If you own an EV or plan to buy one, one of your first questions will be whether you need a charger at home or whether public charging stations are enough.
It depends on how you use the car each day, the type of home you live in, and how close the nearest charging stations are. In general, though, a home charger is the best choice for most EV owners in Saudi Arabia.
This article covers the benefits of a home charger, the electrical requirements, the installation steps and expected costs, and corrects some common misconceptions.
Benefits of installing a home EV charger
These are the main benefits of a home charger:
1. Convenience
You get home, plug the car in, and in the morning the battery is full. You don't search for a charging station, wait in line, or plan trips around station locations. A home charger lets you charge whenever it suits you without leaving home.
2. Lower charging costs
Home charging at the residential tariff costs 0.18 SAR per kWh, while public charging stations charge 0.60 to 1.50 SAR. That makes home charging three to eight times cheaper. Over a full year, a home charger can save you more than 1,500 SAR compared with relying entirely on public stations.
3. Preserving battery health
Slow AC charging at home is better for the battery over the long term than frequent DC fast charging. Fast charging heats the battery more, and daily use can reduce its capacity faster. Slow overnight charging at home is gentler on the battery and helps it last longer.
4. Higher property value
As EVs spread in the Kingdom, a home charger has become a sought-after feature in the property market. Villas and homes with EV chargers are more attractive to buyers and tenants.
5. Preparing for the future
As the Kingdom moves toward electric mobility under Vision 2030, EVs will become more common every year. Installing a charger now saves you higher costs later, when demand for installation rises.
Electrical requirements for installing a home charger
Before buying a home charger, make sure your home's electrical system can support it. These are the basic requirements:
Electrical panel capacity
A home charger needs a dedicated circuit with its own breaker, so the main electrical panel must have space for a new breaker. If the panel is full, you may need to upgrade it or add a sub-panel.
Dedicated electrical circuit
A 7 kW charger, the most common size for homes, needs a dedicated circuit with these specifications:
- Circuit breaker: 32 amps minimum
- Electrical cable: copper, with a cross-section of at least 6 mm²
- Ground fault protection: a residual current device, or RCD, with 30 mA sensitivity, Type A or Type B
- Grounding: a proper grounding system connected to the charger
Voltage
Residential voltage in Saudi Arabia is 220V single-phase, and most 7 kW home chargers run directly on it. 11 kW or 22 kW chargers need a three-phase 380V supply, which not every home has.
Important tip: Before buying any charger, ask a specialized electrical technician to inspect the panel and wiring in your home. The inspection shows whether you need any upgrades and stops you from buying a charger that doesn't suit your electrical system.
The difference between villa and apartment installation
Installation requirements and difficulties vary a lot by type of home:
Installation in a villa
A villa is the easiest place to install a home charger. It usually has:
- A private parking space adjacent to the home or inside the garage
- Easy access to the main electrical panel
- The ability to run cables without needing approvals from other parties
- Flexibility in choosing the charger's location on the wall
- Installation typically takes only 2 to 4 hours
Installation in an apartment
Installation in an apartment is possible, but it needs extra steps:
- Obtaining approval from building management or the owner
- Designating a fixed parking spot near the power source
- Running an electrical cable from the apartment's meter to the parking spot, which may be far away
- Bearing additional costs for wiring through corridors or shared walls
- Ensuring the building's permitted electrical load is not exceeded
Home charger installation steps
With a specialized company like Climatech Charger, installation goes through these stages:
- Consultation and assessment: A specialized technician visits your home to inspect the electrical panel, measure the distance from the panel to the parking spot, and pick the best location for the charger. This takes about 30 minutes.
- Providing a quote: After the assessment, you get a full quote covering the charger, the electrical wiring and the installation fee, with no hidden costs.
- Choosing the charger: The technician helps you choose the appropriate charger based on your car type, battery capacity, and daily needs.
- Electrical wiring: The technician runs a dedicated cable from the panel to the charger location and installs a separate breaker and ground fault protection.
- Charger mounting: The technician mounts the charger on the wall, connects it to the cable and tests the connections.
- Testing and commissioning: The technician tests the charger with your car to confirm charging works, and shows you how to use it.
Home charger installation costs in detail
The total cost is made up of several items. Here is an approximate breakdown:
The cost may rise if the home needs a panel upgrade or if the panel is far from the parking spot. That's why you should get a quote after a site visit.
Common myths about home charging
Several misconceptions about home chargers are common. Here are the facts:
Myth 1: "A home charger significantly increases the electricity bill"
The truth: The increase is small. Charging an EV at the residential tariff costs about 40 to 70 SAR a month, depending on use, much less than you spend on gasoline each month.
Myth 2: "I can use any regular electrical outlet to charge the car"
The truth: Regular 13 A household outlets are built for light loads and short periods. Charging an EV from one for many hours a day can overheat the outlet and cable and could start a fire. A dedicated charger on its own circuit is the only safe option.
Myth 3: "Slow charging at home harms the battery"
The truth: It's the other way around. Slow AC charging is best for battery health because it produces less heat, and EV manufacturers recommend slow home charging for daily use.
Myth 4: "I only need an electrician to connect the wire"
The truth: Installing an EV charger needs a specialized technician who knows electrical safety standards and the charger's own requirements. A bad installation can damage the charger, void the car's warranty or create electrical hazards.
When don't you need a home charger?
In some cases you may not need a home charger, or may not be able to install one:
- Living in an apartment without private parking: Without a dedicated parking spot for a charger, public charging may be your only option.
- A charging station near home or work: If there's a convenient, reasonably priced charging station at your workplace or near your home, you may not need a home charger, at least for now.
- Very limited car use: If you drive less than 30 km a day in a plug-in hybrid, or PHEV, the portable charger that comes with the car may be enough.
- Short-term rental: If you're renting a residence for a short period and the owner doesn't allow installation, it's better to rely on public alternatives.
That said: Whenever installation is possible, a home charger is still the best option, even in these cases, because of the convenience, the savings and the benefit to the battery.
Comparison: with or without a home charger?
Need help choosing the right charger?
The Climatech Charger team offers a free consultation and a site visit to assess your home's electrical system. We help you choose the right charger and handle the whole installation, with a full warranty.
