Home charging for e-bikes, e-scooters, e-motorbikes and EVs

1. Which charger for which vehicle

2. Key specs

• Connector: Type 2 (Europe, UK, NZ, AU and most of the world), J1772 / Type 1 (North America, Japan), NACS / SAE J3400 (Tesla and a growing number of North American EVs), GB/T (China). DC fast charging uses CCS1, CCS2, CHAdeMO or NACS.
• Power (kW): charge time ≈ battery kWh ÷ charger kW (taking the lowest of the charger, the cable and the car's onboard charger). Example: 7 kW for 10 hours ≈ 70 kWh.
• Single vs three-phase: 11 to 22 kW AC needs a three-phase supply, which many homes don't have.
• Smart features: scheduling for off-peak tariffs, solar-surplus charging and load balancing.
• Cable and enclosure: cable length, tethered vs untethered, and an IP rating for outdoor use.

3. Rules and installation by region

This is a summary of official sources checked on 4 Nov 2026. It's general information, not legal advice. Rules change and vary by state and city, so always confirm with your local authority.

• Everywhere: hard-wired EV chargers and new circuits must be installed by a licensed electrician to local wiring rules. Don't run an EV for long periods from an ordinary extension lead.
• UK (Great Britain): private home and workplace EV charge points sold since 30 June 2022 must meet the Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021. That means smart functionality, pre-set off-peak default hours, a randomised delay and security requirements. Source: GOV.UK: Regulations for EV smart charge points.
• NZ, Australia, US, EU and elsewhere: installation rules come from national or state electrical regulations and standards. Ask your electrician and your electricity network about capacity and any approvals.
• Riding rules for each vehicle are on the e-bike, e-scooter and e-motorbike guides.

4. Charging from a power station or solar

E-bikes and scooters: easy. A 500 Wh to 1 kWh station refills most packs one or more times. E-mopeds: partial top-ups. EVs: a 1 to 2 kWh power station adds only about 5 to 12 km of range (at roughly 15 to 20 kWh per 100 km, after losses), so it's an emergency trickle, not a fill. For real EV solar charging, look at rooftop solar with a solar-aware wall charger.

• Charging a battery from a portable power station
• How many solar panels? and AC vs solar charging speed
• Runtime calculator and What size power station?
• Compare power stations

5. Safety

• Use the original charger, or a certified replacement. Avoid unbranded batteries and chargers.
• Charge on a hard surface away from exits and anything flammable, and don't leave it charging unattended overnight.
• Stop using any battery that is swollen, damaged, overheating or has been soaked, and recycle it properly.
• Store at around 40 to 70% charge somewhere cool and dry, and charge above about 0 °C.
• Don't modify a vehicle to go faster or put out more power than local limits. It can make it illegal and uninsured.

• Buy chargers with recognised certification, such as UL or ETL in North America, CE / UKCA with a test report in Europe and the UK, or RCM in AU/NZ.
• Before installing an EV charger, check the cable and connector ratings and use RCD / GFCI protection.

Where to buy

For e-bikes: E-bikes at ENGWE (US) (affiliate link). For portable power to charge e-bikes and scooters off-grid: Power stations at ALLPOWERS (US & CA) (affiliate link).

EV wall chargers: we're still waiting on approval from charger brands. Until then, use a reputable local installer.