One of the questions I get asked most often is: “How long will the installation actually take?” It’s a fair question. You need to plan your day, arrange time off work, or make sure someone’s home. So let me walk you through what a typical EV charger installation looks like from start to finish.
The Standard Timeline
For most homes, a straightforward EV charger installation takes between 2 and 4 hours. That’s your arrival time to the moment I hand over the keys and show you how to use it. It’s not a full day job for standard installations.
What Happens During the Installation
When I arrive, the first thing I do is a proper survey of your property. Where’s your car going to park? How far is that from your consumer unit? Are there obstacles, walls, or pipework I need to work around? I check your electrical supply, confirm it can handle the charger, and plan the best cable route. This takes about 30 minutes.
Next comes the cable routing. Whether that’s running cable under the ground, along the side of your house, or through conduit on the exterior, I get it in place safely and in compliance with building regulations. For a straightforward run to a garage or driveway, this is quick. For longer distances, it takes more time.
Then I mount the charger itself. The unit goes on your wall in the location we’ve agreed. I make sure it’s level, secure, and all the connections are made properly inside. I connect it to your home electrics, which means working at your consumer unit to run a new circuit if needed. Modern chargers integrate cleanly, and this part usually takes 45 minutes to an hour.
Once it’s all connected, I commission the charger. That means powering it up, running through its diagnostics, and testing it with your car to make sure everything works. This is crucial. You need to know it’s safe and it’s going to charge your vehicle reliably.
Finally, I tidy up my work. There’s paperwork to complete, safety certificates to hand over, and I always take time to show you how to use the charger, answer questions, and leave you confident with your new equipment.
What Can Add Time
Some installations take longer. If you’ve got a long cable run, especially if that means burying cable or running it through ducting, that adds time. If your consumer unit doesn’t have spare capacity, I might need to upgrade your board or add a new circuit. That’s a bigger job. If your house is a Victorian terraced with solid walls, or you want the charger in an awkward location, routing becomes more complex.
Distance from the house to the parking spot is a real factor too. A charger going on the side of the garage where you park is quick. A charger that needs 30 metres of underground cable to reach a parking area further down the drive changes the timeline significantly.
What You Should Do to Prepare
Make sure someone’s home for the full duration. You don’t need to be in the room the whole time, but I’ll need access to your consumer unit and the parking area. If you’re planning upgrades at the same time, like a new driveway or extended parking, let me know in advance so I can plan around that.
Have your car there for testing. I want to confirm the charger works with your specific vehicle. Let me know if there’s anywhere the cable run needs to avoid. If you have underground services marked out, show me those maps.
The Real Picture
Most standard installations are absolutely fine in a morning or early afternoon. You’ll go from no charger to a fully working, certified charging point in one visit. It’s a straightforward job when everything is straightforward.
If there are complications, I’ll let you know in the survey. I won’t start work and then surprise you with additional time. That’s not fair on anyone.
Ready to get your EV charger installed? Give me a call on 01904 599109 and we’ll arrange a survey. I’m NAPIT registered, a Which? Trusted Trader, DBS checked, and rated 5 stars on Google. You’re in safe hands.
For full details on EV charger installation options and pricing, visit my EV charger installation service page.