New Build or Renovation: Planning Ahead for an EV Charging Station

Building or renovating your home is the ideal opportunity to think about charging your future electric vehicle — even if buying the car isn't on the cards just yet. While the walls are open, the panel accessible and the electrician on site, planning ahead for a charging station costs a fraction of what you'd have to pay later, once everything is sealed up. Here's how to build this reflex into your project, without rushing the purchase of the charging station itself.

Why plan ahead from the construction or renovation stage

The logic is simple: anything involving cabling is far more affordable when the worksite is already open. Running a conduit from the panel to the garage during the structural work is just a few metres of conduit laid alongside the rest of the electrical system. Doing the same job afterwards, in a finished home, often means chasing a wall, crossing a slab or running cables on the surface — a less tidy result and a higher bill.

Planning ahead also keeps your options open. You don't have to install the charging station straight away: preparing the infrastructure lets you decide when the time is right. The day you switch to electric, the installation becomes quick and free of major work.

The right time to think about charging isn't the day you buy the car, but the day you open up the walls. A conduit left ready during the worksite saves you heavy work later on.

Pre-equipment: a ready conduit, electrical provisioning, a properly sized panel

Pre-equipment means preparing for a future charging station without installing it immediately. In practice, it rests on three things to plan for during the works.

• The ready conduit: a dedicated conduit, run from the electrical panel to the location planned for the charging station (garage, façade, carport, outdoor space). You run a cable through it, or simply a draw wire to pull the cable later.
• Electrical provisioning: the space and routing reserved to bring power to the charging point, without having to reopen floors or partitions.
• A properly sized panel: providing, from the design stage of the electrical panel, the room and capacity needed to accommodate the future circuit dedicated to the charging station (circuit breaker, suitable residual-current protection).

The idea is to handle the most demanding part upstream — running the cables and preparing the panel — so that the final installation comes down to fitting the equipment and connecting it.

Thinking about where the charging station will go

Even before running the conduit, it's worth thinking about where the charging station will be fitted: at what height, on which side of the vehicle the charging port sits, and whether you need an outdoor point protected from the weather. A few minutes' thought at this stage avoids a poorly placed cable once the car is parked there day to day.

What the regulations require for new builds

For new single-family homes with parking, French regulations set out a pre-equipment principle: the construction must provide for the means allowing a charging point to be installed later. In other words, the planning described above isn't merely good practice — in principle, it stems from a requirement applicable to new housing.

The precise terms (the exact nature of the means to provide, the cases covered, how it ties in with the building permit) are defined by regulatory texts that may change. Rather than relying on a threshold or wording heard here or there, the right reflex is to have the exact rule applicable to your project checked, according to the regulations in force at the time of your construction.

The pre-equipment obligation for new homes with parking exists in principle. The application details evolve: have what applies to your worksite confirmed by your builder, your project manager or a qualified professional.

In practice, a serious builder factors this into the project without you having to ask. But it's wise to check explicitly: this is the kind of detail that sometimes slips through the cracks on a worksite.

Sizing the installation for the future

Planning ahead isn't just about laying a conduit: it also means providing the right electrical capacity. Under-sizing today can force costly rework tomorrow.

What power level should you plan for?

The power level for home charging depends on your electricity contract, the nature of your installation and your needs. For a single-family home, a dedicated charging station generally offers significantly more comfortable charging than a simple reinforced socket, provided the installation can keep up. It's therefore better to size the panel and the power supply with some headroom, rather than sticking to the bare minimum.

Single-phase or three-phase?

Most homes are supplied single-phase, which suits many charging uses. Three-phase allows higher charging power levels, but isn't always necessary or available. If your worksite offers the chance to provide for three-phase without an excessive extra cost, it can make for a useful capacity reserve for the future. It's a trade-off to weigh case by case, with your electrician.

• Check the power level of your contract and the headroom available on your meter.
• Provide a dedicated circuit for the charging station, separate from the rest of the installation.
• Reserve room and capacity in the panel for suitable protection.
• Bear in mind a possible second electric vehicle down the line.

Coordinating with the builder and the electrician

This is probably the most important point — and the most often overlooked. The success of pre-equipment hinges on coordination between everyone involved in the worksite. The conduit must be laid in the right place, at the right time, and the panel prepared accordingly.

Several setups are possible depending on your project:

• A home being built with a builder or a project manager: pre-equipment is part of the electrical package. You need to make sure the specifications mention it explicitly.
• A renovation with your own electrician: coordination happens directly, ideally before the walls are closed up.
• Self-build or phased renovation: it's up to you to orchestrate the right sequencing so the conduit and panel are ready at the right moment.

At Volticom, we work in coordination with your electrician or your builder, to agree together on the conduit route, the panel sizing and the location of the future charging station — without stepping on the other trades' work, but ensuring the charging side is carried out to professional standards.

Charging station now, or later?

Once pre-equipment is in place, you have two options.

Installing the charging station immediately makes sense if you already drive electric, or if you plan to do so in the near future. While the worksite is open, you may as well see the process through and enjoy a complete, polished installation as soon as the home is handed over.

Postponing the installation to later is just as valid if the vehicle purchase isn't yet decided. Thanks to pre-equipment, the future installation will simply come down to fitting the charging station and connecting it via the conduit already in place: a quick, tidy job, without breaking anything. That's the whole point of having planned ahead.

In both cases, fitting the charging station itself is best entrusted to an IRVE-qualified installer, a guarantee of a compliant and safe installation.

Financial support: what you need to know (no made-up figures)

Several schemes can ease the cost of installing a home charging station. Their existence, conditions and amounts change regularly: it's therefore essential to check what applies to your situation at the time of your project, rather than relying on an amount heard previously.

• A reduced VAT rate may apply to the supply and fitting of a charging station in a home, subject to conditions. Benefiting from this rate generally requires using a professional for the installation.
• National or local subsidies may exist depending on your situation and your area. Their terms should be confirmed with the relevant bodies.

Using a qualified installer is frequently a condition for accessing certain benefits. That's one more reason to entrust the installation to a certified professional rather than improvising it yourself.

No amount is guaranteed in advance: the schemes change. Have the schemes genuinely applicable to your project confirmed, for guidance only, at the point when you launch the works.

The steps with Volticom

Volticom, an IRVE installer based in Paris, supports homeowners who are building or renovating in planning ahead for their charging station. Our approach is built around a few clear steps.

1. Discussion and assessment: we take stock of your project, your current or future vehicle, and the location you have in mind.
2. Survey and recommendations: conduit route, panel sizing, power-level choice, in coordination with your electrician or your builder.
3. Free quote: a clear proposal, whether for pre-equipment alone or for the full charging station installation.
4. Completion: installation carried out by an IRVE-qualified professional, in compliance with the standards in force.
5. Commissioning and support: checks, an explanation of how it works, and follow-up.

Our installations are covered by AXA insurance and we hold professional liability cover with AXA — peace of mind for equipment built to last.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to install a charging station in a new home?

No. The regulations are concerned, in principle, with pre-equipment — that is, preparing the infrastructure — and not with an obligation to fit a charging station immediately. The exact terms should be checked according to the regulations in force for your construction.

How much does pre-equipment cost compared with a later installation?

Pre-equipment carried out during the worksite comes out significantly cheaper than an installation undertaken once the home is finished, because it avoids rework. The exact cost depends on your setup; we assess it with a free quote.

Can I have the conduit laid by my own electrician?

Yes. We're happy to work in coordination with the electrician or builder on your worksite. The key is to agree together on the route, the sizing and the schedule before the walls are closed up.

Do I need an IRVE-qualified installer for the charging station?

For fitting a dedicated charging station, using an IRVE-qualified installer is the benchmark for compliance and safety, and is frequently a condition for benefiting from certain advantages. Volticom is QUALIFELEC IRVE qualified.

—

Building or renovating? It's the ideal time to plan ahead for your future charging station, without rushing the purchase of your vehicle. Volticom offers you a free assessment and quote, in coordination with your worksite, to prepare today for a tidy, compliant installation that's ready for tomorrow. Get in touch to talk it through.

Can I install my charging station myself?

Beyond a simple reinforced socket, installing a dedicated charging station must be entrusted to an IRVE-qualified professional: this guarantees an installation compliant with the NF C 15-100 standard, with the suitable 30 mA Type B residual-current circuit breaker. It's also frequently a condition for benefiting from the ADVENIR scheme (subject to its rules) and eligibility. Volticom, QUALIFELEC IRVE and RGE qualified, handles it entirely.

How long between the quote and fitting the charging station?

After your request, we draw up a free, detailed quote within 48 hours, across France, with no commitment on your part. Once the quote is approved and the pre-equipment is in place, fitting the charging station generally takes half a day. We agree the date with you so it fits seamlessly into your worksite schedule.

How much does it cost to install a home charging station?

The price depends on your setup: cable length, panel type, power level chosen (7.4, 11 or 22 kW) and pre-equipment work already carried out or not. We never quote a figure at random: we cost your project precisely and free of charge within 48 hours, across France. You receive a clear, detailed quote to compare with complete peace of mind.

What charging station power should I choose for my home: 7.4, 11 or 22 kW?

The choice depends on your electricity contract, the type of supply (single-phase or three-phase) and your daily needs. 7.4 kW covers overnight charging in a single-phase home very well, while 11 or 22 kW generally requires three-phase. We study your installation and recommend the most appropriate power level, without oversizing unnecessarily.

What happens if my charging station breaks down after installation?

Our installations come with a decennial liability insurance policy with AXA, subject to the declared activities, limits and terms of the current insurance certificate and we hold professional liability cover with AXA. If there's a problem, our after-sales service stays responsive to diagnose and resolve it. You're investing in durable equipment, backed by genuine follow-up after the installation.

Does Volticom operate everywhere in France to install my charging station?

Yes. From our head office in Paris, we cover the whole country through our network of certified partner installers. Whether you're building or renovating, you benefit from the same level of rigour: an installation compliant with standards, optional management of load shedding and kWh re-billing, and a free quote within 48 hours, across France wherever you are.