EV Charger Installation
Home EV charger installation in Ireland. Charge your car from solar panels or cheap night rates from just 6c/kWh. SEAI grant available. Professional installation by Lumen Solar.
Key Features
- Charge from solar — completely free
- Night rate charging from just 6c/kWh
- SEAI grant of €300 available
- Solar-integrated smart chargers
- Tethered chargers — just plug in and go
- Apartments and multi-unit installations
Stop Paying Motorway Prices
Charge at home for 6c/kWh — or free with solar
6c
per kWh on night rate
€300
SEAI grant available
€0
with solar panels
10x
cheaper than motorway
The Real Cost of Charging an EV in Ireland
If you’re charging your EV at motorway fast chargers, you’re spending up to 64c per kWh. That’s nearly the same as running a diesel car.
With a home charger and the right electricity tariff, you can charge for as little as 6c per kWh — or completely free if you have solar panels. That’s the difference between spending €38 to fill your car and spending €3.60.
We install smart EV chargers that integrate directly with your solar PV system and battery storage.
One app, one system, everything talking to each other.
What It Costs to Charge Your EV
Based on a typical 60kWh EV battery and average consumption of 16 kWh/100km. All prices include VAT at 9%.
| Charging Method | Cost per kWh | Full Charge (60kWh) | Cost per 100km |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home solar charging | FREE | €0.00 | €0.00 |
| Pinergy EV night rate | approx 6c | €3.60 | approx €0.96 |
| SSE Airtricity EV rate | approx 9c | €5.40 | approx €1.44 |
| Home charging (standard rate) | approx 35c | €21.00 | approx €5.60 |
| ESB Standard (PAYG) | 59c | €35.40 | approx €9.44 |
| ESB Fast (PAYG) | 64c | €38.40 | approx €10.24 |
| Diesel car | €1.90/L | approx €95/tank | approx €11.40 |
| Petrol car | €1.85/L | approx €92/tank | approx €12.95 |
*Diesel: 6L/100km at €1.90/L. Petrol: 7L/100km at €1.85/L. Fuel prices: AA Ireland March 2026.
Annual Savings at 20,000km/year
€0
Solar charging
€192
Pinergy night rate
€2,280
Diesel car
€2,088
SAVED vs diesel
How EV Charging Actually Works
Here’s something most EV charger companies won’t tell you: the charger on your wall is not actually the charger.
That unit on your wall is really just a glorified outdoor socket with a fancy connector. The actual charger is inside your car. Your car’s onboard charger converts AC power from the wall into DC power your battery can store.
AC vs DC Charging — What’s the Difference?
AC Charging (Home)
- • Wall unit delivers AC power
- • Your car converts it to DC
- • Single phase: up to 7kW
- • Three phase: up to 22kW
- • Most cars accept max 11kW on AC
- • Costs 6-35c/kWh
DC Charging (Public)
- • Charger is the converter
- • Delivers DC straight to battery
- • Bypasses your car’s onboard charger
- • Much faster: 50-350kW
- • Why it costs 59-79c/kWh
- • Motorway fast charging
DC Fast Charging at Home — Yes, Really
Sigenergy now offers 25kW DC fast charging at home. Their system combines your solar inverter, battery storage, and EV charger into one integrated unit.
Your car can charge through the inverter + battery + solar panels combined — up to 25kW, straight to your car’s battery. That’s faster than most public AC chargers, from your own driveway.
The Night Rate Sweet Spot
7kW charger × 3 hours cheap rate = 21kWh
That’s roughly 120-150km of driving range — enough for 2-3 days of average Irish commuting (50km round trip).
What It Costs Per Night
€1.26
Pinergy approx 6c/kWh
€1.89
SSE/Energia approx 9c/kWh
€13-17
Same distance in diesel
Irish EV Night Rate Tariffs Compared
All prices include VAT at 9%. Accurate March 2026.
| Provider | Plan | EV Night Rate | Window | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pinergy | Lifestyle EV Drive | approx 6c/kWh | 2am – 5am | 3 hours |
| SSE Airtricity | Smart EV Charge | approx 9c/kWh | 2am – 5am | 3 hours |
| Energia | Smart Drive | approx 9c/kWh | 2am – 6am | 4 hours |
| Bord Gáis | Green EV Smart | approx 10c/kWh | 2am – 5am | 3 hours |
| Electric Ireland | Home Electric+ Night | approx 11c/kWh | 2am – 4am | 2 hours |
| Flogas | Smart EV Night | approx 10c/kWh | 2am – 5am | 3 hours |
One App. One System. Everything Connected.
Match your EV charger to your solar system brand. Your panels, battery, and car all talk to each other. No fighting for power. No multiple apps.
What We Recommend — And Why
Match Your Charger to Your Solar System
Get an EV charger from the same brand as your solar inverter and battery. One app. One ecosystem. Everything communicates. Your solar panels, battery, and EV charger all know what each other is doing.
Always Get a Tethered Charger
Tethered chargers have the cable permanently attached. Why? Irish weather. With untethered, you’re digging cables out of your boot in the rain. With tethered, you grab and plug. Ten seconds. Done.
✓ Tethered
Cable ready, 10 seconds, stay dry
✗ Untethered
Boot digging, 60 seconds, get soaked
Single Phase vs Three Phase
Single Phase
7kW
Max output
21kWh in 3hrs → ~140km
Three Phase
22kW
Wall unit max
But most cars take 11kW
Best of Both
11kW
Typical car limit
33kWh in 3hrs → ~220km
SEAI EV Charger Grant — €300
Available for homeowners, apartments, and multi-unit dwellings.
1
Apply to SEAI
2
Get approval
3
We install
4
Claim €300
⚠️ Important: You must have SEAI approval BEFORE installation begins. 6 months to complete from approval.
Apartments & Multi-Unit Developments
Yes, we can install EV charging in apartments, multi-storey buildings, and shared parking areas. It involves detailed electrical design and load balancing, but it absolutely can be done.
Electrical Survey
Building capacity check
Load Balancing
Smart power management
Individual Metering
Each resident pays own
Future-Proofing
Ready for more EVs
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I charge my EV with solar panels?
Yes. With a solar-integrated smart charger, you can set it to charge only when there’s excess solar (ECO mode), or top up from the grid when solar isn’t enough. On a sunny day, you can get significant free charging. But for most people, the biggest savings come from combining solar for daytime house power with cheap night rate EV charging.
How long does it take to charge an EV at home?
On a 7kW home charger, a typical 60kWh EV battery takes about 8-9 hours from empty to full. In practice, you rarely charge from completely empty — most people top up from 20-80%, which takes around 5-6 hours. Overnight charging is more than enough for daily driving.
Will an EV charger overload my electricity supply?
No. Smart chargers include dynamic load balancing — they monitor your home’s total electricity usage and reduce the charging rate if needed to prevent overloading your main fuse. Your house will never trip because of the EV charger.
Do I need a smart meter for the cheap EV rates?
Yes. The EV-specific tariffs (like Pinergy’s 6c night rate) require a smart meter. If you don’t have one yet, ESB Networks installs them free of charge — contact your electricity provider to request one.
How much does installation cost?
A typical home EV charger installation costs between €800 and €1,600 depending on the charger model and installation complexity. After the €300 SEAI grant, most homeowners pay between €500 and €1,300. We provide a detailed quote after the site survey.
Is it worth getting a charger if I don’t have solar panels?
Absolutely. Even without solar, a home charger on a cheap night rate (6c/kWh) is ten times cheaper than motorway fast chargers (64c/kWh). Solar adds free daytime charging on top, but the night rate savings alone make a home charger worth it.
Ready to Stop Paying Motorway Prices?
Get a free quote for home EV charger installation. SEAI grant of €300 available.
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EV Running Cost Calculator
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