With the increasing popularity of electric vehicles (EVs), ‘refuelling’ for many drivers has taken on a totally different meaning, with most EV owners choosing to put the volts back into their vehicle overnight while it's parked on their driveway. Motability Scheme customers who choose an EV as their next car can sign up for a no-cost home charging point installed by the EV home charging specialists Ohme. Here, Callum Russell from Charging At Home tells us about charging an EV, what to expect from the installation process and the innovative smart charging features of the Ohme charger.
Motability is a scheme designed to help people in the UK with disabilities achieve more independence through the lease of a car, Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV), scooter or a powered wheelchair.
This lease is paid for by exchanging your qualifying Mobility Allowance, a benefit that helps people with the extra costs of living with a long-term health condition or disability.
Motability Scheme orders for EVs are growing rapidly, with most customers choosing to have a charger installed at their home to charge their vehicle, fitted at no additional cost.
Ohme was founded by David Watson, with his primary aim being to create the most trusted smart-charging platform. A key focus at Ohme has always been to encourage people to charge their EVs at off-peak hours, using the excess energy that can’t otherwise be stored on the grid. This gives customers the opportunity to save a bit of money through cheaper charging if they're on the right tariff.
The Ohme Home Pro is the model installed for charging at home. One of its key features is the LED screen that allows you to control charging from the unit itself, rather than just via app.
It has a 7kW charge (which charges at around 25 miles of range per hour), is compatible with all Type 2 EV models and has a 5m cable length. Another great feature of the Ohme Home Pro is that you can schedule charges to occur at certain times of the day and set a price cap, so it never goes over that threshold. This can be done through the LED screen or the app.
It can also be connected through 3G/4G for easy set-up and benefits from over-the-air updates. It's a visually appealing charger that won't look out of place on your home when installed.
Before you think about having an EV charger installed, you need to make sure you have off-road parking, whether that be a garage or driveway. If you do not own your property (or if it's a flat or leasehold), you will also need to seek permission to have a charger fitted (Ohme should be able to help with this). Once your application is accepted by Motability, they will assign Ohme to carry out your installation.
Below is a step-by-step process of how the Ohme Charger is installed:
1. Ohme will receive your details from Motability
2. You will be asked to fill out an online survey about your home
3. A member of the Ohme installation team will get in touch
4. They will confirm a date for the installation
5. You'll receive alerts and notifications about the upcoming date
6. An installer will visit your home to fit your Ohme charger
7. They will give you a demonstration to show you how the charger works
It's best to have the apps downloaded and set up before the engineer arrives, as it makes the whole process a bit quicker on the day. The installation itself will usually take a couple of hours as long as there are no issues, and the charger is not too far from the fuse box. If there are complications with the groundwork or the electrics need updating, it may take 4-6 hours.
If what Motability call a 'complex installation' is required, then there may be an additional charge. An installation could be classed as complex if:
For those EV customers who can't have a home charger installed, Motability provide the option of a subscription to the bp pulse charging network as an alternative.
We hope that this article has helped you to understand what sort of charging unit you will get and how the installation process works if you choose to lease an EV through the Motability Scheme.
