Petrol purveyor Ampol has said its AmpCharge branded home EV charger is ready for purchase and installation across Australia.
It was in July last year when Ampol announced a partnership with Australian EV charger manufacturer EVOS involving EVOS’s SB7 home unit, which has been generally available since December 2023. We have the SB7 listed on SQ’s home EV charger comparison table.
“We are continuing to grow our range of electric vehicle charging solutions as part of our commitment to supporting customers through the energy transition,” said Ampol’s Brent Merrick yesterday.
AmpCharge/EVOS SB7 Specs
Whether it’s AmpCharge or EVOS branded, basic specifications look to be the same:
- 7 kW charging power
- Type 2 connector
- 5 metre tethered charging cable
- Wi-Fi enabled
- OCPP 1.6j compatibility
- Operating Temperature range from -30°C to 50°C
- Dimensions: (W) 360 x (D) 83mm
- Weight: 3.5kg
- IP65 Ingress Protection
And here’s how the units look side-by-side.
And here’s what’s inside the SB7 box so to speak – there really isn’t much in the guts of a home EV charger.
EVOS branded chargers come with access to the MyEVOS app for management from wherever you are, whereas AmpCharge customers will be provided access to the AmpCharge Driver Portal.
For owners of solar power systems, when the SB7 is paired with the MyEVOS web app and an EVOS current meter, charging can be matched to your solar energy production. I couldn’t find mention of such functionality on Ampol’s pages or determine if there are other features in the MyEVOS web app not available in the Driver Portal. But the Portal *may* just be a re-skinned version of MyEVOS.
Charger And Installation Cost
Customers are able to purchase an AmpCharge home EV charger directly from the AmpCharge website. Ampol is currently offering it for $1,299 including a $200 limited time discount, and a bonus $50 AmpolCash digital gift card that can be spent on selected goods or services at Ampol outlets. We have the EVO SB7 currently listed at an estimated retail price of $1,400.
Ampol is also offering an installation service. Pricing through its installer network starts from $1,100 for a standard installation, which includes up to 20 meters of wall/ceiling mounted cable, and supply and install of a safety switch and circuit breaker. Or you could use your own suitably qualified installer.
“We’ve always kept in step with Australians as their needs change – so now we’re not just providing the best in fuel technology, we’re also providing the power Australians need, where they need it,” says Ampol.
The company is also rolling out a national network of “on the road” chargers providing up to 150-300kW of power, both at its service stations and at other public destinations. Additionally, the firm is getting into the retail electricity game, initially offering plans in South-East Queensland and New South Wales.
As for EVOS, it was founded in 2020 by CEO Marcelo Salgado; Chief Experience & Innovation Officer Seshan Weeratunga, and Chief Technology Officer Chris Crossman. The company initially raised $1.7 million to help it expand and take its tech commercial, and in July this year completed a funding round; securing a further $5 million from existing investors.
Looking for a home EV charger but don’t know where to start? SQ’s comprehensive and easy-to-understand guide covers selecting and installing a device, plus integrating it with a solar power system. And we can connect you to trusted installers to recommend, supply and install a solution best suited to your circumstances.
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It is a very interesting development to see the increasing depth of Ampol’s commitment in this space, it is of course in start contrast to the others being Mobil affiliated 7-Eleven (next to nothing), Shell/Viva (what is an EV?) and BP (we used to get green..now…not so much), Chevron/Puma/Caltex (nada). Whereas some incumbents have their heads in the sand, Ampol is pushing back against the instincts of legacy providers to try new things, probing the market for ways to fit in with us as consumers.
It’s too expensive, is Ampol trying to regain some of the profits lost from petrol sales? I’ve recently bought a 22kw solar compatible 3 phase charger with a 7m cable and all the bells and whistles from Australia for a little over $1000.
As an Ampol Energy residential customer I think their ambition is running ahead of their ability to deliver. Their App does not track daily usage, they offer a 10c a litre discount off petrol but no discounts off their AmpCharge charging. The deal is good though but missing some pretty basic features. They really are in a unique position to offer a very comprehensive solution for EV drivers if they pull it all together. I hope they keep at it.