What to look for when buying a home EV charger

Getting an EV and a new home charger is an exciting time. When choosing your charger there are some important considerations, so that you choose the right solution for you now and stay happy with it in years to come. We break them down here.

1) A charger that works with any energy supplier, now and if you switch

Ohme chargers work with every electricity supplier, so you’re free to switch whenever a better deal comes along without changing your charger. Whatever tariff you’re on, the app charges your car in your cheapest hours. Just set your off-peak window once and Ohme works around it.

With many smart tariffs we go a step further and link directly to your supplier, including Intelligent Octopus Go, E.ON Next’s Next Drive and, in Ireland, SSE Airtricity’s Smart EV Charge. On those, your supplier sets the cheap overnight window and your Ohme charger fills your vehicle automatically at those times, ensuring you charge at the cheapest time, without you having to do anything.

2) A seamless connection to your car

The best chargers read your car’s real battery level, so it knows how much to charge, rather than asking you to guess. Ohme has an official API integration with Audi, Cupra, Hyundai, Škoda, SEAT, Tesla, Volvo, and Volkswagen vehicles which means our chargers can read how much charge your car has when you plug in, without you having to do anything.

If you are driving something else, we have good news. Any EV with a Type 2 connector charges perfectly well with Ohme. Simply tell the app how much to top up and the charger will take care of the rest.

3) A quick, reliable and approved installation

If you purchase directly from Ohme’s website or are referred to us by one of our partners, then your installation is part of the package, saving you from having to arrange it yourself.
Speed matters, particularly if a new car is on its way or already arrived. Check the current lead time for your area on our website before you order. Most installations are completed in 1-2 weeks and we can also install even if your car hasn’t arrived yet. For more, check our our article: How quickly can Ohme install a home charger?

Going directly with us means your charger is fitted by an Ohme approved installer, accredited by NICEIC or NAPIT and working to the 18th Edition IET Wiring Regulations (BS 7671). They run the cable, connect to your fuse board, set up the app with you, then test and certify the work. Your installation certificate is ready around 3 to 5 working days afterwards, and we register the installation with your local DNO so you don’t have to. If you’re eligible for an OZEV grant then we can also process that for you too.

4) A warranty that covers the installation too

Check whether any warranty cover extends to the wiring or only the unit on the wall. Buying directly from Ohme means you get a 3-year warranty covering both the charger and the installation circuit. This means that in the unlikely event anything goes wrong in future, you only have to contact us. No working out whether the fault sits with the charger or the wiring, and no waiting while a manufacturer and an electrician decide whose job it is.

5) Transparent pricing

Ask exactly what the price and a standard installation includes. With Ohme that’s the charger itself and the fitting which includes mounting the charger, up to 15 metres of cabling, connection to your fuse board, circuit protection, a CT clamp and app setup, plus testing and certification. Load balancing and earthing come as standard at no extra cost. Surge protection is an optional extra once you reach checkout.

If any additional works are required for your installation such as groundworks or home electrical upgrades, we’ll let you know before we book your install and give you a clear quote for you to decide on before progressing. For more, check out our article: What’s included in a standard installation?

6) A trustworthy brand

A charger quickly becomes part of your daily routine, so you want something that is reliable and backed by a friendly, helpful customer service team if you have any questions. What Car? named Ohme Most Reliable Home Charger 2026 and this is backed up by 16,000 5-star reviews on Trustpilot.

7) Future proofed

Ohme chargers meet the latest smart charger regulations, include built-in PEN fault protection, connect through their own mobile signal rather than your home Wi-Fi, which means we can update your charger whenever needed. We are also solar compatible, whether you have panels already or add them later.

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