If you’re looking for an electric vehicle charger for your home, you’ll probably have noticed that there are a lot of companies offering supply and installation. I recently went through the process myself with Smart Home Charge, so I thought I’d share my Smart Home Charge review and detail the ordering and installation process, as well as how I’ve found the charger since it was installed.
I spent a bit of time comparing prices before making a decision, as there was quite a difference between the quotes I received. I’d also seen some good reviews of the VCHRGD charger, so when I spotted the tethered VCHRGD option through Smart Home Charge at a relatively low price, it seemed worth considering.
Ordering the VCHRGD charger
I signed up on 12 September and paid £881 in total for the charger and installation. That was considerably cheaper than some of the other quotes I’d received, with most of the alternatives coming in at well over £1,000. Click here to get a no-obligation quote – what I love was that there were no annoying follow-up phone calls, I simply received the quote online and via email so I could come back to it later.
One of the things I liked immediately was how straightforward the whole process was. Once I’d booked and paid for the charger, Smart Home Charge sent me a link where I could upload the information they needed before the installation.
This included photographs of things such as where I wanted the charger installed and my electricity meter, as well as a quick video walkthrough showing where I envisaged the cables running.
It was all very simple and didn’t involve lots of back-and-forth phone calls or having someone come out to quote for the job.
I submitted my photographs and video on 15th September, and the charger was delivered by DPD the following day, on 16th September.
Then, on 17th September, I received a text with a proposed installation appointment. There was a link in the text that made it really easy to reject the suggested appointment if it wasn’t convenient, and Smart Home Charge would then arrange another one.
Fortunately, the appointment they offered suited me perfectly – and it was for the very next day!
So, from actually submitting all the information to having the charger installed, the process was incredibly quick. In fact, the whole thing went from ordering to installation in less than a week. It probably could have been even quicker if I’d submitted my photographs and video immediately rather than taking a few days to get around to it!
The EV charger installation
On the day of the installation, I was given a three-hour arrival window for the electrician.
One particularly useful feature was being able to track the electrician’s arrival. This might sound like a small thing, but when you’re trying to fit an installation around work, school runs and general life, knowing roughly when someone is going to arrive makes things much easier.
The electrician arrived when expected and was brilliant from start to finish. He was polite, professional and clearly knew what he was doing.
The installation itself took less than a couple of hours. The electricity needed to be switched off twice during the installation, but I had been warned about this in advance, so it wasn’t an issue and I was able to make sure I wasn’t in the middle of anything important.
Once the work was finished, the electrician tidied everything up, leaving no mess behind.
Overall, it was a surprisingly stress-free experience. I’d been expecting having an EV charger installed to involve quite a bit of disruption, but it really didn’t.
How have I found the VCHRGD charger?
Since having it installed, the charger has been absolutely brilliant.
We currently use the Octopus Intelligent Go smart tariff, which is designed for electric vehicle owners and allows us to take advantage of cheaper electricity overnight. Having a home EV charger makes a huge difference because we can charge the car at home rather than having to rely on public charging points.
Sign up for an Octopus smart tarriff here – new customers get £50 bill credit
For us, the combination of the home charger and the smart EV tariff has made owning an electric car much more convenient and affordable.
The app is very simple and intutive.
Conclusion to my Smart Home Charge review: would I recommend them?
Based on my experience, I have been really impressed with Smart Home Charge.
The biggest thing for me was how easy the entire process was. From ordering online and uploading photographs, through to receiving the charger, arranging the installation and tracking the electrician, everything was handled digitally and was very straightforward.
The price was also a major factor. At £881 including the VCHRGD charger and installation, it came in significantly cheaper than the other quotes I had received, many of which were over £1,000.
The installation itself was quick and hassle-free, the electrician was excellent, and the charger has worked brilliantly since it was fitted.
Obviously, everyone’s installation will be slightly different depending on the property, electricity supply and where the charger needs to be positioned, so I’d always recommend getting a quote based on your own circumstances.
But if you’re researching Smart Home Charge review because you’re considering getting an EV charger installed, my experience has been very positive. If you sign up via my link here I get a small financial reward – I would be very grateful. Please ask away in the comments if you have any questions.
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