Charging Two Electric Cars at One London Home

More London households now have two electric or plug-in cars. Charging both at home is usually possible, but it takes a little planning, because two chargers running at full power can be more than a typical home supply can handle alongside cooking, heating and hot water. This post explains the options.

Do you need two chargers

Not always. If both cars do modest daily mileage, one charger shared overnight may be enough: charge one car one night and the other the next, or swap the plug part way through the night. A smart charger can be scheduled to make this easier. Our guide to how long it takes to charge at home helps you work out whether one is enough.

Options for charging two cars

• One charger, shared between the two cars on different nights.
• A dual-socket charger that can charge two cars at once, sharing the available power.
• Two separate chargers linked so they share power and do not overload the supply.

Check the supply and main fuse

Most London homes have a single-phase supply with a main fuse that limits how much power the house can draw at once. Two chargers at full power, plus an electric shower or oven, can exceed it. A survey checks the fuse size, the consumer unit and the earthing before anything is fitted. See our guide on whether you need a new consumer unit.

Load management

Load management measures how much power the house is using and turns the chargers down when needed, so the main fuse is never overloaded. With two chargers, it can also split the available power between them. This often avoids the cost of a supply upgrade.

Parking layout

Think about where each car parks. A charger between two parking spaces, or a dual-socket unit, may reach both. Tethered cables need to be long enough for either car. See our guide on tethered or untethered chargers.

Plan for the future

If you only have one electric car now but expect a second, mention it at the survey. A suitable cable can sometimes be run at the same time, making a second charger quicker and cheaper to add later.

Energy North Ltd installs home chargers across North, East and West London with City & Guilds certified electricians. See our EV charger installation page to book a survey.