With the proliferation of electric cars on our roads, their owners are increasingly installing charging stations at home. But how does it work with insurance in case of problems? Answer in our file.
Today, when the transition to greener mobility is accelerating, more and more manufacturers are offering electric cars, as you can see regularly if you keep a close eye on the news on Survoltés.
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Thanks to financial availability, which is generally going in the right direction (several new electric cars are coming with a price below 25,000 euros), electric cars are gaining popularity. With this transition, many EV owners are seriously considering installing home charging stations to meet their practical needsespecially if they live in an area with a low density of public terminals.
However, there are several questions that may arise about these famous home charging stations, starting with insurance. The arrival of charging stations in homes remains something completely new, and therefore we will see what specific insurance can be associated with these installations.
Advantages of having a charging station at home
As mentioned above, for EV owners, having a charging station at home offers an unrivaled level of convenience and comfortespecially if they don’t have a charging station in the office or close to home.
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This allows the car battery to be recharged at any time, whether overnight or off-peak, ensuring that the vehicle is ready for use every morning without any unpleasant surprises. Having your own charging station in your garage (or attached to your house) eliminates several risks, especially the public terminal not working or even having to leave your car in an unattended parking lot.
From a financial point of view, of course, these are also significant advantages, as recharging at a public terminal (of course faster) is much more expensive than recharging at home, according to the operators. Plus, you won’t need to subscribe to one of the (countless) subscriptions to access these famous public terminals.
Having a charging station at home today means, depending on the terminal models, also benefiting from a two-way system. which enables the redistribution of excess energy to the electrical gridwhich can even generate income for the owners. The car can also serve as a generator and power the house for several hours, especially after a power outage. Renault has also announced a similar system for its future electric R5.
However, do not forget that it is necessary to call a certified electrician to install an electric charging station in your home. Correct and safe installation is essential to avoid the risk of overheating and malfunction. We also offer you a specific file regarding different charging stations for your home.
Is it necessary to insure your charging station?
When it comes to insuring home electric charging stations, it makes sense to take steps to cover potential repair and maintenance costs.
However, it is generally not necessary to take out specific insurance for the installation itself, because even if it is a relatively expensive device to acquire (depending on the model), it is generally guaranteed by the manufacturer and can intervene in the event of a breakdown or failure.
What charging station insurance should I take out?
Insurance conditions for electric charging stations differ depending on the type of installation. When the terminal is mounted on a wall inside the main residence, it is often covered by home insurance. By being connected to the structure of the house, the charging station becomes an integral part of the insured property.
However, it is recommended to have comprehensive home insurance to guarantee full coverage in the event of damage. This helps ensure coverage for damage caused by events such as fire or flood.
Where the charging point is outside the home, such as in a detached garage, outbuilding or garden, it is likely that it will not automatically be covered by standard home insurance. In these cases, it is advisable to log in specific household insurance for the area where the installation is located.
I installed the charging station myself: what are the risks in relation to home insurance?
As mentioned above, the installation of a home charging station must meet the technical requirements that are reserved qualified IRVE electricians (for electric vehicle charging infrastructure).
Among the incidents that are likely to occur due to a charging station that does not comply with current technical standards are far at the top of the list, fire hazard. Now you are sure that the risk of fire is covered by home insurance? You are right, but you also know that the insurer may not see everything the same way as you.
By law, a charging station is a device that must only be installed by a qualified IRVE professional. This is an experienced or qualified electrician who has completed training related to electric vehicle charging infrastructure and which is able to put into practice the technical standards required by law for this type of installation.
Please note, however, that the obligation to call an IRVE electrician does not apply that the installation of a Wallbox with a power of more than 3.7 kW. Below this threshold, it is entirely possible to call in an unqualified electrician. However, they still need to know the NF 15-100 standard applicable to all charging points for electric cars.
If your terminal was not installed by a licensed electrician, you risk losing your warrantiesstarting with the vehicle manufacturer’s warranty for battery problems, while your home insurance won’t cover it.
Generally speaking, the fire guarantee undertakes to compensate the damage regardless of the origin of the loss: whether it is a faulty electrical circuit, a fire in the kitchen or a failure of the charging station. However, insurers tend to distinguish between unforeseeable damage and damage that is the result of the insured’s recklessness.
It’s a bit in the same vein as burglary insurance. The expert will determine whether the break-in occurred because of a window left open by the resident or if a break-in actually occurred. for this reason does not cover a fire that occurs as a result of the use of a non-compliant terminal.
And of course, even if a non-compliant terminal does not cause damage, its mere presence in the home represents a high risk that will be taken into account by the insurer when determining the premium.
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