EV charger installers in the South East

272,429 plug-in cars are now kept by households and individuals in the South East — 37% more than a year ago. Here's what a home charger costs here, who runs your local network, the grants that apply in England, and how to get quotes from accredited installers who cover your postcode.

Data checked 10 October 2026: DfT vehicle licensing (end of June 2026) and public charging statistics (1 July 2026).

Privately kept plug-in cars: 272,429; 787,892 including company-registered cars
Growth in a year (private): +37%; UK: +44%
Public chargers per 100,000 people: 159; UK average: 175
Plug-in cars per public charger: 51.3; 15,373 public chargers, 3,830 rapid

Privately kept plug-in cars in the South East, 2024 Q2 to 2026 Q2

146,261272,429

What a home charger costs in The South East

Most homes pay £850–£1,100 for a smart charger fitted by an accredited electrician, or £400–£500 to install a charger you already own. Electricians in London and the South East tend to charge more than elsewhere, though some national providers price London, the South East and the North East the same. The price only rises much when the cable has a long way to go, your fuse board needs replacing or the network operator has to upgrade your supply.

See every cost explained, or get an estimate for your home in about a minute.

Your electricity network operator

Your network operator (DNO) owns the cables into your home — it isn't your energy supplier. Your installer notifies it about the new charger. If your home shares a supply with a neighbour (a "looped" supply) or your main fuse is too small, the operator does the upgrade, usually free of charge but with a wait.

UK Power Networks — Kent, Sussex and Surrey
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) — Hampshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and parts of Surrey (Southern Electric)

Network areas don't follow regional boundaries exactly. Check your postcode on the ENA 'find my network operator' tool or ask your installer.

Grants in the South East

In England, the UK-wide OZEV grants apply: up to £500 (75% of the cost) for renters and flat owners with private parking, for households using a council-approved cross-pavement channel, and for residential landlords — until 31 March 2027. Homeowners with a driveway are not eligible.

Check whether you qualify.

No driveway?

About 38% of homes in the South East have no parking on their own plot (English Housing Survey), so a driveway charger isn't an option for many households. Cross-pavement channels, on-street chargers and the £500 on-street grant are the alternatives.

Your options without a driveway · How cross-pavement charging works

Where the electric cars are

Local authority	Privately kept plug-in cars
Buckinghamshire	21,787
Milton Keynes	9,980
Wokingham	8,082
Elmbridge	6,415
Basingstoke and Deane	6,125

Company cars are counted where the leasing or fleet company is registered, which inflates the totals for a few areas, so we rank by privately kept cars.

Cities in the South East

Milton Keynes: 139,004 plug-in cars (+54% in a year), 987 public chargers (323 per 100,000 people).

Other regions

Skip the map and go to the list of regions

Questions people ask

How many electric cars are there in the South East?

At the end of June 2026 there were 787,892 licensed plug-in cars in the South East (548,651 fully electric and 239,241 plug-in hybrids), of which 272,429 were kept privately rather than by companies — 37% more private plug-in cars than a year earlier (DfT VEH0142).

How much does it cost to install a home EV charger in the South East?

Most homes pay £850–£1,100 for a smart charger with a standard installation. Electricians in London and the South East tend to charge more than elsewhere, though some national providers price London, the South East and the North East the same. Long cable runs, groundworks or a fuse board upgrade add to the price — see every cost.

Who is the electricity network operator in the South East?

UK Power Networks (Kent, Sussex and Surrey); Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) (Hampshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and parts of Surrey (Southern Electric)). Your installer notifies them when your charger is fitted — you don't need to contact them yourself unless your supply needs upgrading.

Can I get a grant for a home charger in the South East?

Do I need planning permission for a home charger in the South East?

Usually not: wall-mounted chargers on a house are normally permitted development, but listed buildings and some conservation areas need consent. Read the rules.

Sources

DfT Vehicle licensing statistics — VEH0142 Licensed plug-in vehicles by body type, fuel type, keepership and local authority (Cars), UK Government (read 10 October 2026)
DfT Vehicle licensing statistics — VEH0105 Licensed vehicles by body type, fuel type, keepership and local authority (Cars, all fuels), UK Government (read 10 October 2026)
DfT Electric vehicle charging infrastructure statistics (official statistics in development; data: Zapmap) — EVCI0101 Public EV chargers by country and region, UK Government (read 10 October 2026)
DfT Electric vehicle charging infrastructure statistics (official statistics in development; data: Zapmap) — EVCI0102 Public EV chargers by local authority, UK Government (read 10 October 2026)
Connecting electric vehicles and heat pumps, Energy Networks Association (read 10 October 2026)

See all regions

Get a home charger fitted in the South East

Tell us where you park and see a price estimate in about a minute. Up to three accredited installers then quote — free, no obligation.

Get free quotes