7kW or 22kW EV Charger for a Holiday Let? Charging Speeds and Times Explained
The short answer
For almost every holiday let in Cornwall, Devon and the South West, a 7kW smart charger is the right choice. Guests park overnight, and in 8–10 hours a 7kW charger can take most electric cars from nearly empty to full. A 22kW charger only helps if your property already has a three-phase supply and your guests drive one of the few cars that accept more than 11kW on AC.
What the numbers on a charger actually mean
The kW rating tells you how much power the charger can deliver. The power that actually reaches the car is set by the lowest of three limits:
- Your electricity supply. Most UK homes and cottages have a single-phase supply, which tops out at about 7.4kW for a car charger.
- The charger itself. A "22kW" wallbox only gives 22kW on a three-phase supply. On single phase it behaves like a 7kW charger.
- The car's onboard charger. This converts AC from the wall into DC for the battery. Many popular EVs cap AC charging at 11kW, and some smaller or older models at 7kW or less. As myenergi's support team explains, this is why many cars plugged into a 22kW-capable unit still only charge at around 11kW.
So a 22kW charger on a normal single-phase cottage supply gives exactly the same speed as a 7kW one, at a higher price.
How long does it take to charge an EV at a holiday let?
The table below shows rough times to top up from 10% to 80%, which is a typical "arrive low, leave with plenty" session. Real times vary with the car, the weather and how full the battery already is, so treat these as guides rather than promises.
| Battery size (typical car) | Energy added (10–80%) | 7kW charger | 11kW (three-phase, car allows it) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40kWh (small hatchback) | about 28kWh | about 4 hours | about 2.5 hours |
| 60kWh (family crossover) | about 42kWh | about 6 hours | about 4 hours |
| 77kWh (larger SUV or estate) | about 54kWh | about 8 hours | about 5 hours |
In range terms, a 7kW charger adds roughly 20–30 miles for every hour plugged in, depending on how efficient the car is. That means a single overnight session adds well over 150 miles, which is more than enough for a week of beach trips around Padstow, St Ives or the South Hams.
For comparison, a three-pin plug in a garage socket adds only around 5 miles an hour, according to Pod Point's holiday cottage case study. That's why guests notice the difference between a proper charger and a trailing lead out of the kitchen window.
Why 7kW suits holiday lets so well
Holiday let guests behave differently from drivers at a motorway service station. They:
- Arrive in the afternoon or evening and don't move the car until the next morning
- Stay several nights, so even a part-charge each night adds up
- Want a full battery for the drive home, which a 7kW charger can deliver on the last night
With 12–15 hours parked overnight, the extra speed of 11kW or 22kW rarely changes anything for the guest. The car will be full by breakfast either way.
When is a 22kW or three-phase charger worth it?
There are a few cases where faster AC charging makes sense:
- The property already has a three-phase supply. This is more common in barn conversions, farms, larger country houses and sites with workshops or commercial kitchens. If it's already there, a three-phase charger may cost little extra.
- You run several units on one site. A cluster of lodges or cottages sharing chargers may need cars turned around faster, especially on changeover day.
- Guests stay only a few hours. For example, a wedding venue or café car park, where people park for an afternoon rather than overnight.
If you don't already have three-phase power, upgrading the supply usually means a job by your local network operator (National Grid Electricity Distribution in the South West). Guides put the cost anywhere from a few thousand pounds to well over £10,000, depending on how far the property is from suitable cables. For a single holiday cottage, that money is almost always better spent elsewhere.
What does a full charge cost, and what should guests pay?
Speed matters less to your income than how you price the electricity. Using a 60kWh car topped up from 10% to 80% (about 42kWh) as an example:
| Price per kWh | Cost of a 42kWh session | |
|---|---|---|
| Your cost on a standard tariff | 25–28p | about £10.50–£11.75 |
| Your cost on an overnight EV tariff | 7–9p | about £2.95–£3.80 |
| Fair guest price | 35–45p | about £14.70–£18.90 |
A smart charger meters every session, and the guest pays through an app or by scanning a QR code. You don't have to read meters or add charges to the booking. Many smart chargers can also start sessions in a cheaper off-peak window if your tariff allows, which widens your margin without slowing guests down noticeably, because the car is parked all night anyway.
Other things to check before choosing a charger
Tethered or untethered
A tethered charger has its own cable attached, so guests just plug in. An untethered charger has a socket, and guests use their own cable. For holiday lets, tethered is usually easier, because not every guest carries a Type 2 cable.
Your existing supply and fuse
Our installation partner will check that your main fuse and consumer unit can handle an extra 32A load. Smart chargers with load management can reduce charging speed when the kettle, oven and hot tub are all running, so you avoid tripping the main fuse.
Grant funding
Holiday lets count as small accommodation businesses under the government's Workplace Charging Scheme, which covers up to 75% of the cost, capped at £500 per socket, until 31 March 2027. There is no minimum number of parking spaces. You apply for the voucher yourself on GOV.UK, and we guide you through the questions.
FAQ
Is a 7kW charger fast enough for holiday let guests? Yes. Guests usually park for 12 hours or more overnight, and a 7kW charger can fill most EV batteries in that time. It adds roughly 20–30 miles of range per hour.
Will a 22kW charger charge faster on a normal cottage supply? No. Most UK homes and cottages have a single-phase supply, which limits any charger to about 7.4kW. You need a three-phase supply to get 11kW or 22kW.
Can every electric car charge at 22kW? No. Many popular EVs cap AC charging at 11kW, and some at 7kW. The car's onboard charger sets the limit, whatever the wallbox is rated at.
How much does it cost a guest to charge overnight? At a fair guest price of 35–45p per kWh, a typical 42kWh top-up costs about £15–£19. Your cost on a standard tariff is about £10.50–£11.75, so you cover the electricity and make a margin.
Should I upgrade to three-phase for a holiday let charger? Rarely. An upgrade can cost thousands of pounds and won't change much for overnight guests. It's only worth considering if you already have three-phase, or run several units where cars need turning around quickly.
Not sure which charger suits your holiday let? Manta Power arranges smart, guest-pay chargers for holiday let owners across Cornwall, Devon and the South West, fitted by our local installation partners. See the holiday let offer, work out your earnings with our calculator, or call 07441 353701.
