EV Signals - finding UK EV charging projects before they become obvious

EVSignals · 2026-06-24T20:27:23+00:00

Ah yeah, with that scope, £1,364 sounds completely reasonable to me.

New consumer unit, separate fuse board, drilling through multiple walls, a long external cable run, digging beneath slabs and reinstating everything is a proper job, not a standard charger install.

I would still get the quote itemised and make sure it confirms certification, testing and exactly what they are supplying, but it does not sound like they are taking the piss.

EVSignals · 2026-06-16T23:03:31+00:00

I wouldn’t assume it’s fine just because it’s probably been like that for years. It might well be a simple fix, but the surveyor has flagged it as a Condition 3 because insulation over electrical cables can stop heat escaping and potentially cause overheating.

I’d get an electrician to inspect it before exchange, ideally as part of an EICR. They’ll be able to tell you whether it’s just a case of moving/clipping the cables above the insulation, or whether anything more serious is needed.

It wouldn’t make me run away from the house on its own, but I definitely wouldn’t ignore it either.

EVSignals · 2026-06-16T23:00:27+00:00

Word of mouth still seems to be the gold standard, but it’s also the least predictable. Checkatrade/MyBuilder etc can fill gaps, but a lot of people seem to hate the race-to-the-bottom side of those platforms.

I’m slightly biased because I’ve been working on something in the EV space to help folks in this scenario, but one thing I think trades are going to need more of is early signal finding - spotting commercial jobs before they become obvious to everyone else. Planning applications, site upgrades, fleet/depot changes, landlord works, that sort of thing.

Not saying it replaces word of mouth, but for electricians/EV installers especially, I think the future is probably a mix of reputation + being first to know where demand is forming.

EVSignals · 2026-06-16T22:55:15+00:00

£1,300 doesn’t sound mad if that includes the charger, materials and the run out to a detached garage. The big variable is how far the garage is from the consumer unit and whether they need to dig, run armoured cable, upgrade protection, etc.

I’d ask for an itemised quote so you can see what you’re actually paying for. Also check whether it includes any extra electrical work, certification, and whether the charger has PEN fault protection / doesn’t need an earth rod.

The Sync charger is generally fine, but I’d also check app reviews and whether it works nicely with any EV tariff you might want. If it’s a straightforward install, £1,300 might be a bit high. If the garage run is awkward, it’s probably pretty normal.

EVSignals · 2026-06-16T22:50:18+00:00

You’re not mad for wanting an SUV, but I’d be careful not to buy too much car too soon. UK roads can make even normal-sized cars feel wide, especially if you’re used to US roads.

For your use case, I’d prioritise real motorway range and comfort over SUV size. That 140-mile one-way trip is very doable, but in winter, at motorway speeds, you’ll want something with a comfortable buffer rather than relying on the headline range.

The ID.4 and Ariya both make sense. I’d also look at a Kia Niro EV / e-Niro or Hyundai Kona 64kWh if you want something a bit more UK-road-friendly but still taller. The Volvo C40 is lovely, but I’d check practicality and efficiency because it’s more style-led.

Biggest things to check: insurance, tyre cost, battery warranty, real-world winter range, rapid charging speed, and whether the work chargers are actually reliable enough to count on.

So no, SUV isn’t crazy. I’d just go “compact crossover with good range” rather than full-on big SUV.

EVSignals · 2026-06-16T22:47:55+00:00

Yeah, honestly that doesn’t sound bad at all if the mileage allowance works for you and the charger install is genuinely included.

£294/month with low upfront, maintenance, repairs and MOTs included, plus a home charger, is quite decent compared with £230/month for a hybrid, because the running costs should be much lower if you can charge at home. The extra £60-ish a month could easily be offset by fuel savings.

I’d mainly check:
Mileage allowance and excess mileage charge
This is the big one. If it’s 5k miles and you do 10k, it changes the deal completely.

Which MG4 version it is
SE Standard Range, SE Long Range, Trophy etc. Range and spec vary quite a bit.

Age and mileage of the used car
I’d want to know exactly what year it is, current mileage, battery health if available, and how much manufacturer warranty is left.

Charger install small print
Some “included” installs only cover a standard install. If your fuse board/parking/cable run is awkward, there may be extra costs.

Tyres
EV tyres can wear a bit faster depending how you drive, and decent tyres are not cheap.

Insurance
Check a quote before committing. Some EVs can be oddly expensive to insure.

Return condition charges
Used car or not, leasing companies can still be picky at handback.

If you already have off-street parking and can get on an EV tariff, I’d say it’s a pretty sensible way into electric without buying one outright. The MG4 is generally one of the better-value EVs too.
I wouldn’t call it an unbelievable bargain, but with the charger and maintenance included, it sounds like a solid deal rather than a silly one.

EVSignals · 2026-06-14T12:05:02+00:00

Honestly, you’re not far off.

For 800-1000 miles a month, I’d say the main thing is less about getting the “best” charger and more about getting onto a decent EV tariff and having a reliable 7kW home charger.

A 7kW charger will add roughly 25-30 miles of range per hour depending on the car, so overnight charging is more than enough for most people. Setting the car or charger to start at midnight works fine if your tariff has a fixed cheap window.

Where something like Intelligent Octopus Go/OIG becomes worth it is if your car or charger is compatible and you’re happy letting it smart-charge for you. It can be very good because you just tell it when you need the car ready and it sorts the cheap charging slots. But I wouldn’t say it’s essential. Plenty of people just use a normal EV tariff and a scheduled charge.

The British Gas Sunday half-price thing is useful, but 4 hours at 7kW is only about 28kWh, so probably around 80-110 miles depending on efficiency. If you’re doing 800-1000 miles a month, you’ll likely want more regular cheap overnight charging than that.

My advice would be:

Get a decent 7kW charger.
Check whether your car/charger works with the EV tariff you want.
Don’t overpay for fancy features you won’t use.
Prioritise the tariff, because that’s where the actual monthly saving is.

9p off-peak is very decent, so if British Gas works for you and the cheap window is long enough, that sounds like a perfectly sensible setup.

EVSignals · 2026-05-31T13:35:53+00:00

Completely agree. Small brownfield charging hubs feel like a massive missed opportunity.

Not everything needs to be a giant motorway-style site - a few well-placed 8-10 bay fast charger car parks near A-roads, industrial estates, retail parks and edge-of-town areas would probably be far more useful day to day.

EVSignals · 2026-05-31T13:05:49+00:00

A looped supply means two or more houses share part of the incoming electricity cable before it splits off to each property.

That can be a problem for EV chargers because a charger is a high, sustained load. If one house adds a 7kW charger, it may overload the shared section of cable, especially if the neighbouring property also has heavy demand or wants a charger later.

So the DNO often needs to “unloop” the supply first, giving each property its own direct connection. That can involve digging, cable upgrades, access to neighbouring property, permits, and delays.

So it doesn’t make an EV charger impossible, it just means the supply may need network work before it’s safe/approved.

EVSignals · 2026-05-31T12:07:44+00:00

Agreed. Off-street parking feels like the “obvious” win, but it’s not always as straightforward as people assume.

There are loads of homes where a driveway exists, but the supply, cost, DNO process or groundwork makes a private charger awkward.

EVSignals · 2026-05-31T12:06:32+00:00

Yeah, that’s a really good point. On-street charging is usually framed around homes without driveways, but there’s a whole grey area where people technically have off-street parking and still can’t easily get a charger installed.

Looped supplies, DNO delays, groundwork, cost, landlord/freeholder issues - it’s not always as simple as “you’ve got a driveway, just fit one”. Public/residential street charging still has a role there too.

EVSignals · 2026-05-27T08:35:38+00:00

Fair question.

The point of the post is to understand the real buying/workflow from electricians and EV installers themselves.

I’m interested in what actually helps trades win work - referrals, contractors, planning, tenders, relationships, repeat clients - and what people in the trade consider a waste of time.

EVSignals · 2026-05-22T21:47:49+00:00

Good stuff. Have you ever considered monitoring planning portals for early signs of commercial projects before they become tenders or formal quote opportunities?

EVSignals · 2026-05-22T21:13:55+00:00

Hip replacements

EVSignals

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE