Charging Point Installers in County Durham

Picking the Right EV Charger Installer: Your Guide for 2026

Congratulations on making the switch to an electric vehicle! To unlock the full potential of your EV, a home charger is an absolute must. It's the cheapest, most convenient, and most reliable way to ensure your car is always ready to go when you are.

This guide will help you choose the right charger for your needs, find a qualified installer near to where you live and understand the latest technology that can save you even more money.

Why Home Charging is a Game-Changer

Relying solely on the public charging network can be expensive and unpredictable. With over 1.25 million EVs on UK roads competing for public charge points, finding an available and working charger can be a challenge.

A dedicated home charger transforms your EV experience:

• Convenience: Wake up to a 'full tank' every morning. Simply plug in when you get home and let the car charge overnight.
• Cost-effective: Charging at home on an off-peak electricity tariff can cost as little as 3p per mile, a fraction of the price of petrol, diesel, or public rapid chargers.
• Reliability: Your own charger is always available and ready for you, eliminating the stress of searching for a public charge point.

There are multiple options and locations for charging your EV nowadays, but home charging is still best.

STEP 1: Choosing the Right Charger for You

The EV charger market is full of great options. Here are the key choices you'll need to make:

• Tethered vs. Untethered: This refers to the charging cable.
  • Tethered: The cable is permanently attached to the charger unit. This is the ultimate in convenience – just grab the handle and plug it into your car. Read our handy guide explaining which plug and connector type is which.
  • Untethered: This is a socket-only unit, so you use the cable that came with your car (or a separate one you buy). This provides a neater look on the wall.
• Smart features are now standard: Since mid-2022, all new home chargers sold in the UK must be 'smart' chargers by law. This means they connect to your home Wi-Fi and have a companion smartphone app. This allows you to schedule your charging sessions to take advantage of cheaper overnight electricity tariffs, track your usage, and secure your device.

Top UK Home EV Chargers for 2026

To help you choose, here is a comparison of some of the most popular and highly-rated chargers and brands on the UK market today:

Model	Best For	Tethered/Untethered	Key Feature
MyEnergi Zappi	Solar Integration	Both	Can divert 100% surplus solar power to charge your car for free.
Ohme Home Pro	Tariff Optimisation	Tethered (ePod is untethered)	Syncs with your energy tariff to automatically charge at the cheapest times.
Hypervolt Home 3 Pro	Style & Features	Tethered	Sleek design, smart home integration (Alexa), and customisable LEDs.
Easee One	Versatility & Multi-EV Homes	Untethered	Incredibly compact and can intelligently load-balance across multiple chargers.
Wallbox Pulsar Max	Compact Design	Both	One of the smallest and lightest chargers available, ideal for tight spaces.

STEP 2: Finding a Qualified OZEV-Approved Installer

Installing an EV charger is a job for a qualified professional. It involves adding a new, high-power circuit to your home's electrical system, and safety is paramount.

The key thing to look for is an installer who is OZEV-approved. The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) maintains a list of companies that have been authorised to install charge points under government grant schemes. Even if you are not eligible for a grant, choosing an OZEV-approved installer gives you peace of mind that they are trained, insured, and work to the highest industry standards. You can check an installer's status on the official GOV.UK database.

STEP 3: The EV Chargepoint Grant – Who is Eligible in 2026?

The government offers a grant to reduce the cost of installing a home charger, but the eligibility rules have changed significantly.

As of 2026, the EV Chargepoint Grant, which provides funding of up to 75% of the cost (capped at £350), is available to homeowners who:

• Own and live in a flat, or
• Rent any residential property (including houses and flats).

Applicants must also have a dedicated off-street parking space. Homeowners in single-family properties (e.g. detached, semi-detached, or terraced houses) are generally no longer eligible for this grant. Separate grants are available for landlords and businesses looking to install chargers.

STEP 4: The Future of Charging – Solar and Bi-Directional Power

Your EV charger is more than just a plug; it's the gateway to a smarter energy ecosystem.

• Solar Integration: If you have solar panels, you can use that free, green energy to power your car. Smart chargers like the MyEnergi Zappi are specifically designed for this. They can detect when your solar panels are generating surplus electricity and automatically divert it to your EV, giving you genuinely zero-cost, zero-carbon miles.
• Bi-Directional Charging (V2H & V2G): This is the next frontier in EV technology. A bi-directional charger doesn't just put power into your car; it can also take power out. This transforms your EV, with its large battery, into a powerful energy storage asset for your home.
  • Vehicle-to-Home (V2H): This allows your car to act as a backup ‘generator’, powering your home during a power cut. An average EV battery can keep a typical home running for several days.
  • Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G): This enables you to sell stored energy from your car's battery back to the grid during peak demand times, earning you money and helping to stabilise the national energy supply.

While many new EVs are now being built with bi-directional capability, the chargers and grid infrastructure in the UK are still in the final trial phases. It's an exciting technology to watch out for when future-proofing your home energy setup.

Ready to find the perfect charging solution for your home? Explore our list of OZEV-approved local installers above to get started with a free quote.