Installation & Power
What an EV Charger Installation Quote Should Include
A checklist for comparing EV charger installation quotes: survey, supply work, cable and protection, civil works, commissioning, exclusions and warranty.
- Prepared by
- VULTAE Engineering Team
- Published
- Reading time
- 1 min
- Sources
- —
Key takeaways
- 1A good quote starts from a site survey and lists what is included, what is not and what depends on conditions found on site. A one-line price for “installation of a charger” is not comparable.
- 2The big variables are the cable run, the state of the supply, civil works and approvals. Ask each installer to price them separately.
- 3Compare quotes line by line, not by total: a cheap quote with long exclusions often costs more by the end of the job.
Contents
Short answer: a comparable installation quote follows a site survey and itemises supply work, cable and protection, mounting and civil works, commissioning, approvals, exclusions and warranty. Compare quotes line by line, and ask what happens if conditions on site differ from the survey.
The lines a quote should have
| Line | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Site survey | Done, dated, with photos and measurements |
| Supply and board | Capacity check, spare ways, any upgrade priced separately |
| Circuit | Breaker, residual current protection, cable size and length — see wire size |
| Protection | Surge protection, earthing check — see earthing systems |
| Mounting | Wall, post or plinth; fixings; cable management |
| Civil works | Trenching, ducts, concrete, reinstatement |
| Communication | Ethernet, Wi-Fi or 4G set-up if the charger is smart |
| Commissioning | Tests and a signed record — see commissioning checklist |
| Approvals | Utility notification, permits, who files them |
| Warranty | Duration and scope for workmanship |
Questions that expose the difference between quotes
- What is included in the price and what is a provisional sum?
- What happens if the cable run is longer than surveyed?
- Who pays for a supply upgrade if one is needed?
- Are tests and documentation included?
- What response time applies to faults after handover?
Red flags
- A price with no survey.
- No mention of protection devices or tests.
- “Installation” and “supply of charger” mixed in one line.
- No written exclusions.
Normalising two quotes
Put the same items in two columns: hardware, cable, protection, civil works, commissioning, approvals, warranty. Add a row for the exclusions of each. The lower total is often the quote with more exclusions.
For larger projects, link the installation quote to your commissioning and maintenance plan and keep the installation requirements guide with the contract.
Questions buyers ask
- Should the installer visit the site before quoting?
- Yes. A quote without a survey is a guess. The installer should check the supply, the board, the cable route and the mounting position.
- What is usually excluded from a quote?
- Common exclusions are supply upgrades, utility fees, trenching in hard ground, permits, and making good after building work. Ask for each to be named.
- Who supplies the charger?
- It can be the installer or you. Say so in the quote, together with who handles warranty claims on the charger and on the installation.
