How to Future-Proof Homes with Smart EV Charging Solutions

Over the past few years, electric vehicles (EVs) have become increasingly popular. With the UK government's ban on new petrol and diesel car sales from 2030, the demand for an EV charging solution is rising. In this article we will look at the importance of a charging infrastructure for homeowners in the UK that is suitable not just for today's needs, but for future advancements of the technology.

What Makes an EV Charging Solution ‘Future-Proof

To ensure the longevity and adaptability, an EV charging solution should include:

Scalability — Your charging needs the ability to support future EV models and deal with the increased energy demand of these vehicles. Although not all homes can currently accommodate 22kW chargers, with the transition of all vehicles being electric, residential areas may need to transition to three-phase connections to the grid. We do not recommend going out and buying a 22kW EV charger for your home yet, but it is important to be aware of the potential switch to more powerful chargers.

Smart Technology — When future-proofing your home, make sure your EV charger is a ‘smart’ charger. Smart chargers give you more control over how you charge your EV. The features smart chargers can include are smart scheduling, load balancing, app integration, and solar integration. All EV chargers in the UK must be smart; however, the features may differ between devices.

Renewable Integration — Compatibility with your solar and battery storage systems helps to maximise the energy efficiency of your home and further reduce your need for grid power, helping you save money on energy bills.

OZEV Grant Eligibility — An OZEV grant helps provide financial incentives for homeowners. These grants can help landlords, renters and flat owners, and households with on-street parking. Please note that the closing date for current OZEV grants is 31st March 2025 at 11:00pm. For more information, please check out the GOV.UK website.

Key Smart EV Charger Features to Look For

When selecting a future-proof EV charger, homeowners and electricians should consider:

Smart App Control — Smart app controls allow the user to control everything remotely from your phone. This gives users the freedom when charging your vehicle to choose when your vehicle charges to help save you money, and you don’t have to be standing next to the car to make sure it is charging.

Dynamic Load Balancing — This technology helps to adjust the power distribution of your charger to avoid overloading your electrical system. All chargers will have this feature; however, it is more likely to be used for fleet charging.

V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) & V2H (Vehicle-to-Home) Capabilities — New technology is being implemented that allows power to flow from your home and EV, meaning that the energy stored in your EV battery can be used to power your home when needed. Please note that this technology is still being trialled, but if successful, it will be one of the main features consumers will need to look out for.

Connectivity Options — Having connectivity options of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and RFID provides a seamless experience and integration for your users.

Solar Integration — Solar integration allows for your EV to take energy from your PV system instead of the grid to charge your vehicle. This helps you avoid relying on the grid, helping you save on your energy bills.

Installation Considerations for Electricians

For professionals, the installation process is crucial for safety and efficiency. The key considerations include:

Electrical Infrastructure Assessment — It is very important to make sure that the home's power supply is not at risk of being overloaded with the integration of an EV charger.

Cable and Connector Types —The UK uses standard type 2 connectors, which ensure compatibility with most EVs. For customers, we recommend that you check if your cable is suitable for the EV charger.

Smart Meter & Tariff Considerations — Advise homeowners on time-to-use tariffs; this will allow them to take advantage of cheaper overnight electrical rates, helping save your customers money.

Regulatory Compliance — Make sure you keep up to date on current regulations and building codes for a safe and legal installation.

How Homeowners Benefit from Smart EV Charging

Investing in a smart EV charger can help to provide several benefits, including:

Energy Cost Savings — With access to charging during off-peak hours, it helps to significantly reduce your electricity costs for your home.

Increased Home Value — With a built-in EV charging infrastructure, properties will look more appealing to future homebuyers as the property will be prepared to deal with an electric vehicle without the hassle of them having to have it installed. This will overall increase the home value of your property.

Sustainability & Carbon Reduction — Helps to reduce your dependence on fossil fuels and lowers your carbon footprint. Keeping you up-to-date and helping the UK with their sustainability goals as we progress towards a green country.

Tariff Integration

Tariff integration allows for an energy provider to manage an electric vehicle’s charging. Tariff integration usually works in one of 3 ways:

Time-of-use – The EV tariff will charge more for electricity during peaks times and less during off-peak times 

Smart features – A tariff can automatically schedule charging to take the full advantage of lower rates.

Intelligent tariffs - Your tariff will manage the charging for your owner and will charge the car when electricity is cheapest. 

What to consider when choosing an EV tariff?

If you are considering a EV tariff it is important to make sure that your vehicle / charger is compatible with the tariff you intend on using. Your charging habits will also affect what the best tariff is, and it will depend on how often and when you charge your vehicle. Finally, some tariffs will require a new meter to be installed for you to be able to use tariffs. 

Octopus Energy offer two EV specific tariffs: ‘Octopus Go’ & ‘Intelligent Octopus Go that helps you save money on your charging throughout the year. We recommend you check different tariffs that are suitable for your needs and help you save money effectively throughout the year as British Gas & other companies also offer EV friendly tariffs. 

Recommended Smart EV Charging Solutions for UK Homes

For homeowners looking to invest in a smart EV charging solution, here are some recommended options available from our wholesaler: 

OHME E-Pod – The complete home EV charging package. The Ohme E-Pod suitable for all types of electric vehicles featuring Ohme’s class leading smart charging technology. Its compact design makes it an ideal charger for all homes. Features include but are not limited to:

Compliant with new Smart Charger Regulations

Charge via mobile app or interactive buttons on the ePod

Over-the-air updates

Solar charging compatible

Dynamic charging technology

Hypervolt - Empowering tomorrow. Hypervolt’s Home 3 Pro is a product designed for effortless interaction. You’ll know what your Hypervolt is up to just by looking at it. Features include but are not limited to:

Smart home integration and managed via Hypervolt mobile app

Over the air software updates, free for life

Optimal for solar charging

Integrated cost control and flexible tariff management 

Automated load management

NexBlue Point — EV charging for today and tomorrow. NexBlue Point is an EV charger designed for intelligence and provides a seamless charging experience for your electric vehicle for residential sectors. A must-have for eco-conscious drivers. Features include but are not limited to:

Adaptive to 1.4–7.4 kW charging power

Automatic charging at the lowest cost with EcoPilot mode

Schedule charging during off-peak hours.

App integration and portal provide convenient configurations.

Solar surplus charging

Power a clean future with NexBlue Point.

Future-proofing homes with smart EV charging is a crucial step towards sustainability and energy efficiency. As a homeowner planning for the future, choosing the right smart charger is essential.

Explore our range of smart EV charging solutions and future-proof your home today!