Charger or socket: what do you really need?
Charger or socket: what do you really need?
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Voltaback adapts to your charging installation
3-pin plug, dedicated socket or charger, all brands. Nothing to install, nothing to configure.
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Voltaback measures charging even on a standard 3-pin plug (about 2.3 kW). Best kept for occasional use.
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Commando socket on its own circuit (3.7 kW). The most cost-effective choice for daily charging.
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Wallbox 7, 11 or 22 kW. Voltaback works with no setup, whatever the brand.
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Socket or charger in a block of flats or shared car park: Voltaback works whatever the installation.
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Solar panels or wind turbines, with reimbursement based on your electricity tariff.
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Upload your electricity bill directly to the platform
Frequently asked questions
FAQ: dedicated socket or home charger?
For many drivers, a dedicated 16 A socket is enough: if you get home every evening and charge overnight, even 3.7 kW easily covers a day's driving. A wallbox becomes useful if you drive a lot, have a large battery to fill often, or want to plug in 2 vehicles. In short: high mileage or need for speed → wallbox; normal daily use → a dedicated socket does the job for much less. In the UK, most drivers who install something choose a 7.4 kW wallbox.
The risk is not the car but the socket: a standard 13 A household socket is not designed to deliver 2 to 3 kW for 8 hours in a row, and it can overheat, especially on old wiring or with an extension lead. That is why charging leads limit it to about 10 A (2.3 kW). A dedicated socket or a wallbox, on its own circuit with the right protection (RCD and circuit breaker), removes this risk. The real advice: never use an extension lead and have a qualified electrician fit a dedicated circuit.
It is a real improvement, but on two conditions. It goes up to 3.7 kW (16 A) instead of about 2.3 kW, and above all it is designed for long charging sessions in safety. For that, it needs a dedicated circuit with the right protection, AND a Mode 2 charging cable with a 16 A commando plug. Without that cable, you charge as on a 3-pin plug (about 2.3 kW) and the extra cost is wasted. It is the trap most often mentioned on forums. You will find the link to the right cable in the resources on our site.
No, in the vast majority of cases. UK homes are almost all on a single-phase supply, and a 7.4 kW wallbox already fills the car overnight. 11/22 kW requires a three-phase supply, which few homes have, and above all many cars cap their AC charging at 7 or 11 kW: paying for a 22 kW charger will not make it faster. The consensus: go for 7.4 kW unless you have a very specific need. Since 2022, every home charger sold in the UK must be a smart charger (Smart Charge Points Regulations 2021).
A dedicated 16 A socket costs a few hundred pounds fitted. An installed 7.4 kW wallbox is generally around £800 to £1,200, more if the cable run is long or the consumer unit needs upgrading. On grants, the EV chargepoint grant now targets flat owners and renters, and businesses have the Workplace Charging Scheme: check the current amounts on gov.uk. The real return comes from charging at home on an EV tariff (about 7p/kWh off-peak), far cheaper than rapid charging at about 79p/kWh, even more so if your kWh are reimbursed.
Yes, almost always. A PHEV has a small battery (often 10 to 20 kWh) that a dedicated socket, or even a 3-pin plug, fully charges overnight. Installing a wallbox for a hybrid is usually oversized: keep your budget for something else.
No particular installation is required. Whether you charge on a 3-pin plug, a dedicated socket or a wallbox, Voltaback measures your real kWh and produces a monthly record per vehicle, with no box or connected charger to install. For a company car, your employer can reimburse 100 % of that home electricity with no tax and no NIC. You choose the installation that suits you, Voltaback handles the reimbursement at actual cost.
Still not sure whether to install a dedicated socket or a wallbox? Here is the test to find out in 2 minutes!