• 🏠
• EV Chargers

EV CHARGERS: Everything You Need to Know (Prices, Charge Speeds, Brands)

Last Updated: 15th Nov 2024 By Finn Peacock, Chartered Electrical Engineer

Choosing the right charger is important.

This guide covers selecting and installing home EV chargers, plus integrating them with solar. I’ll also explain how your charger can work with home batteries and variable electricity tariffs when you can’t charge directly from solar.

But if you’re in a hurry and just want to know the best EV home chargers to buy in Australia, here are the details.

EV Charger Comparison Table

Compare EV charger prices and specifications side-by-side. This comparison tool lists standard and smart electric vehicle charging solutions currently available in Australia.

Product Name

Product Name	Tesla Gen 3 Wall Connector	myenergi Zappi	ABB Terra Wallbox	Delta AC MAX (smart) Delta AC MAX (smart) Delta AC MAX (basic)	EO Mini Pro 2 EO Mini Pro 2 EO Basic	EVNex E2	EVOS Fleet22 EVOS Fleet22 EVOS SB7	Evtek Huzzah Pro	Fronius Wattpilot	Goodwe HCA Series	JET Charge ChargeMate	KEBA KeContact P30 a-series KEBA KeContact P30 a-series KEBA KeContact P30 c-series KEBA KeContact P30 x-series	Ocular IQ Solar Ocular IQ Solar Ocular LTE	Ohme Home Pro Ohme Home Pro Ohme ePod	Scame BE-W Net	Schneider Charge	Smappee EV Wall	SolarEdge Home EV Charger	Solis EV Link	Soltaro EV Charger	Teltonika TeltoCharge	Victron EV Charging Station	Wallbox Pulsar Plus	Weidmuller AC SMART	ZJ Beny AC EV Charger	Sigenstor EV DC charging module Sigenstor EV DC charging module Sigenergy AC EV Charger
Manufacturer Logo
Product Image
Product variant	Wall Connector Single-phaseWall Connector Three-phase	Zappi single-phaseZappi three-phase	Terra AC W7Terra AC W11Terra AC W22	AC MAX Single PhaseAC MAX Three Phase	Mini Pro 2	E2-25SN	Fleet22	Evtek Huzzah Pro single phaseEvtek Huzzah Pro three phase	WATTPILOT HOME 22 J	GW7K-HCAGW11K-HCAGW22K-HCA	ChargeMate Single PhaseChargeMate Three Phase	a-series EN Type2 1p 6m Cable 7.4kWa-series EN Type2 3p 6m Cable 11kWa-series EN Type2 3p 6m Cable 22kW	IOCAH10R-7S / IOCAH10R-7TIOCAH10R-22S / IOCAH10R-22T	HP5-07AU-WI-BLSTD-01	BE-W Net Single PhaseBE-W Net Three Phase	Schneider Charge	EV Wall single-phaseEV Wall three-phase	EVSA-32A-01	Solis EV Link single phaseSolis EV Link three phase	7kW22kW	EVC 100EVC 110EVC 120	EV Charging Station	Pulsar Plus single phasePulsar Plus three phase	CH-W-S-A7.4-P-ECH-W-S-A11-PCH-W-S-A22-P	AC EV Charger - Single PhaseAC EV Charger - Three Phase	SigenStor EVDC 12.5SigenStor EVDC 25
Price (Approx. AUD price RRP inc. GST)	$800	$1,595	$2,000	$1,990	$1,495	$1,395	$1,800	$1,975	$1,800	$850	$2,000	$2,000	$1,600	$1,395	$1,800	$1,500	$1,729	$2,000	$2,100	$1,050	$1,450	$1,200	$1,549	$800	$750	$6,700
Single phase or three phase?	Single-phase	Single-phase	Single phase	Single-phase	Single-phase	Single-phase	Both	Single phase	Both	Single phase	Single-phase	Single-phase	Single-phase	Single phase	Single phase	Both	Single-phase	Single phase	Single phase	Single phase	Single phase	Both	Single-phase	Single phase	Single phase	Both
Rated power	7 kW	7 kW	7.4 kW	7.4 kW	7.2 kW	7.4 kW	7-22kW	7.4 kW	22 kW	7 kW	7 kW	7.4 kW	7 kW	7.4 kW	7.4 kW	7-22 kW	7 kW	7.4 kW	7.4 kW	7kW	7.4 kW	22kW	7.4 kW	7kW	7.4kW	12.5 kW
Rated current	32 A	32A max	32A	32 A	32 A	32 A	32A	32A	6-32 A	32 A	32A	32A	32 A	32A	32A	16-32 A	32 A	32A	32A	32A	32A	32A	32 A	32A	32A	40A
Country of manufacture	China	United Kingdom	Italy	Unknown - manufacturer unresponsive	United Kingdom	New Zealand	Australia	Europe / Poland	Austria	China	Unknown - manufacturer unresponsive	Austria	China	China	Italy	China	Belgium	Unknown - manufacturer unresponsive	Taiwan	China	Lithuania	Netherlands	Spain	Germany	China	China
Enclosure dimensions	345 x 155 x 110 mm	439 x 282 x 122mm	320 x 195 x 110 mm	218 x 371 x 167 mm	175mm x 125mm x 125mm	286 x 185 x 66 mm	380 x 100mm	400mm x 300mm x 145mm	155 x 110 x 260 mm	208 × 450 × 150	380 x 180 x 130 mm	516 x 240 x 166 mm	269 x 360 x 146 mm	200 x 170 x 100 mm	235 x 370 x 115 mm	352 x 244 x 117 mm	300 × 300 × 110 mm	309 x 190 x 154 mm	380mm x 250mm x 140mm	368 x 168 x 215 mm	170 mm x 341 mm x 94 mm	390 x 300 x 150 mm	166 x 163 x 82 mm	268 x 433 x 150 mm	169 x 380 x 151 mm	700 x 270 x 260
Weight	6.8 kg	5.5 kg	6.5 kg	3.8 kg	1.3 kg	2.3 kg	6.5 kg	9.8 kg inc cable	2 kg	6 kg	3 kg	7.8 kg	7.6 kg	4 kg	6.2 kg	3.2 kg	9.8 kg	2.85 kg	6.5kg	8 kg	2.8 kg	3 kg	2 kg	5.1 kg	9 kg	40 kg
PIN/physical lock?	No	Yes	No	No	Unknown - manufacturer unresponsive	No	Lock via app/VID to authorised user	Yes	Yes	Yes	Unknown - manufacturer unresponsive	Unknown - manufacturer unresponsive	Yes	No	No	Yes	Unknown - manufacturer unresponsive	Yes	Yes	Optional	Card authorisation	Unknown - manufacturer unresponsive	Yes	RFID on "Value" and "Advanced" models	Yes	RFID
Multi-user support	Yes	No	No	Yes (RFID card)	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Unknown - manufacturer unresponsive	Unknown - manufacturer unresponsive	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Unknown - manufacturer unresponsive	No	Optional	Yes	No	Yes (Super-user can create multiple user profiles for different people)	On "Advanced" model	Yes	No
Charge cable length	7.3 meters	6.5 meters	5m or 7.6m	5 meters	5 meters	5 meter, 8 meter	5 or 6 meters	5 meters	N/A	6 meters	Unknown - manufacturer unresponsive	6 meters	5 meters	5m / 8m	4m (single phase) 4m/7.5m (three phase)	Untethered, 5m cable or 7m cable	8 meters	7.6 m	5 meters	6m default	5m	N/A	5 meters (optional 7 meters)	5m, 7m, 10m	6 meters	5 / 7.5 m
Display	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	LED colour status	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes - LCD Screen and LED charging status bar	Yes	Yes (LEDs)	No	No	Yes	LEDs	No	Yes	No	No	Yes - charging indicator	LED
Standby power consumption	< 5W	3W	<5W	< 2.6 W	< 5W	<4 W	<8W	<5W	< 5W	<6 W	Unknown - manufacturer unresponsive	< 2W	Unknown - manufacturer unresponsive	<5W	<5 W	<3W	< 5W	<5 W	<5W	2W	4W	<5W	5W	<5W	< 5W	<5W
Charging modes	Fast, scheduled	3 mode - Eco, Eco+, Fast	Unknown - manufacturer unresponsive	Unknown - manufacturer unresponsive	Solar-only, fast	Solar-only, Solar with Grid Fallback, Fast and Dynamic Load Balancing	Solar only, Dynamic Load Balancing, Time Schedule, Tariff Schedule, Load Balancing.	Solar/Fast/Dynamic load balancing	Eco Mode, Next-Trip Mode (both use Solar Surplus), Time Scheduler	Fast charge, charging from PV only and charging from PV & Battery only.	Unknown - manufacturer unresponsive	Unknown - manufacturer unresponsive	Unknown - manufacturer unresponsive	Dynamic Load Balancing & Solar Compatible	Ecoplus, Ecosmart, Full	Custom schedule, "Reduce my bill" mode, dynamic load balancing	Solar-only, scheduled, fast	Smart schedules, excess solar charging	Solar/Fast	Full Speed, Solar Optimised, Hybrid	Solar/Dynamic load balancing	Manual mode/Automatic mode	Power boost, Eco-smart, Eco-mode	Solar, fast	Multiple - see datasheet	Fast, eco
Solar Smart Charging	No	Yes	With additional hardware	Yes	Yes (extra cost)	Yes	Yes	Yes (extra cost)	Yes	Yes - only if paired with a Goodwe inverter	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes - requires additional hardware	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	On "Value" and "Advanced" models	Yes	Yes
Internet connection?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
App control	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
3 to 1 phase smart switching	No	Yes	Unknown - manufacturer unresponsive	No	Unknown - manufacturer unresponsive	No	Yes	Unknown - manufacturer unresponsive	Yes	No	Unknown - manufacturer unresponsive	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Unknown - manufacturer unresponsive	No	Yes	Not yet - hardware upgrade due Q2 2024	Unknown - manufacturer unresponsive	On "Value" and "Advanced" models	Unknown - manufacturer unresponsive	Yes
OCPP1.6 compatible?	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes (upgradable to 2.0)	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Not yet - software update due 'soon'	Yes	On "Value" and "Advanced" models	Yes	Yes
IP rating	IP 55	IP 65	IP 54	IP 55	IP 54	IP 55	IP 65	IP 54	IP 55	IP 66	IP 54	IP 54	IP 54	IP55	IP54	IP 55	IP 54	IP 54	IP 55	IP 65	IP 55	IP 44	IP 54	IP 54	IP55	IP 66
Operating temperature	-30 °C to 50 °C	-25°C to +40°C	-35 - +50 °C	-30 ºC to +50 ºC	-10 °C to 50 °C	-25°C to 55°C	-25 °C to 55 °C	-30 ºC to +70 ºC	-25 ºC to +40 ºC	-30 ~ +50 C	0 ºC to +50 ºC	-25 °C to +40 °C	-30 ºC to 50 ºC	-25°C to 45°C	-30°C to +50°C	-30 ºC to 50 ºC	-25 °C to 40 °C	-30~50°C	-30 ºC to +55 ºC	-25-55 C	-30ºC - +50ºC	-25 - +50 °C	-25 ºC to 50 ºC	-30 °C to +50 °C	-25°C - +55°C	-30 - +60 °C
Bi-directional?	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes
Warranty (years)	4 years	3 years	2 years	2 years	3 years	3 years	2 years	3 years	2 years	2	3 years	2 years	2 years	3 years from installation date	4 years	2 years	3 years	3 years	3 years	3 years	3 years	5 years	2 years	2 years	3 years	3 years
On our recommended chart?	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes
Notes						Free Evnex Residential App, Carbon Tracking, Electricity Tariff Setting, Charging Session History, and Charging Schedule.	Free "MyEVOS" app for stop/start/restart, tariff selection and historical charging data											If you have a SolarEdge Genesis inverter, you need to pay $300 to unlock the "Genesis Enhancement Pack" before this charger can be used as part of your system.							Available both tethered and untethered	Module of the Sigenstor all-in-one battery. Must be paired with the Sigen Energy Controller (inverter).
Datasheet Supplied?	Tesla Wall Connector datasheet	Zappi datasheet	ABB Terra Wallbox datasheet	Delta AC Max datasheet	EO Mini Pro 2 datasheet	EVNex E2 datasheet	EVOS Fleet22 datasheet	Evtek Huzzah Pro datasheet	Fronius Wattpilot datasheet	Goodwe HCA datasheet	JET Charge ChargeMate datasheet	Yes	Yes	Yes	Scame BE-W Net datasheet	Schneider Charge datasheet	Smappee EV Wall datasheet	SolarEdge Home EV Charger datasheet	Solis EV Link datasheet	Soltaro EV Charger datasheet	Teltonika TeltoCharge datasheet	Victron EV Charging Station datasheet	Wallbox Pulsar Plus datasheet	Weidmuller AC SMART datasheet	ZJ Beny AC EV Charger datasheet	Yes
Warranty Supplied?	Tesla Wall Connector warranty	Zappi warranty	ABB Terra Wallbox warranty	Delta AC Max warranty	No	EVNex E2 warranty	EVOS Fleet22 warranty	Evtek Huzzah Pro warranty	Fronius Wattpilot warranty	Goodwe HCA warranty	JET Charge ChargeMate warranty	No	Yes	Yes	Scame BE-W Net warranty	Schneider Charge warranty	Smappee EV Wall warranty	SolarEdge Home EV Charger warranty	No	Soltaro EV Charger warranty	Teltonika TeltoCharge warranty	Victron EV Charging Station warranty	Wallbox Pulsar Plus warranty	Weidmuller AC SMART warranty	ZJ Beny AC EV Charger warranty	Yes
Modern slavery statement or forced labour policies?	Tesla modern slavery statement.	MyEnergi modern slavery statement.	ABB modern slavery statement	Delta modern slavery statement	No response from manufacturer.	Under development as of September 2023	Yes, here	No response from manufacturer.	Fronius modern slavery statement.	Goodwe modern slavery statement.	No response from manufacturer.	No response from manufacturer.	Yes, here.	Yes, here	No response from manufacturer.	Schneider modern slavery statement.	No response from manufacturer.	SolarEdge modern slavery statement.	No response from manufacturer.	Soltaro modern slavery statement.	No response from manufacturer.	No response from manufacturer.	Wallbox modern slavery statement.	Yes, here	Yes, here	TBD
More information on brand	Here	Here	Here	Here	Here	Here	Here	Here	Here	Here	Here	Here	Here	Here	Here	Here	Here	Here	Here	Here	Here	Here	Here	Here	Here	Here

Print Table Export To Excel Expand

What kind of spreadsheet would you like?

• For Analysts

  One product per row, with no images

• For Consumers

  (Easy to browse)

  One product per column, with product images

1. Why Your Home EV Charger Matters
2. Understanding kW And kWh And Why It Matters With EV Chargers
3. How Home EV Chargers Work
4. Choosing The Right EV Charger For Your Home
5. EV Charger Costs: Hardware And Installation
6. Technical Considerations
7. Understanding EV Charger Warranties
8. Integrating Your EV Charger With Solar And Home Batteries
9. Optional vs Essential EV Charger Features
10. EV Charger Brands Available In Australia
11. Best EV Chargers On The Australian Market?
12. EV Charger Location: Garage or Driveway?
13. Bi-Directional EV Chargers
14. FAQs
15. Conclusion
16. EV Charger Quotes
17. Helpful Links

Why Your Home EV Charger Matters

A good EV charger does more than fill your car battery as fast as possible; it optimises your charging to automatically charge from solar and/or cheap overnight electricity, dodging peak electricity rates, which can be up to ten times more expensive.

Pro-Tip: If you have a home battery, a well-integrated EV charger charges your car without draining your home battery’s energy. An EV charger that’s not properly integrated will simply drain your home battery into the car’s battery, leaving your home dependent on the grid overnight.

If you simply buy a cheap charger online and then ask your local sparky to install it – it won’t be configured to play nice with your electricity tariff, solar or home battery. This guide will show you how to choose the right EV charger and find an electrician who knows how to install it properly.

Understanding kW And kWh And Why It Matters With EV Chargers

In this guide, I’ll regularly use two key terms: power (kW) and energy (kWh). The little ‘h’ at the end changes the meaning completely.

In the realm of EV charging:

• Power (kW) indicates the charging speed for your EV’s battery, ranging from 2 kW to 22 kW for home setups.
• Energy (kWh) measures your battery’s storage capacity, with each kWh enabling approximately 6 km of driving.

The terms ‘Power’ and ‘Energy’ are not interchangeable when talking about EV charging.

An example: if your EV charger charges at a power (AKA speed) of:

• 7 kW
• for 2 hours

…you will get 14 kWh of energy into your car’s battery.

How Home EV Chargers Work

EV chargers use either alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) to charge your car’s battery.

Almost all home EV chargers use AC. They convert AC power from the grid to DC power, which is compatible with the EV battery.

That sets home EV chargers apart from the fastest public chargers, which operate on DC electricity and can charge up to 50 times faster than a typical home charger.

Nerd Fact: Can you install a DC fast charger at home? Yes! As a part of Sigenergy’s Sigenstor all-in-1 battery, you get a 25 kW bi-directional DC charger, which is the fastest home EV charger currently available in Australia. Find out more in the video below:

A Home EV Charger Is Not An ‘EV Charger‘

Although the device on your wall is commonly referred to as an EV charger, the actual charging system—responsible for converting your home’s AC electricity into DC electricity and safely feeding it into the battery is built into your car:

The onboard charger looks something like this:

Onboard EV charger power ranges from 2 kW to 22 kW, depending on the car model.

The charging station on your wall is technically called an EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment). It works like this:

• the charger inside your car tells the EVSE how much power (kW) it can take
• then, the EVSE supplies power to the car’s charger, but only up to that limit

Choosing The Right EV Charger For Your Home

Slow Trickle Chargers (Level 1 EV Chargers)

Trickle chargers come for free with most cars, except Teslas. They start at $350 when bought separately (Tesla’s ‘Mobile Connector’ costs $550). Because they plug into a standard power point, they don’t require installation (unless you need to install a new power point where you park the car).

Pro-Tip: Extension Cords. Be careful using an extension cord to power your EV. Consider investing in a dedicated power point close to the car for regular charging. If you must use an extension cord – please read our in-house electrician’s advice on the safer way to charge with an extension cord.

A standard power point is limited to providing 10A of current.

10A x 230V = 2.3 kW.

That means trickle chargers charge at about 2 kW.

If your car has a small 60 kWh battery (e.g. Tesla Model 3 RWD), that’s 30 hours to fully charge.

Trickle charging limitations

Trickle chargers are painfully slow unless you have a small battery or don’t drive much. The charge rate is equivalent to adding 10 km of range every hour.

If you’re using a trickle charger for your car, you might keep it plugged in at home all the time to get as much charge as possible. But, there are downsides:

1. Costly Timing: Charging in the evening peak, between 4pm and 10pm, can hit your wallet hard. This is when electricity prices soar because almost everyone’s pulling from the grid. If you’re on a standard rate, you might not notice. But those on a time-of-use rate will. You could set a timer to charge in off-peak hours (10pm-5am), but then you’re only getting a limited charge, about 14 kWh, which might not be enough.
2. Solar Challenges: Depending on your solar setup and the time of year, there might only be a short window of 3-4 hours daily when you’ve got enough surplus solar to charge the car. Your mobile connector will pull electricity the grid outside of these hours, which can be 10x more expensive per kWh.
3. Safety Risks: Standard power points can be vulnerable to the long, high-amperage draw that car charging demands. Using one at a constant 10 amps will expose any wiring issues in your home, from tripping breakers to more serious hazards like overheating plugs. While some advanced mobile chargers can sense temperature and dial back power to prevent overheating, not all have this feature. If you regularly charge from a power point, please read this advice from our in-house electrician, Anthony, to stay safe.

Investing in faster home charging

I recommend investing in a proper hard-wired charger at home and leaving your mobile charger in the boot for emergencies. If you’ve invested thousands in an EV, invest a little more in proper charging for your home.

Pro-Tip:You don’t need a hard-wired charger to charge at Level 2 speeds at home. You can install an industrial style 32A socket, and buy a portable charger that plugs into that. This will charge at up to 7kW on single-phase and up to 22kW on 3-phase.

Tesla Tip: Tesla’s mobile charger has interchangeable plugs, and can charge at 7 kW, with a third-party 32A plug. I don’t know of any other car-manufacturer-supplied mobile connectors with this feature.

Fast Hard-Wired Home Chargers (Level 2 Home EV Chargers)

Pro-Tip: Compare hard-wired home EV Chargers with my constantly updated EV Charger Comparison Table

A hard-wired EV charger designed for household use can charge at 7 kW to 22 kW. That’s between 3 and 10 times faster than a regular mobile connector. To achieve these charging speeds, a dedicated cable is installed back to your switchboard.

The speed of your home EV charger depends on two things:

• Whether your charger is 3-phase or single-phase (3-phase is up to 3x faster)
• The maximum AC charge rate of your car model (e.g. BYDs are 7 kW max, modern Teslas are 11 kW max)

Dumb EV Chargers

A Dumb home charger charges as fast as possible every time you plug in. The car tells the charger the maximum power it will accept (via one of the wires in the EV charging cable), and a dumb charger simply matches that power.

Smart EV Chargers

However, with a smart charger, you gain control. In essence, it can decide whether to charge or not and may adjust the charging speed based on:

• Time of day
• Variable Electricity tariffs
• Excess solar power
• Home battery levels
• Commands from your electricity retailer (if you sign up for such a plan)
• Commands from your local electricity network (this doesn’t happen now but is likely in the future to prevent grid overload)

EV Charger Costs: Hardware and Installation

Hardware Cost

Since the internal electronics of an EV charger are relatively simple, many cheap options exist. However, the cheapest single-phase EV charger I would comfortably recommend is the Tesla Wall Connector. This one goes for $800 for single or 3-phase supplies. You can buy it directly from Tesla, but I’d recommend buying from the installation company. Then, they are responsible for both the hardware and installation warranty.

While the Tesla Wall Connector is compatible with most modern EVs, it is considered a ‘dumb’ charger with no native smart solar charging capabilities unless you own the entire Tesla ecosystem, i.e., a Powerwall home battery and Tesla car.

Nerd Fact: Tesla’s ‘Gen 3 Wall Connector’ will not be dumb for long. We expect an Over The Air update soon, that will make it OCPP compatible. Hooray!

The most expensive home charger I know of in Australia is the Keba KeContact P30 x-series, which costs an eye-watering $3,300.

Most home EV chargers with a good feature set cost about $1,500.

The cheapest OCPP-compatible charger I know of is the ZJ Beny at around $750, but I wouldn’t recommend it. A friend bought one and had so much trouble with it that he swapped it for a Tesla Wall Connector.

Installation Cost

EV Charger installation can cost as little as $300 for a single-phase charger right next to your switchboard, and up to many thousands if you need to run a long power cable, dig trenches, or even upgrade your supply and/or switchboard to handle the extra power requirements.

But most people will pay $1000 – $1,500 for the installation on top of the hardware cost.

• Cable cost would go for $10 – $15 per meter.
• Standard single-phase switchboard overhauls might range between $1200 – $2000
• The cheapest DNSP supply upgrade would be $600 plus consumer mains cabling on the customer’s property, but if new power poles or transformer upgrades are required, this could expand to $60,000!

Technical Considerations

Selecting the Correct Plug for Your EV Charger

If you are buying a Home EV Charger, what connector/plug should it have to be compatible with your car?
This one is easy. Unless you drive an EV more than 5 years old (pre-2020) or have a special import, you need a ‘Type 2’ plug (also known as a Mennekes or CCS2), which looks like this:

You can confirm by looking at the charging socket on your car it should look like this.

You may have noticed that the socket is a different shape from the plug! Don’t worry. The bottom part of the socket is for fast DC chargers to use. I’ll explain why later.

If you have an older EV you may need an adaptor to go from a modern EV charger’s Type 2 plug to fit your car’s vintage socket.

Single-Phase vs Three-Phase Chargers: What You Need to Know

All modern EVs can charge at 7 kW (~ 40 km added per hour) with a single-phase hard-wired EV charger.

If your home has a 3-phase supply, and you buy a 3-phase EV charger, each phase is capable of a maximum 7.3 kW. This way, your charger can charge at 22 kW (~ 125 km added per hour).

Pro-Tip: If you have a 3-phase supply, buy a 3-phase charger. The hardware costs either the same or about a hundred bucks more for 3-phase, and the installation costs a couple hundred bucks more. But, you’ll enjoy the faster charging when you are in a hurry, and even if your current car can’t charge at 3-phase speeds, you’ve future-proofed your EV charging setup.

EV Charger Speed Is Limited By Your Car’s AC Charging Rate

Some EVs can charge faster on 3-phase, while others can’t. For example, BYDs cannot charge quicker than 7 kW on single or three-phase AC. Tesla’s Model 3 and Y can charge at 7 kW on single-phase and 11 kW on 3-phase.

Onboard charging at a full 22 kW on 3-phase AC is only available on high-end German EVs such as Audi, BMW and Porsche – which almost makes up for their lack of indicators 😜. The Renault Zoe can charge at 22 kW too, but it has been discontinued in Australia.

Understanding EV Charger Warranties

Most people only use their hard-wired EV chargers for a couple of hours a day and their electronics are relatively simple. The longest EV charger warranties I’m aware of are only 5 years and most are only 2 or 3.

The main reason warranties are so short is EV chargers are still new technology. Once manufacturers are confident they can go the distance, they’ll hopefully lengthen the warranties. Those that can’t go the distance will either be improved or disappear from the market.

But the warranties don’t just have a problem with length. The protection they provide can be very limited. Ideally, you’ll want a warranty that…

• fully covers the full cost of replacing a failed unit — including labour and transport. Watch out for warranties that only compensate with an undefined “market price” or only offer credit on the company’s products.
• covers all components without exclusions, including the charging cable if it comes with one.
• doesn’t exclude “wear and tear” as a cause for a warranty claim. If normal use can wear out an EV charger within its warranty period, then it’s a lousy product.
• is backed up by an office in Australia. If the manufacturer doesn’t have an Australian office, then the importer is responsible for the manufacturer’s warranty.

Australian Consumer Law

Few EV charger warranties meet all the points above. But the good news is Australian Consumer Guarantees will still protect you. These apply no matter what a written warranty says and can still provide protection even after the warranty period. However, having a warranty that doesn’t force you to rely on Consumer Guarantees is always better. If something goes wrong, you’re less likely to need a fight to get the service you’re entitled to. 

To ensure the best possible consumer protection, I recommend paying an installer to both provide and install your EV charger. This way, if there’s a problem, the installer is responsible for ensuring your system functions as it should. If your installer is no longer around you can contact the manufacturer directly.

But if you purchase an EV charger online and then pay an installer to put it in, the installer is not responsible for the hardware warranty. You might get caught in the middle between manufacturer and installer, one blaming the other for problems.

Integrating Your EV Charger with Solar and Home Batteries

Solar Smart EV Chargers

If you have a large enough solar array, then one of the best features to look for in a home EV charger is smart solar charging.

This feature, when enabled, will monitor how much excess solar is available and divert that solar electricity into your car battery. That way, you are filling your car with the cheapest electricity in the world: behind-the-meter Australian solar.

This feature can be achieved in 3 ways:

1. The EV charger has its own current sensor (CT), which goes around the cable from the street. When it senses electricity being exported it ramps up the car charging power to suit.
2. The EV charger digitally communicates with the smart meter on your solar inverter instead of relying on its own sensor.
3. An external app such as ChargeHQ talks to your EV charger and solar inverter via OCPP and controls your charger to achieve the same. The difference is that the smarts are in the app, not in the charger.

If you have a Tesla car, then there is a fourth way to achieve this. An external app like ChargeHQ talks to your solar inverter and car (not the EV charger) and commands the car to only charge on surplus solar (even if you have a dumb EV charger). Tesla owners in the USA can also do this using the Tesla app if they have a Powerwall to measure the solar. I expect this feature to be available to Tesla owners in Australia soon.

Note: if you have a small solar array – this feature will likely just frustrate you as your car can charge very slowly or not at all depending on how sunny it is. It is one reason new EV owners often upgrade their solar array to 10-20 kW.

Integrating with a Home Battery

If you have a home battery, it’s usually best to save the energy in the battery for your home, not to empty it into your car. Do you want to prevent this from happening? The foolproof way to do it is with this simple wiring change.

If your EV charger is the same brand as your home battery or hybrid inverter, then you should be able to achieve the same outcome with software. As they can all talk to each other, this gives you more flexibility.

Optional vs Essential EV Charger Features

Smart EV chargers can include several smart charging features. But I’d say the most important feature is a weird acronym: OCPP.

Essential Feature: OCPP – The One Feature To Rule Them All

The most forward-thinking feature of an EV charger is its compatibility with the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP). This facilitates communication with other OCPP devices and integration with third-party services for optimised charging strategies, including cost-saving tariffs linked to energy market prices.

If you have OCPP, most of the following features can be added with software:

Optional Feature #1: Multiple Charger Load Management

This feature allows for coordinating multiple chargers to distribute electrical load evenly. This ensures the household’s main circuit breaker isn’t overwhelmed.

Optional Feature #2: Household Loads Demand Management 

For homes with high power demands (e.g., electric floor heating), enhanced load balancing adjusts the power distribution to prevent circuit overload while charging EVs.

Optional Feature #3: Extra Cable Length

Ensure your cable is long enough to work any way you park. Pick an untethered charger and grab a lengthy ‘Type 2 to Type 2’ cable. This way, you can easily charge two cars, no matter how they’re parked, without the hassle of moving them around.

Optional Feature #4: Timers

Using a timer to benefit from time-of-use tariffs for cheaper off-peak charging makes sense, especially when solar production is insufficient. Every EV I’ve ever sat in can also be configured to charge on a timer – but I find it easier to rely on the charger than the car, especially if you have multiple EVs.

Optional Feature #5: Secure Access

Implementing a PIN code restricts charger access and ensures that only authorised users can initiate charging, providing peace of mind.

Optional Feature #6: Individual Car Electricity Use Tracking

Can the charger identify each user or vehicle and log their electricity consumption? This helps manage expenses among multiple drivers. This can be done through automatic detection or unique identifiers like codes or RFID cards.

Best EV Chargers On The Australian Market?

I asked over 500 Aussie electricians what home EV charger they would put on their own homes if money were no object. The clear winner was the Fronius Wattpilot. The Wattpilot is expensive at $1800, and very well made. It integrates natively with Fronius inverters. If you have a Fronius inverter, it’s the best choice.

I also asked what home charger they would put on their own homes if they were on a tight budget and the winner was Tesla’s Wall Connector. It is a high-quality charger compatible with any modern EV, but lacks many smart functions. Its low price makes it the best ‘dumb charger’ in Australia. 

The Tesla Wall Connector can be smart – but only when paired with a Tesla Powerwall battery and Tesla car.

The Delta AC Max Smart which I own, only got two votes from our installers! The Delta brand is not well-known amongst Aussie residential electricians, but I know it well from my days working on Nuclear Power Stations. I know Delta gear to be well made and well supported, and can recommend their car chargers.

Pro-Tip: Stay in the inverter ecosystem. If you already have solar, then buying your electric car charger from the brand that makes your solar inverter or battery is a smart move to avoid compatibility issues when trying to coordinate your solar and battery with your charging. Fronius, Goodwe, SolarEdge and Sungrow all make EV chargers that should work seamlessly with their inverter/batteries.

Some EV Charger Brands Available In Australia

Brand	My verdict
	ABB is a multi-billion dollar industrial giant from Switzerland. So its EV chargers should be well-made and well-backed.
	Delta Electronics is another giant industrial company, this time from Taiwan. They make inverters for Tesla and other EV companies. Their residential EV chargers, although fiddly to set up, are good quality and reliable but frustratingly have a miserly 2-year warranty.
	Evnex are a relatively new company based in NZ. On paper their car chargers look excellent value. I’ve yet to see one in the flesh, though.
	EO is a British manufacturer of teeny-tiny EV wall chargers.
	Amazing Fronius quality, OCPP and easy integration into the Fronius ecosystem make a Fronius Wattpilot EV charger a no-brainer for those with a Fronius inverter.
	FIMER is a solar inverter manufacturer that also makes electric vehicle chargers for home. Only worth considering if you already have a FIMER inverter.
	Hypervolt is another UK crowd making nice-looking, good-value chargers.
	JET Charge is an Aussie startup company providing good support. Their electric car home charger is a little pricey, though.
	KEBA makes high-quality, if somewhat ugly, Austrian EV chargers.
	MyEnergi is a longstanding manufacturer out of the UK. They pioneered the ‘smart-solar’ charger many years ago. Their early models were pretty crap IMO, but the latest model – finally with Wi-Fi and OCPP – is worth considering.
	Ocular is a Chinese company making well-regarded home chargers under $1,000.
	SMA make great quality, reassuringly expensive gear. Unfortunately, they have told us that due to market demand in the EU, they have discontinued their EV charger in Australia. Meanies.
	Schneider is a huge company with industrial roots. I used their gear in factories in my engineering days, so they should be reliable. But I can’t recommend them because – for their price – their warranty is just too short.
	SolarEdge is a big company in the solar world. If you’ve got a SolarEdge inverter, get a SolarEdge EV Charger. It’s a no-brainer. They can talk to each other out of the box, making everyones life easier.
	Tesla’s Wall Connector EV charger is good quality and great value at $800 for the hardware. It will charge any brand of recent EV in Australia. But there’s a big problem. It’s dumb. Unlike most other home EV chargers, it can’t be set up to only charge off excess solar without a Tesla Powerwall. So, if you want a reliable, cheap, dumb charger for any EV – it’s a great choice. If you want smarts, look elsewhere. (Tesla car owners can make it smart without buying a Powerwall by using the ChargeHQ app, which controls the charging by talking to the Tesla car, not the Tesla charger – but that has an ongoing monthly subscription fee).
	Wallbox is one of the original EV charger manufacturers and has a good reputation for quality, support and all the features you need. I’d be happy with a Wallbox EV charger on my wall.

EV Charger Location: Garage or Driveway?

According to EV FireSafe, an EV has a 1 in 83,000 chance of catching fire¹. 

Even with those odds, I prefer to charge on a shaded driveway. My logic is that, although extremely unlikely, if my EV does catch fire, it’s less likely to burn the house down. So, my EV charger is installed outside.

But that’s just me. If you are happy to store a petrol car in your garage, charging an EV in there should be acceptable to you, too, as an EV is about 80 times less likely to catch fire than a petrol or diesel car.

EV chargers in the driveway can be mounted on a wall or a post. Charging cable length will determine whether you need to park a certain way around to reach the charge point – especially if you have more than one car.

Sidebar: Don’t have a driveway for an EV Charger? Solutions to EV charging on the street are explored here.

Bi-Directional EV Chargers

Some EVs can power household appliances (V2L), feed energy back to the grid (V2G), or supply electricity to homes (V2H), acting as mobile batteries.

V2L allows EVs to directly power devices during outages. This is useful in emergencies but is limited compared to dedicated home batteries.

V2G offers potential earnings for EV owners by selling power back to the grid during peak demand.

However, it doesn’t supply home power during blackouts. V2H stands out by enabling EVs to function as home battery systems, potentially replacing the need for separate batteries, especially for homes with solar panels. This technology can keep operating during grid failures, with solar panels charging the EV.

Bi-directional chargers, necessary for V2H and V2G, are expensive and scarce in Australia, with regulatory and standardisation efforts ongoing. At the recent Sydney International EV Show 2024, Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen announced that Standards Australia has set a new standard that will allow V2G, “as early as Christmas this year.“

V2H has promise and investing in solar panels to prepare for its wider adoption is a wise choice. For more information, look at our in-depth article about V2L, V2H and V2G.

Cars that offer V2L, V2G, V2H

EV model	V2L	V2G	V2H
BYD Atto 3, Dolphin, Seal	✅	❌	❌
Cupra Born*	✅	✅	✅
Genesis GV60, GV70, G80	✅	❌	❌
Hyundai Ioniq 5	✅	❌	❌
Kia EV6, EV9, Niro EV	✅	❌	❌
MG ZS EV	✅	❌	❌
MG4	✅	❌	❌
GWM Ora	✅	❌	❌
Nissan Leaf	❌	✅	✅

* requires ‘Wallbox Qasar 2’ bi-directional inverter, which hasn’t been released yet – so we can’t confirm that Cupra’s claimed V2G/V2H works

Currently, the Nissan Leaf is the only fully electric car with V2G and V2H capabilities. However, you can convert your V2L vehicle to run parts of your house.

For example, Home Open Energy Manager (HOEM) has a V2L controller you can install in your home. It enables V2H-like functionality from EVs with only V2L capabilities. When your V2L car is connected to the HOEM system, it can power select house circuits during grid outages or peak times.

Tesla Powershare

‘Tesla Powershare’ is Tesla’s answer to Vehicle to Home (V2H) and is only available in the USA at time of writing. Americans can use Tesla Powershare if they have a Powerwall 3, a Tesla Wall Connector and a Cybertruck.

Check our blog post on Tesla’s Powerwall 3 for more information on how it works.

EV Charger Cables

Which cable do I need for my EV charger? How long of a cable do I need? Is an adaptor necessary? How much will a cable cost me? Find out the answers in my EV Charging Cables guide.

Public EV Chargers

When you can’t charge at home, you’ll need to charge at public EV chargers. I break down everything you need to know about charging on the road in my Public EV Charging guide.

EV Charger Reviews

How are everyday Australians finding their EV chargers? Read about their experiences and insights on our EV Charger Reviews page.

FAQs

How long does it take to charge an EV?

This depends on what type of charger you use. A modern 500-km-range EV will use about 16 kWh of electricity to go 100 km (it will use more when it’s cold or if you drive like a nutter).

• Plugged into a regular powerpoint, it will take 8-10 hours to replenish that 100 km.
• A typical hard-wired home charger will take just over 2 hours to add 100 km.
• A DC fast charger can add 100 km in well under 10 minutes.

How much does it cost to charge an EV?

The charger you use, and the power it uses, will also determine the cost from ‘free!‘ to ‘Hang on, that’s almost as much as petrol!‘

• A solar smart charger using excess solar, otherwise curtailed, can add 100 km for free. 
• A smart charger using excess solar, otherwise exported, can add 100 km for 48c to $3.20 depending on the forgone feed-in-tariff.
• A timed charger on an off-peak grid tariff can add 100 km for as little as $1.28.
• A dumb charger, charging in the evening peak, might cost closer to $10.
• A DC fast charger can cost $13.60 to add that 100 km.

Can I install my own EV charging point?

You can plug a trickle charger into a suitably rated socket. However, installing your own wiring to the main switchboard is illegal.

In many cases, EV chargers over 4.6kW or 20amps AC require network permission to connect.  Meanwhile, installing the correct cable and circuit protection is electrical work that requires a 4-year qualification.

Can I sit in my EV while charging?

Yes, it’s safe to sit in your EV while it’s charging. Modern EVs come with several safety features that keep the high-voltage battery system separate from the cabin, so you’re not at risk from the charging current. However, keep in mind that running the air-conditioning might slow the charging rate down a little bit.

Is it better to charge an EV slowly or fast?

Charging an EV fast creates heat, which may be detrimental to long-term battery health. However, modern EVs have liquid cooling and refrigeration systems to control battery temperature. Meanwhile, the Battery Management System will limit charging speed if temperatures are too high or too low. 

The real concern about charging speed should be etiquette.

Charging above 80% is a slow process, so you shouldn’t use a fast charger to completely fill your battery when someone is waiting. AC chargers are better for topping off, but 100% state of charge isn’t necessary unless you’re planning a maximum range trip.

Does driving fast drain an EV’s battery?

Driving fast doesn’t deplete your EV battery in the same way an ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) car depletes its petrol at higher speeds. An IC engine is most efficient at wide-open throttle. However, few people ever get to use a “full acceleration, then coast to the next stop” driving technique. 

EVs are fundamentally more efficient. This is in part due to the energy recovery available through regenerative braking. Full acceleration will create more waste heat in the electrical system and tyres. But fast driving won’t halve your fuel mileage around town.

Highway speeds are heavy on EV energy consumption, though. Aerodynamic drag increases with the square of speed, so anecdotally speaking, you’ll get twice as far at 90 km/h as you would at 120 km/h.

Do electric cars lose charge if they’re not used?

EVs don’t lose a great deal of charge while parked.

However, any modern EV or petrol car with keyless entry may suffer from a flat 12-volt battery. If the key fob is stored within a few metres of the parked vehicle, the car security system may be kept active, sweeping for a signal (with the expectation that you’re approaching and want the door open).

Keeping keys away from the vehicle – and maybe even in a Faraday cage – is also a good anti-theft measure.

Some EVs have a “sentry mode” where the mobile internet connection is kept active while the cameras on the front, rear and sides are all recording just in case there’s an incident. This can use some hundreds of watts of load, which might deplete the EV traction battery in a week.