What are the best EV charging tariffs for families with multiple cars?
Understanding the needs of multi-EV households
Families with multiple EVs face challenges with charging their cars. Managing charging times, controlling energy use and avoiding high electricity costs are key. And without a clear strategy, charging more than one EV can quickly increase your energy bills.
Efficient charging helps keep costs low. TOU (time-of-use) tariffs offer off-peak rates that let families charge during cheaper periods, but poor planning can cause charging to overlap with peak times and drive up costs.
Multi-EV households also need a reliable charging setup. This includes having enough chargers to meet demand and an electrical system capable of handling it. Ensuring your home has the correct infrastructure prevents overloads and improves power use.
Can you have two EV chargers at home in the UK?
Installing two EV chargers at home is technically possible, but it requires careful planning.
The main thing to think about is whether your electrical system can handle the extra load. Load management plays a key role in ensuring safe and efficient charging. If your home’s electrical capacity cannot support the load, you may need to upgrade it to prevent issues like tripped circuit breakers or system damage.
Alternatives like dual-socket chargers and smart splitters provide a solution without needing multiple separate chargers.
- A dual-socket charger lets you charge two vehicles from a single unit by managing the power distribution between them.
- A smart splitter uses power-sensing technology and splits power from one charger to multiple vehicles - adjusting power as necessary to prevent overloading to ensure safe charging.
What are the best TOU energy tariffs for multi-EV households?
Time-of-use (TOU) tariffs let multi-EV households save on charging costs by offering lower rates during off-peak hours. You can find leading TOU tariffs from providers like Octopus Energy, EDF Energy and E.ON Next, each with its own off-peak charging windows and rates.
Off-peak rates typically fall overnight or during quieter periods, with the cheapest rates usually found between midnight and 5am. If your household has multiple EVs, you can avoid peak pricing by charging during the off-peak hours.
For greater flexibility, other tariffs are available, including those linked to wholesale energy prices, where your car charges only when electricity is at its cheapest. You can even pay a monthly subscription for a fixed monthly allowance based on a set mileage to cover your household’s needs. If you go over this allowance, you’ll pay normal rates on the excess mileage, so pay close attention and renegotiate if needed.
So, which energy tariff is suitable for you? That depends on your household’s charging needs and routine. You may need more flexible charging windows – perfect if your home doesn’t adhere to a fixed schedule. Others may have stricter charging times but offer better savings if you can charge at specific times of day. Finally, you may find paying a fixed monthly fee to cover all your EV charging costs offers the best value if your household’s EVs need more frequent charging due to increased mileage.
Optimising charging schedules for multiple vehicles
Staggering your charging sessions can help increase off-peak usage and reduce overall costs. By spreading out the charging times for each vehicle, you can avoid overloading the system and ensure each car charges during the cheapest periods.
Smart chargers and apps help automate scheduling, allowing you to set specific charging times for each vehicle in your household. This removes the need for manual adjustments and ensures your cars charge when the rates are cheapest.
Integrating a Home Energy Management System (HEMS) can further improve charging. These systems monitor energy usage across your home, meaning it’s able to adjust EV charging based on available power and your household's overall energy needs. This helps prevent power overloads while improving overall energy efficiency.
Smart charging solutions for multi-EV homes
Smart chargers offer an efficient solution if you have a multi-EV household by managing the power distribution across multiple vehicles. These chargers are compatible with various EV models and can adjust charging to reduce costs and prevent system overloads.
Key features to look for in smart chargers include:
- Load balancing - ensures even power distribution between your vehicles
- Scheduling - allows you to set specific charging times to suit your schedule
- Remote control - provides additional flexibility as you can monitor and adjust charging with ease from your smartphone
Some of the top smart chargers in the UK include the Wallbox Pulsar Plus, the MyEnergi Zappi and the EO Mini Pro. These chargers offer helpful advanced features such as app integration and energy monitoring, and should be compatible with most Home Energy Management Systems too, making them a good choice to integrate with any renewable electricity you generate from your home, such as solar or wind.
Cost-benefit analysis: TOU tariffs vs. standard tariffs
TOU tariffs offer significant savings for multi-EV households compared to standard tariffs, especially if you adjust charging times. If you have multiple EVs at home, you can save on your energy bills by shifting your charging routine to off-peak hours.
For example, charging two vehicles under a standard tariff of 27p p/kWh may cost around £4 per hour during peak times depending on your specific EV model and charging equipment. With a TOU tariff of 7p p/kWh, charging during off-peak hours can reduce the cost considerably.
Improving charging schedules with TOU tariffs can lead to substantial savings in the long-term. By automating your charging times and using smart charger solutions, you can avoid peak-rate charges and reduce your overall energy use without much manual effort.
Charger installation and setup: what you need to know
Installing additional chargers or upgrading an existing setup involves a few key steps:
- Assess your home’s electrical capacity - Ensure your system can handle the additional load from multiple chargers
- Consult a qualified electrician - They can safely install the chargers, check the wiring and ensure compliance with regulations
- Consider necessary upgrades - If your electrical system needs an upgrade, the electrician can handle it to prevent overloads.
It’s also helpful to explore potential grants or incentives that may help you to reduce installation costs:
It’s also helpful to explore potential grants or incentives that may help you to reduce installation costs:
- Find out whether you might qualify for a grant worth up to £500 to help pay for chargepoint installations. Note: this scheme is set to end on 31 March 2027
- Check for local funding schemes: Some areas offer financial support for EV charger installations
- Consult your energy supplier: Suppliers may provide incentives or rebates for EV charger installations.
FAQs
What is load balancing and why is it important for multi-EV households?
Load balancing evenly distributes power between multiple chargers to prevent circuit overload. It adjusts charging rates for safe, efficient power use - particularly when charging two or more EVs at once. This prevents electrical issues and streamlines energy consumption in multi-EV households.
Are there government grants for installing multiple EV chargers?
Yes, the UK government offers grants to support EV charger installations through the EV chargepoint grant. This grant provides up to £500 off the cost of installing a charger. It’s available to flat owners and renters, with separate grants available for landlords. Eligibility criteria apply, so check official guidance to determine if you qualify. Note: the scheme is set to close on 31 March 2027.
How do I schedule charging for multiple EVs to use off-peak energy?
Use smart chargers or apps to set charging times during cheaper TOU hours. Some systems can also stagger vehicle charging to avoid peak rates while making sure each vehicle gets a charge. Choose chargers with automatic load balancing features and off-peak programming for more efficient energy use and to minimise costs if you have multiple EVs.
What does it cost to install multiple EV chargers?
Installing multiple EV chargers can be a significant investment. Here's a breakdown of typical costs:
- Charger equipment: Standard 7kW chargers range from £450 to £800 each. Premium models with smart features may cost more
- Installation costs: Installation typically adds up to £1,000 per charger (or £500 with the EV chargepoint grant)
- You may need to pay extra if the groundworks need to be buried – for example, crossing an on-street parking place to your home. According to Checkatrade, this can add a minimum of £300 to the overall cost
- Electrical upgrades: If your home requires an upgrade to accommodate multiple chargers, then total costs can exceed £5,000 if you’re forced to upgrade to a three-phase electricity supply due to fitting two or more 7kW chargers. Otherwise, expect to pay around £400-£800 for a replacement or upgraded consumer unit, plus £100-£200 for an isolator switch. Some supply upgrades – for example, increasing your main fuse rating – may be free.
How much space do I need for two EV chargers?
To install two EV chargers, you need adequate wall space for each unit, typically around 1-2 square meters depending on the charger models and the installation method. Ensure there’s enough distance between chargers to allow for simultaneous use without interference and consider cable length, parking positions and access paths for easy connection and safe use.
Which energy supplier is best for EV charging?
All the so-called ‘big six’ energy suppliers offer EV tariffs, but it’s not just about finding the supplier with the lowest off-peak tariff. The best rates are usually limited to a 5-6 hour window from midnight onwards, which may not work for a multi-EV household. Some suppliers like Octopus and EDF offer tariffs that track wholesale energy prices, ensuring your vehicles are only charged when rates are at their lowest. Others, including OVO, offer ‘unlimited’ charging for a fixed monthly fee, letting you charge your EV at lower rates at any time of day, subject to a monthly mileage allowance.
Who has the best EV deals right now?
To find out which supplier is offering the best tariffs, check out our dedicated supplier page. Remember to consider your household’s unique needs when choosing – for example, your combined mileage, number of EVs and so on.
Is it worth going on an EV tariff?
It depends on how many EVs your household owns, how much mileage they do and whether you’ve already installed an EV charger at your home. If you’ve already swallowed the cost of installing one or more EV chargers, then switching to an EV tariff will save you significant amounts of money when charging your EV at home – assuming you make sure you’re charging when the cheaper rate is in force (typically between midnight and 5am with most time-of-use EV tariffs). It’s also far cheaper and more convenient than using public chargepoints, where current prices are around 54p/kW for standard public charging (3-49kW) and 79p/kW for rapid/ultra-rapid public charging (50kW+). That’s almost ten times the cost (7-10p/kW on a typical TOU EV tariff) of charging at home.
