EV Charger Installation and Maintenance 

Simply put, an electric vehicle charger charges your electric vehicle. EV chargers are increasingly sophisticated as the electric vehicle market continues to mature, and often incorporate a range of smart features for the user’s convenience. There are different types of EV charging units for the different regions of the world. The standard in Ireland is called Type 2 and is notable for being three-phase, which allows it to get more electricity to the vehicle in a shorter space of time than Type 1’s single-phase. Type 2 chargers are not compatible with Type 1 vehicles or cables without an adaptor. No two solar power systems are the same, but as a rough guide, you should expect to pay between €5,000 and €6,000 for a fully installed system on an average residential property. This price can be considerably lower with a grant from SEAI. 

The cost of having an electric car charger installed in your home will vary depending on the charger you use but is roughly around €1,000 – €1,200. That figure can be reduced with financial assistance from an SEAI grant, which can contribute as much €600 towards the purchase and installation costs. As for the cost of actually charging your vehicle, there are many factors, such as the electricity rates in your area and the electrical usage of the vehicle you are charging. As a very rough guide, you might expect to be paying €5 per 150 miles of driving. 

Electric vehicle chargers are available from many retail outlets, including places like Amazon. However, you will need a certified and trained electrician to install the charger, as failure to do so may void your vehicle’s warranty. Your installer will most likely be able to supply the charger for you also.

Electric car chargers at home are becoming increasingly popular as the popularity of electric vehicles continues to soar. There are many choices when it comes to home EV chargers, such as dual home charger EV options, chargers that can monitor your home’s electrical usage and change the amount of power it uses as a result, and much more. Electric vehicle chargers for the home must be professionally installed, and any damage to your electric vehicle as a result of an improperly installed charger will likely void your warranty. In the case of lease agreements using a charger that was not installed by a qualified electrician may violate the terms of the lease agreement.

On a superficial level, very few chargers are the same as manufacturers are continually coming up with new features to make their product more useful. For the most part, these features don’t affect the compatibility of the charger. However, it is possible to get Type 1 and Type 2 chargers, and that is important as Type 1 and 2 are not compatible with each other. You could get an adaptor, of course, but this would add an unnecessary extra step, and with Ireland being a Type 2 region, you would be limiting the charging speed of your vehicle by using a Type 1 charger. 

There are two types of EV charging cable, Type 1 and Type 2. Type 2 is the standard used in Europe (and, of course, Ireland). Type 2 cables cannot be used on vehicles or chargers with Type 1 connections due to the different pin layout of those connections. It should be noted that the type of cable does not have any bearing on the rating. When you buy a charging cable, you will need to make sure it meets the electrical rating of your vehicle, regardless of what type it is.

Prior to November 2019, there were several free public charging spots around Ireland. This is no longer the case, unfortunately. Now you can use these charging points on a pay-as-you-go basis. If you use them a lot, you may want to take advantage of their monthly membership of €5, which will allow you to use the charging points at a reduced rate.