Charging a used EV at home in Ireland
Contents
Most people who buy a used electric car charge it at home, overnight, on a wallbox in the driveway. For a used-EV buyer that is the part worth getting right: the kit is a Type 2 home charger, it is faster than you might think, and there is up to EUR 300 from SEAI toward fitting one. There is one eligibility catch, and this guide sets it out.
What you plug in
A home charger is a small wall-mounted unit, and in Ireland it is typically either 3.7 kW (16 amp) or 7.4 kW (32 amp). The faster 7.4 kW unit is the common choice where the house supply allows it.
AC home charging uses a Type 2 connector, the standard for home charging here. The Type 2 cable is normally the one that comes with the car, so for a used EV you usually already have the cable you need and are only fitting the wall unit.
How fast it charges
Speed follows the charger's power. At 7 kW you add about 7 kWh of energy per hour, which works out at roughly 100 km of range in about 2 hours. A 70 kWh battery takes about 10 hours to charge fully at 7 kW, which is why overnight charging fits an EV so neatly.
There is a simple rule of thumb: time to a full charge is roughly the battery size in kWh divided by the charger's power in kW. So a 70 kWh battery on a 7 kW charger is about 70 divided by 7, or about 10 hours.
The EUR 300 home charger grant
SEAI runs a Home Charger Grant of up to EUR 300 toward the purchase and installation of a home charger. A few conditions come with it:
- You must use a Safe Electric Ireland registered electrician.
- The charger must be a smart charger on SEAI's register.
- The grant offer is valid 6 months, and the install must be completed within that time.
- It is open to a homeowner whether or not you currently own an EV, so you can have the charger fitted before, or alongside, buying the car.
Home charging at a glance
| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Charger power | Typically 3.7 kW (16 A) or 7.4 kW (32 A) |
| Connector | Type 2, cable usually supplied with the car |
| Speed at 7 kW | About 7 kWh per hour, roughly 100 km in about 2 hours |
| Full charge at 7 kW | A 70 kWh battery takes about 10 hours |
| Home Charger Grant | Up to EUR 300, Safe Electric installer, smart charger on SEAI register, offer valid 6 months, needs a private off-street driveway |
Last verified: 16/06/2026
Grant rules, amounts and conditions change. Before you rely on any figure here, confirm the current position on the official pages: SEAI's EV charging guide and the Home Charger Grant page.
Where to go next
Home charging is one piece of owning a used EV. To see what a charge actually costs on your own rate, use our cost-to-charge calculator. If you are still shortlisting, the used-EV buyer's checklist walks you through a viewing in the right order, and our guide to used EVs and Irish grants sets out which supports actually apply to a second-hand car, the EUR 300 charger grant included. When you are ready to look, you can browse by area, for example used electric cars in Dublin.
Frequently asked questions
How fast is a home EV charger in Ireland?
Home chargers are typically 3.7 kW (16 amp) or 7.4 kW (32 amp). At 7 kW you add about 7 kWh per hour, which is roughly 100 km of range in about 2 hours, and a 70 kWh battery takes about 10 hours to charge fully.
What connector do I need to charge at home?
AC home charging uses a Type 2 port and cable. The Type 2 cable is normally the one supplied with the car, so you usually do not need to buy it separately.
Is there a grant for a home charger?
Yes. The SEAI Home Charger Grant gives up to EUR 300 toward the purchase and installation of a home charger. You must use a Safe Electric Ireland registered electrician and a smart charger on SEAI's register, the grant offer is valid 6 months, and it is open to a homeowner whether or not they currently own an EV. The property must be a private residence with its own private off-street driveway, within the property boundary.
Can I get the home charger grant for an apartment?
The home charger grant needs a private off-street driveway within the property boundary, so a standard apartment does not qualify. There is a separate SEAI Apartment Charging Grant for residents, owners and landlords in apartments and multi-unit developments.