How Fast Can You Charge Your Car at Home? A Guide for Bishop’s Stortford Residents

One of the first questions we get from local homeowners is:

“How fast can I charge my EV at home?”

The answer depends on a few key factors — your home’s electrical supply, the charger you install, and the kind of vehicle you drive.

This guide breaks down real-world EV charging speeds for homeowners in Bishop’s Stortford and surrounding areas like Thorley Park, Hockerill, and Spellbrook, helping you understand what to expect and how to optimise your setup.

Why Home Charging Speed Matters

When you rely on your EV for school runs, commuting to London, or weekend getaways through Hertfordshire and Essex, charging speed makes a difference. The quicker your charger can top up your battery, the more flexibility you have — and the less you depend on public charging points.

With most new EVs offering 200–300 miles of range, understanding your charging speed at home helps you plan better and drive with confidence.

Charging Speed: What Does It Really Mean?

Charging speed is usually measured in miles of range added per hour — and it's driven by two key figures:

• The charger’s power output (in kilowatts – kW)
• Your vehicle’s onboard charger capacity

Most UK homes, including those in Bishop’s Stortford, have a single-phase electricity supply, meaning the maximum realistic charging rate is 7.4kW.

Types of Home Charging in Bishop’s Stortford

🔌 Standard 3-Pin Plug (2.3kW)

• Adds ~8 miles per hour
• Extremely slow
• Not recommended for regular use
• Puts prolonged strain on your sockets
• Can take over 24 hours to charge a full battery

💡 Verdict: OK for emergencies, but not practical for daily use

⚡ 7kW Smart Charger (Most Common)

• Adds ~25–30 miles per hour
• Fully charges most EVs in 6–10 hours
• Perfect for overnight top-ups
• Safe, efficient, and cost-effective
• Ideal for most homes in Bishop’s Stortford

💡 Verdict: The sweet spot — fast enough for daily use, easy to install, and future-proof

⚡⚡ 22kW Fast Charger (Rare for Homes)

• Adds ~60–75 miles per hour
• Requires three-phase power (most homes don’t have this)
• Upgrading to three-phase supply can cost £2,000–£4,000+
• Only compatible with cars that can accept 22kW AC charging

💡 Verdict: Usually not worth the cost for domestic use — best suited for commercial installs

Real-World Example: How Long Will It Take?

Let’s say you drive a Kia EV6 or Tesla Model Y with a 75kWh battery and return home with 20% charge.

Using a 3-pin plug:

• Adds 2.3kW per hour
• Will take 26+ hours to fully recharge

Using a 7kW smart charger:

• Adds 7.4kW per hour
• Will take around 8 hours to fully recharge
• Perfect for overnight use on a smart tariff
• With scheduled charging: You set your charger (e.g. Hypervolt, Ohme, Zappi) to run between 11pm–5am when electricity is cheapest — cutting cost without sacrificing speed

Speed Isn’t Just About Power — It’s About Smart Features

Modern EV chargers do more than just deliver electricity. Smart features like:

• Charge scheduling
• Load balancing
• Solar integration
• Wi-Fi and app control

…all help optimise your charging experience without sacrificing speed.

For example, in homes near Thorley Hill, where fuseboards are often compact, we’ll install an 18th Edition EV-dedicated board to ensure safe high-speed charging without impacting your home’s electrics.

Factors That Affect Charging Speed at Home

🔋 Your Car: Some vehicles cap AC charging speed at 6.6kW — even if your charger is 7.4kW. Always check the specs of your EV.

⚙️ Your Electrical Setup: If your consumer unit is full or outdated, you may need a new dedicated EV board
We include surge protection devices (SPDs) as standard for added safety and performance

📶 Your Wi-Fi: Smart features rely on a solid internet connection. If your driveway or garage has poor Wi-Fi, we may recommend a booster.

Installation Speed — How Long Does It Take?

In Bishop’s Stortford, most of our installations are completed in half a day. Here’s our process:

• Free Home Survey – We assess your power supply and ideal charger placement
• Transparent Quote – Fixed price, no pressure
• Installation Day – We arrive on time, complete the job cleanly, and issue your certificate
• Demo & Support – We show you how to use your charger and app

Whether you’re in Bishop’s Gate, St Michael’s Mead, or Twitchells, we’ve installed chargers on your street — and we’re happy to help.

What’s the Best Charger for Speed?

Our top recommendations:

• Hypervolt Home 3 Pro – 7.4kW, stylish, and UK-made
• Ohme ePod – Works perfectly with smart tariffs like Octopus Go
• myenergi Zappi – Ideal if you’re planning solar in future
• Seren, PodPoint, Rolec – Solid performance and long warranties

All support fast charging at 7.4kW and come with app control, Wi-Fi connectivity, and full certification.

Fast Doesn’t Mean Expensive

A 7kW smart charger installed by JJB typically costs £999–£1,200, including:

• Charger supply
• Installation
• Surge protection
• Certification
• Local aftercare

📈 And with public charging now costing over 60p per kWh, home charging pays for itself within 12–18 months for most drivers.

Final Thoughts

Charging speed is one of the biggest factors in how convenient owning an EV really is. With the right home setup in Bishop’s Stortford, you can:

• Charge overnight while you sleep
• Avoid the queues at public points
• Save hundreds of pounds per year
• Drive with complete peace of mind

Call JJB EV Charger Specialists on 01992 276121 Or visit jjb-electrical.co.uk/ev to get your fast quote today.

Let’s help you charge faster, smarter, and safer — right from your driveway.