I've recently quoted for two jobs and in both instances none of the other people who quoted mentioned anything to the client about the possibility of an earth rod(s) having to be installed. I asked each client for details of the EV charging unit that was to be installed. All of the units listed would most certainly have required a rod(s). The earthing system for each of the two installations was T-N-CS.
So, either the clients weren't, for whatever reason(s), informed of the need for an earth rod(s), or the installers weren't planning on fitting any. I would be most alarmed indeed if it was the latter and hope that this isn't an ominous warning of corners being cut in order to produce competitive quotes that will win jobs. Alas, I fear it is, and that yet another race to the bottom has begun within the domestic market.
Those of us who are OLEV approved installers can obtain grants on behalf of clients under the Homecharge Scheme. The grant will cover up to 75% of the installation costs of an EV charger up to a maximum of ÂŁ500. As this places non-approved installers at a huge disadvantage when competing for jobs, such installers must either reduce their profit margins in order to compete. One way to do so is to cut corners. The other would be to do the City & Guilds course at a cost ÂŁ400+ and then join either SELECT or NICEIC as OLEV will not approve Scottish contractors who are not a member of either of these two trade bodies.
If an EV charger is to be installed on a T-N-CS system, not only is a rod(s) to be installed, but additional measures also need to be taken. For instance, any class I luminaires that are connected to the T-N-CS system and are located within simultaneous touching distance of the charger, the connection point and the vehicle under charge; would need to be replaced with class II fittings. Any extraneous conductive metalwork such a water or gas pipe would either need to be shielded in a non-conductive enclosure or converted to plastic piping. These arrangements are absolutely vital so to prevent simultaneous contact being made by a person between two different types of earthing systems. A risk-assessment needs to be undertaken. The written risk assessment document should be appended to the Electrical Installation Certificate. For clarity and reference, I have uploaded section 6.8 of the Code of Practice for Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment.
On the basis of what I have seen in the photographs that were uploaded by the OP, I conclude that an earth rod(s) should have been installed. Furthermore, there is no mention in the manufacturer's installation instructions for the EO Mini Pro that their product incorporates any in-built protection that would negate the need for an earth rod(s).
Although the OP has conceded in a previous post that it was him/her who advised the contractor to install the charger in the position that it now occupies, the contractor should nevertheless have been aware of the risks that would ensue from positioning the charging point in a place where it could be used to charge a vehicle located outdoors and should have advised the OP accordingly IMHO.
