Short answer
Do not look at where the car is parked now but at where the charging port is, also on a future car. Mount the charger at about 90 to 120 cm high, out of the driving line so nobody hits it, and as close to the meter cupboard as possible. Every extra metre costs money and power.
Who this article is for For anyone having an EV charger fitted who has to choose the spot. This is the part where you have the most say yourself.
Start with the charging port, not the wall
Every car has its charging port somewhere else: rear left, front right, or front centre. A five metre cable goes a long way, but not if it first has to go round the car.
Practical approach: park the car the way you normally do, run a piece of string from the spot you want for the charger to the charging port and see whether it reaches comfortably. Also try it once with the car reversed in.
Height and protection
- 90 to 120 cm above the ground is comfortable to work with and plugging in goes without bending down
- not in the driving line of the car or the wheelbarrow
- on a driveway where people turn, preferably a mounting post with a bumper guard rather than a charger on its own on the wall
- the cable hangs tidily if there is a hook or holder next to it
Plug in without bending down, and the cable does not lie on the ground.
Wall, garage or post
| Place | Advantage | Please note |
|---|---|---|
| On the outside wall | shortest cable, cheapest | UV-resistant material, rain |
| In the garage | dry, safe, tidy | ventilation, the door must close with the cable in |
| Under a carport | dry and still outside | the mounting surface must be solid |
| On a mounting post | can be placed anywhere | groundwork and a foundation needed |
Think of the second car
More and more often a second electric car comes along. A charger with two connections, or a spot where a second charger can go later, then saves digging again. In any case lay a duct you can use later.
How the power is then shared is in load balancing.
Permits and the property boundary
On your own outside wall or on your own property you generally do not need a permit for an EV charger. With a listed building, in a protected townscape or when placing it on municipal land, that is different. In an owners' association (VvE) you need permission from the meeting; more on that in EV charger in an owners' association (VvE).
What I always do myself
I mark the spot with tape and let the customer look at it for a day before I drill. That sounds over the top, but it saves moving it afterwards, and moving it costs more than a day of patience.
From my own work
In Elsloo the charger hung neatly next to the front door, because the cable came out easily there. When the customer got a different car with the charging port on the other side, the cable ended up lying right across the path. I moved it to the corner of the carport, where it serves both sides. Five minutes of thinking ahead would have prevented that.
When to call an electrician
- You are torn between two spots
- The car is sometimes on the driveway and sometimes in the garage
- A second car may come along later
I am happy to have a look before any drilling is done. Call +31 43 204 18 26 or request a quote.
Frequently asked questions
At what height is an EV charger most comfortable?
Between 90 and 120 cm. Then you plug in without bending down and the cable hangs tidily if there is a hook next to it.
May an EV charger go in the garage?
Yes, and dry is pleasant. Make sure the door can close with the cable in and that there is enough ventilation.
Can I move the charger later?
You can, but it is work: the cable has to move too. That is why I mark the spot with tape first so you can look at it for a day.
Further reading
EV charger at home: single-phase or three-phase, and which protection
The choice depends as much on your car as on your connection. With the costs, the RCD debate and why load balancing is not an optional extra.
Which cable to the EV charger, and what the distance does
The further the charger is from the meter cupboard, the thicker the cable has to be. That is usually the item that decides the price.
Load balancing: why your main fuse can cope after all
Without load balancing the car keeps charging at full power while the oven and the tumble dryer are on too. With load balancing the car automatically charges more slowly.
Questions and comments
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