription is required or that every connected feature is free forever.
Before requesting your quote
Have your vehicle model, town or postcode and preferred parking position ready. Tell us about planned solar, a home battery or a second EV so the assessment can take them into account. We will check the installation requirements before confirming the work.
Compare our chargers and request an installation quote, or call 028 9691 8755. The aim is a suitable installation with a clear price, not a savings promise based on somebody else’s tariff.