This is one area where we really advise people to invest in good quality kit, as home chargers are set to become part of EV drivers’ critical infrastructure – over 80% of charging is expected to take place at home. Not only is charging your EV at home more convenient (if possible), but it’s also cheaper – working out at around £3.64 for 150 miles.

That old adage of “buy it cheap, buy it twice” really rings true here. This could be the difference in you being able to use your car, or not; you don’t want to find out that your car hasn’t charged overnight when you need it in the morning.

In recent years, we’ve had lots of workplaces, councils and commercial sites up and down the country approach us about using government funding to help their employees, customers and residents charge their EVs on their premises. This is great news for everyone involved. Workplaces can satisfy their employees’ needs, councils can please their forward-thinking residents, and retailers can increase footfall and dwell time in their stores. Of course, it’s also great for the EV and environmental cause, as one of the key factors preventing the uptake of EVs is the lack of nationwide charging infrastructure.

However, in this case, the customer is not only the user of the charge point, but will also include the owner. In these cases, the owner (retailer/council/employer) wants the peace of mind that there is someone that can manage the chargers on an ongoing basis. Like the users, they want reliable, good quality equipment that just works. They don’t want to be fielding queries from users and adding more work to likely already busy receptions or customer services desks. The key difference here is that any single user may never have used this charge point before and may never use it again. Therefore, every single charging experience needs to be seamless.

As with home charging, reliability is key; and if something does go wrong, it needs to be back up and running as soon as possible. Second to that is intuitive kit – users should be able to operate the charge point with little to no learning curve. This doesn’t mean plastering on a huge wordy sign explaining how it works; it means focusing on clear, intuitive product design where users can understand clearly that they’ve initiated charging and made payments. Again, both requirements tend to come at a premium, but a justified one.

While research suggests that only 8% of charging is expected to take place using the public charging infrastructure, this element of owning and driving an EV remains one of the biggest concerns.

The UK has around 13,000 public charging points, and this number is set to grow rapidly to support the rising number of EV drivers.

However, while this all sounds good on paper, we know that the reality is very different. In an attempt to keep up with the sharp growth in EVs and the government’s Clean Growth Strategy, a lot of providers have jumped on the bandwagon, seeing an opportunity to turn a quick profit, with poor quality hardware being installed by inexperienced firms. The focus has turned from installing quality equipment to race-to-the-bottom pricing, squeezing margins in an attempt win market share. It is drivers who are ultimately being let down.

When it comes to EV charging and infrastructure, it’s all about reliability, accessibility and ease of use. Customers will resonate with the comfort this provides as keeping your charge-station operational is imperative when your transportation relies upon it. A failed charge-station is equivalent to your local petrol station running out of fuel – it’s unacceptable and there is a growing awareness amongst consumers.

This backlash is succinctly evidenced when you look at the reliability of public charging networks. ZapMap data shows that in July 2017, 14.8% of devices were out of service. The situation has improved to 8.5% in August 2018, but public perception is justifiably that the infrastructure is unreliable and it’s holding the uptake back.

Having worked with stakeholders throughout the EV supply chain, we’ve identified specific areas of focus. Firstly, load management. By considering the load from the EV, and importantly the building too, load managed installations are safer, more reliable and easily scaled.

In commercial applications, this enables multiple, higher-output stations to be installed at a lower cost. In domestic applications, this is equally important to prevent overloading the supply and also minimises installation delays whilst the DNO are consulted and connection permissions granted. It also futureproofs installations for additional EVs and other low-carbon technologies, such as heat-pumps.

We also seek electric vehicle supply equipment to be independently certified to relevant standards, such as IEC 61851, and consideration given developing standards such as ISO 15118 and IEC 62955. These certifications provide quality assurance and the feature-set enables more cost-effective installations compliant with the latest addition of BS 7671 Wiring Regulations.

Our number one recommendation for customers would be to not focus on the advertised prices and be cautious of anything that looks “too good to be true” – it often is. We often see customers and businesses seeking the lowest upfront cost, and though we can’t blame them for doing so, it often ends in disappointment and inevitably lower functionality. Rarely are the online advertised prices what you end up paying once the details are established and the installation proceeds. The competition to win over customers on price has inevitably led to unsatisfactory installations, particularly in homes. Your EV charger will be your gateway to your e-mobility, so it’s worth paying more and considering the complete package.

If this pushes an EV charger out of budget, have a look at alternative propositions such as service plans that remove upfront cost; bundles including maintenance cover provide peace of mind and place the impetus on the installation company to select durable hardware. For workplaces and businesses, we’ve found the upfront capital expenditure required to install multiple EV chargers to be prohibitive.

Lastly, don’t settle with the first installer you can find. While it can be difficult to find an experienced specialist, we often see customers jumping at the first they find. Browse online, seek referrals from driver forums and take a look at consumer review sites such as Which? Trusted Trader or Free Index to see who’s rated highest.

Double check your selected electrical installer is registered with a suitable Approved Contractor scheme, and if you’re eligible for a grant claim, the Office for Low Emission Vehicles. Homecharge and Workplace government grant incentives can contribute up to £500 towards the installation (up to 20 outlets for workplaces).