Electric vehicle chargers

We can install smart chargers for off-road parking and help apply for grants to cover some of the cost. Smart chargers can charge your electric vehicle more than twice as fast as a three-pin plug. If you have microgeneration at home, such as wind or solar, this can be integrated to work with the smart chargers. Through the mobile app, they enable you to monitor and schedule charging in a way that is convenient. They also connect to the ReFLEX Orkney’s FlexiGrid platform which means we can gather insights into how chargers interact with the local electricity grid and how they may provide support to the network in the future.

EST grant update - March 2022

Please note the Energy Savings Trust (EST) is currently not accepting new applications for its charger grant scheme. On Monday 7 March we were informed that EST was immediately closing applications for its charger grant scheme for the financial year 2021-2022 because “funding for this year is fully allocated.” They may announce new funding at the start of the new financial year in April 2022, and we will update this page and keep customers informed once we have an update from EST.

If you are in the process of getting a charger through ReFLEX and you already have a grant offer letter from EST, then this offer will still be honoured by EST. If you submitted an application before 7 March and have not received an offer letter yet, then their advice is: “Your application will be kept on file, and you may still be offered funding if it becomes available in this financial year. If you have not been offered funding by Thursday 31 March 2022, then your application has been unsuccessful. All of our current terms and conditions still apply, and the charge point installation cannot occur before a formal grant offer is made.”

If you are considering getting an EV charger please do contact us. We can begin the process of planning a charger install with you while we wait for EST to announce what is happening with their funding. Regardless of the EST offer, we are still offering the ReFLEX contribution of £150 towards the cost of a charger.

If you have off-street parking at your home, we can install a smart electric vehicle charger.

• ReFLEX makes a contribution to the cost and there is a grant for domestic chargers available from EST to help with the cost of installing electric vehicle chargers at home. Our team can help you through the EST application.

• Those who own their own flat or live in rental accommodation, as well as landlords and social housing providers will also be eligible for a grant through OZEV from the beginning of April 2022.

• Before installing smart chargers we assess whether a grid application is required and can help you understand if you need planning permission.

• We will support you through the installation process with our local EST and OZEV accredited installers.

The cost for a home smart charge point and installation varies depending on what is needed at your house and where you live. Get in touch for details on costs and grants.

Do you live in the outer or inner isles? Check out our Isles residents factsheet for info on accessing ReFLEX Orkney's services where you live.

The myenergi system

The myenergi smart charging system, connected to ReFLEX’s FlexiGrid control platform, can charge your car more than twice as fast as your 3-pin plug. If you have wind or solar at your property, zappi helps you make the most of electricity you generate onsite by integrating with your charger.

• The details on charging speeds, cables and connectors

  Electric vehicle charging cables usually have two connectors, one that plugs into the vehicle socket and the other into the charger itself.

  The type of connector you need varies by vehicle and the power rating or speed of the charger.

  • Electric vehicles have either a Type 1 or Type 2 socket for slow / fast charging and CHAdeMO or CCS for DC rapid charging.*

  • Most slow / fast chargers have a Type 2 socket - including the myenergi zappi fast charger available through ReFLEX. All DC rapid charging stations have a cable attached usually with a CHAdeMO and a CCS connector.

  • For ReFLEX charger customers, we advise that you may want to consider getting a portable charging cable which matches your vehicle’s Type 1 socket (Type 2 > Type 1 cable) or Type 2 socket (Type 2 > Type 2 cable). This will mean you can charge on public networks as well as using your myenergi zappi fast charger at home.

  

  * The exceptions to date are the Tesla Model X and Model S, which use Type 2 connectors for DC rapid chargers. Adapters that allow you to charge these Tesla models via CHAdeMO or CCS connectors are available.

Understand the basics of how to charge your electric vehicle at home and on the road.