More sustainable travel with Cala and EV charging

All new Cala homes will feature EV charging stations, where possible. This is a huge step forward in helping our customers who want to buy an electric vehicle to reduce their carbon footprint and reduce their fuel costs.

Looking at the UK’s annual carbon footprint, transport is responsible for 27% of total UK greenhouse gas emissions, and 55% of that comes from cars, so addressing this is critical if the UK wants to meet its net-zero targets.

With around 395,000 pure electric vehicles on the road in the UK in 2021, this number is predicted to rise to 36 million by 2040.

What are they key benefits?

A future-proofed home
Significantly reduce air pollution
Fuel cost on average around 80% less than a fossil fuel powered vehicle
On average, up to 60% lower lifetime emissions compared to a similar size diesel car

EV charging FAQs

Electric vehicle charging is already being successfully used by Cala customers across many of our developments, but as with all new technology, there can be some confusion around terminology, equipment and maintenance, so we’ve answered some of the key questions homebuyers might have, including:

Does Cala currently provide EV chargers?

All new Cala homes will feature EV charging stations (where possible) helping our customers who want to buy an electric vehicle to reduce their carbon footprint, and even their fuel costs too.

On some developments, the timing of our planning approval or local infrastructure constraints mean we have been unable to install EV charging points. In cases where homes have unallocated parking, there will be provisions for EV charging within the development.

You should speak with the Cala sales consultants at your chosen Cala development to confirm the features available on your preferred home.

Will an EV increase my electricity bill?

Everyone charging their electric vehicle at home will see an increase in their electricity usage, however you will still save money compared to the cost of fuel and there are a number of specialist electric car energy tariffs available, which can help you save on bills.

If using a pure electric vehicle, the overall running costs can be up to 80% less than a petrol or diesel vehicle. Using a smart EV charger encourages cheaper, off-peak charging and helps minimise the impact of electric vehicles on the grid by reducing demand peaks on the grid.

How are they maintained?

The EV chargers we install for private use come with a five year guarantee and no maintenance is required on the chargers.

Is it safe to charge my EV at night?

Yes, and you could also benefit from cheaper, flexible tariffs.

Are electric cars better for the environment?

Electric vehicles are far better for air quality and the environment given there are zero tailpipe emissions. In 2024, 51% of energy in Britain was produced from zero carbon renewables and the last coal power plant in Britain closed.

A common myth around electric cars is that they are not really “greener” once emissions from manufacture and electricity generation are counted. This has been proven to be wrong with new research from the Universities of Exeter, Nijmegen - in The Netherlands - and Cambridge proving that the average “lifetime“ emissions from electric cars are up to 70% lower than petrol cars in countries like Sweden and France (where most electricity comes from renewables and nuclear), and around 30% lower in the UK.

The average EV pays off its “carbon debt” at around 13,000 miles, less than two years for the average driver.

What EV charger will Cala provide?

There are three levels of EV charging: slow, fast and rapid, and generally speaking, the higher the power output, the faster your vehicle will charge.

Charging carried out at home is generally done using 'Slow' chargers, with 'Fast' and 'Rapid' chargers being found in public and private charging stations.

The electric vehicle charger provided for Cala homes, installed either on the outside wall of the property or garage, will be a 'slow', untethered unit, guaranteeing that the charger is universal and futureproofed for our customers. In cases where an individual EV charger is unable to be supplied, due to unallocated parking for example, then a shared communal charger will be available.

Electric Vehicle Charging

Customers should speak with their Cala Homes sales consultant and read the specifications for their chosen development to see what green technology, including EV charging, is available and suitable for their home. To learn more about our green ambitions check out our sustainability page.

Our Sustainability Strategy lays out a roadmap to achieve our aims of achieving net-zero operational greenhouse gas emissions across our business by 2030. Aligned with this, we will ensure that all new Cala homes are net-zero enabled ahead of 2030, and we have also set a wider target of net-zero total greenhouse gas emissions across the business by 2045. This includes the embodied carbon of our construction, and the ongoing life-cycle emissions of our homes.

As part of this, not only must we strive to build homes that are more sustainable, we must also give our customers the tools and technology they need to operate their homes with zero emissions.

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