Choosing a home charger: what actually matters

Most home chargers in the UK deliver the same 7.4 kW on a single-phase supply, so the differences are in software, build and how well they fit your home.

Questions worth asking

• Does it work with the smart tariff you want, and does it control charging itself or rely on the car?
• Do you want a tethered cable, or a socket so you can use your own?
• Do you have, or plan, solar panels? Some chargers can charge from surplus solar.
• What happens if the internet or the maker's cloud service is down?
• Does it meet the UK smart charge point regulations?

Ask owners in the Home Charging community how theirs has held up. Long-term reliability rarely shows up in a spec sheet.