Not necessarily. Whether you need a new fuseboard for an EV charger installation depends on the age and condition of your existing electrical installation, the available capacity and the protection already in place.
At JP Electrical, a typical EV charger installation costs around £800–£1,500, depending on the charger you choose the cable route and whether any additional electrical work is needed. If your fuseboard is already suitable, as it was for a recent customer on George Avenue, there may be no need to replace it at all.
Before installing a charger, we'll check your existing electrical installation and make sure the fuseboard can safely accommodate the additional load. One of the first things we'll look at is what protection you already have in place, as modern EV chargers need the correct protective devices, and the installation needs to meet current requirements.
So, if you've got an older house, don't panic and assume you're going to need a brand-new fuseboard just because you want an EV charger. It really does depend on what you already have. If your fuseboard is particularly old, doesn't have suitable protection or doesn't have enough capacity, then an upgrade may be recommended. But if everything is already suitable, there's no reason to replace it simply for the sake of it.
A recent EV charger installation in Huddersfield
We recently returned to a semi-detached home on George Avenue where we'd previously carried out a full rewire and fuseboard upgrade. When we did that work, the couple mentioned that they were hoping to switch to an electric vehicle in the future, so we made sure to consider those plans while we were working on the property.
Fast forward to now and they were ready for their EV, so they called us back to quote for the EV charger installation Huddersfield. Because we'd already thought ahead and made sure the electrical installation had adequate provision for a future charger, we could check everything over and confirm that the existing fuseboard was suitable. There was no need to replace a relatively new installation, which saved the homeowners both time and money.
Choosing your EV Charger
There was one part of the job that proved much harder than checking the fuseboard, though.. choosing the charger! The husband and wife had very different ideas about what they wanted. He liked the more noticeable Hypervolt charger with its illuminated design, while she preferred something much more discreet that would blend into the side of the house. Obviously, the wife won!
This is a great example of why it's worth mentioning your future plans to your electrician, even if you're not ready to have a charger installed yet. If you're having a rewire or fuseboard upgrade carried out, we can consider what you might need further down the line. Making suitable provisions at the time can make a future EV charger installation much simpler and potentially save you from having to carry out additional work later.
If you're already driving an electric vehicle, we'll look at your current installation and talk you through your options. There are plenty of chargers available, with different designs, features and charging capabilities, so choosing one can feel like a job in itself!
At JP Electrical, we'll help you understand what's actually required rather than automatically recommending a new fuseboard. We'll assess your existing installation, explain anything that needs doing and help you choose a charger that suits both your vehicle and your home.
If you're considering an EV charger installation Huddersfield, contact JP Electrical today by phone on 01484 212091 or via our contact form to discuss your requirements.
