Buying EV Chargers From Bunnings: A Good Idea?
Last Updated: 20th Jan 2025
Hardware giant Bunnings has expanded into the electric vehicle market, offering EV chargers, accessories and an installation service. But are their chargers any good? Is their installation service up to scratch? Who is responsible for warranties?
We have put together a comprehensive guide to answer these questions for you. But if you just want get our verdict, skip ahead and read whether we think it’s a good idea to buy your EV charger from Bunnings.
- Which EV Chargers Does Bunnings Stock?
- How Does Bunnings EV Charger Installation Service Work
- What Do Bunnings Warranties Cover for EV Chargers?
- Our Verdict
Which EV Chargers Does Bunnings Stock?
At the time of writing, you can buy mobile chargers, EV charging cables, and Level 2 chargers in-store. Bunnings currently has two different models of Level 2 chargers on display:
Level 2 EV Chargers Available
Tesla Wall Connector: 7 kW single-phase / 11 kW 3-phase
The Tesla Wall Connector is a proven brand, which most of our installer network considers the best budget option in Australia. Bunnings sells them for $770, slightly below the usual market price of $800.
DeWalt EV Charger: 22 kW 3-phase
DeWalt is well-known for all kinds of electrical tools, so it makes sense that they started developing EV chargers. However, this charger still needs to prove itself in Australian conditions. Bunnings sells this 3-phase 22 kW charger for $1,399 which comes with its own DeWalt charging app. Outside of SA, there is also a single-phase 7 kW version available for $1,199.
On Bunnings’ DeWalt EV charger page, the product description claims the 22 kW charger has an output of only 7 kW. Either this is untrue, and Bunnings is underselling its charging speed, or it is true, which means advertising it as “a 22 kW charger” is misleading. Either way, it does not instill much confidence in Bunnings’ EV charger knowledge.
Bunnings Has Already Pulled Multiple EV Chargers Off Shelves
Bunnings only just stepped foot into the EV charger market but has already pulled the plug on two different chargers.
Their Deta charger did not appear to be OCPP-compliant, which is a requirement in South Australia and key to future-proofing your device for optimised charging strategies. It’s likely the Deta charger got pulled because of this. Deta customer service also reported that their charger only had a one-year warranty, which isn’t long enough even for EV charger warranties.
The other charger Bunnings no longer stock is the Arlec EV charger. The mobile version of Bunnings’ online store still has the Arlec charger available. When we asked a Bunnings staff member in-store why we could not find it, they told us the product was “in isolation”: it had been taken off the shelves because customers reported malfunctions.
Note: the South Australian Registered EVSE list names Arlec Australia Pty Ltd as a manufacturer for DeWalt too. Seeing as they already made one charger that was pulled, we don’t have high hopes for the DeWalt chargers, despite being OCPP-compliant.
Not Everything On Bunnings’ Online Store Is Sold By Bunnings
When you check Bunnings’ website to see what EV chargers they have in stock, you’ll notice some are labelled “Marketplace“.
While the range is more expansive online than in-store, Marketplace products are not subject to Bunnings’ in-store price guarantees or lowest price policy. They are sold by Bunnings’ “Trusted Sellers,” who have their own policies regarding returns and refunds.
Bunnings customer service has also told us it does not offer its installation service for chargers bought from “Trusted Sellers” — which makes you wonder: how much do they trust these Sellers really?
If you do not want to find your own installer and prefer immediate pickup, in-store is the better option.
How Does Bunnings EV Charger Installation Service Work?
Level 2 chargers require installation by a licensed electrician. Bunnings makes sure to mention this at the bottom of each display:
We usually recommend buying your EV chargers from the installer so that they are responsible for the hardware and installation warranty. How would this work out if you buy your own charger from Bunnings? Let’s break it down.
Bunnings offers an EV charger installation service for wall chargers purchased through their stores, starting at $699. In-store, we were told they subcontract their installers on hipages.
Bunnings EV charger inclusions:
- Installation within the same building as the switchboard.
- Up to 10 metres of 6mm² cable in conduit.
- 32A circuit breaker.
- Wi-Fi setup (customer provides password).
- Submission of compliance documentation (where required).
- Travel within 35 km of the participating Bunnings store.
Exclusions:
- Switchboard upgrades (must meet AS3000:2018 standards before installation).
- Cable runs beyond 10 metres (additional fees apply).
- Trenching for underground cables or special access requirements like lifts or working at heights.
- Travel beyond 35 km (additional fees apply, but depend on the sub-contractor Bunnings chooses).
- 10mm² cable if needed (additional fees apply).
Customers must have the EV charger on-site before the installation date. Their installation service is only available for chargers bought from Bunnings. Preparatory works, such as ensuring compliance with standards and obtaining approvals for shared properties, are the customer’s responsibility. Additional works identified on installation day may incur extra costs or require separate arrangements with the installer.
For our in-house electrician Anthony, Bunnings’ use of 6mm² cable and a 32A circuit breaker is a red flag, as it is simply not enough. Even 10mm² would barely cut it. Undersized cables or inadequate circuit breakers can overheat or fail under the sustained demand of EV charging. If you do go through a Bunnings installer, ask for a 16mm² cable and a 40A circuit breaker for a reliable and safe setup. But keep in mind this would incur extra cost beyond their advertised starting price of $699. Read his full investigation here.
The service is available at select Bunnings locations across Australia.
At our local Bunnings’ Special Order desk, we requested a quote for the EV charger installation service. They took our contact details and said their installer would contact us. Five days later, we have yet to hear from them.
Participating Bunnings Locations Offering EV Charger Installation Services
Below is a table of participating locations, organised by state and territory, as of January 2025:
| State/Territory | Locations |
|---|---|
| Victoria (VIC) | Box Hill Croydon Epping Geelong North Hoppers Crossing Melton East Mentone Moorabbin Pakenham Port Melbourne |
| New South Wales (NSW) | Alexandria Albury Castle Hill Glendale Minchinbury Port Macquarie Pymble Rouse Hill Rydalmere Shellharbour West Gosford |
| Australian Capital Territory (ACT) | Belconnen Canberra Airport Gungahlin |
| Western Australia (WA) | Armadale Bayswater Bunbury Joondalup Midland |
| South Australia (SA) | Edwardstown Mile End Parafield |
| Tasmania (TAS) | Glenorchy |
| Queensland (QLD) | Burleigh Waters Caloundra Cairns Central Keperra Newstead Rocklea Townsville Central |
| Northern Territory (NT) | No stores participating |
What Do Bunnings Warranties Cover for EV Chargers?
When you purchase an EV charger from Bunnings, understanding who is responsible for warranties is crucial. Here’s what you need to know:
Installation Warranty: If you use Bunnings’ installation service, they are responsible for the installation warranty. If a re-install is needed due to warranty issues, Bunnings will organise an installer at no additional cost to you.
Hardware Warranty: Whoever sold you the EV charger (Bunnings, in this case) is responsible for the warranty under Australian Consumer Law. This means if there’s a problem with the charger, Bunnings cannot simply redirect you to the manufacturer. However, if Bunnings becomes unresponsive or ceases to operate, you may be able to claim the warranty directly with the manufacturer — provided they have an Australian office. If the manufacturer does not have an Australian office, the importer is responsible for the warranty, but identifying them could be challenging. Let’s hope it does not come to that.
Warranty Periods: Bunnings customer service informed us that their Tesla Wall Connectors come with a 4-year warranty and the DeWalt charger has a 3-year warranty.
Marketplace Purchases: If you purchase an EV charger from Bunnings Marketplace (via a Trusted Seller), it is essential to check the warranty and return policy provided by the seller, as Bunnings does not handle installation or warranties for these products.
Our Verdict
Products having to be pulled off the shelves due to malfunctions, no response to our installation quote request, inconsistencies in product descriptions, and different products between mobile and desktop versions of their online store: it appears Bunnings rushed into the EV charging market unprepared. When we rang up customer service, they could not answer all our questions and repeatedly directed us to speak to staff in our local store. They would then sheepishly grin, admit they did not know much as “it was all quite new” and refer us back to customer service. While we eventually got our answers, it should not have been this hard.
So, is buying your EV charger from Bunnings a good idea? It is not. Unless:
- you buy a Tesla Wall Connector. It is the only brand they stock that has already proven itself in the Australian EV charger market. DeWalt being manufactured by Arlec, which already had a charger go bust, is too risky of a choice.
- you request 16mm² cable and a 40A circuit breaker for a safe setup. Even though it’ll cost more than $699, it’ll save you money down the line.
- you get lucky with the installer Bunnings finds you on hipages.
However, if you don’t want to take any chances, consider requesting 3 quotes for EV charger installation from installers we have personally vetted. They will provide a quality product and install it properly.