Buying EV Chargers From Bunnings: A Good Idea?
Last Updated: 10th Feb 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 to get our verdict, skip ahead and read whether we think it’s a good idea to buy your EV charger from Bunnings.
Table of Contents
- 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. At the time of writing, 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 $999 which comes with its own DeWalt charging app. Outside of SA, there is also a single-phase 7 kW version available for $899.
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.
Update: A Bunnings representative told SolarQuotes that “Bunnings acknowledges that there was the incorrect wattage displayed on one of its products, which was the result of an inadvertent error on the part of our supplier, which has now been corrected.”
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 in SA because of this, as detailed by our installer Anthony. Deta customer service also reported that their charger only had a one-year warranty, which is woefully short even for EV charger warranties.
The other charger Bunnings no longer stock in SA 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”: the staff member claimed it had been taken off the shelves because of reported malfunctions. Bunnings head office said this is incorrect, explaining that “due to the state-specific regulations relating to the Demand Response requirements, the Arlec and Deta EV chargers are not offered for sale in South Australia.”
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 by a member of staff they find their installers on hipages. Bunnings HQ say this is incorrect.
Bunnings EV charger inclusions:
- Installation within the same building as the switchboard.
- Up to 10 metres of 6mm² cable in conduit.
- 40A 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).
- Asbestos removal. The installer requires an asbestos-free workspace.
- 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.
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 shortly. It took a week for Bunnings to get back to us, despite their EV charger page promising a response within 2 business days. Although prices were advertised as starting from $699, we got quoted $690 + $69 GST for a basic install with no extras. On top of that, they also charged a so-called “EV Charger Attendance Fee” of $84.
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 consumer guarantees and warranties is crucial. Here’s what you need to know:
Installation: If you use Bunnings’ installation service, they are responsible for the installation warranty and ensuring your rights under the consumer guarantees in the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) are met. If a re-install is needed due to a problem with the installation service, Bunnings will organise an installer at no additional cost to you.
Hardware: Whoever sold you the EV charger (Bunnings, in this case) is responsible for ensuring that your rights under the consumer guarantees are met. This means if there’s a problem with the charger, Bunnings cannot simply redirect you to the manufacturer. However (for example, if Bunnings becomes unresponsive or ceases to operate), you may be able to claim 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. In addition to consumer guarantee rights under the ACL, businesses can offer warranties, which are additional promises that businesses make when selling a product or service.
Warranty Periods: Bunnings customer service informed us that their Tesla Wall Connectors come with a 4-year manufacturer’s warranty and the DeWalt charger has a 3-year manufacturer’s 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
Due to products being pulled off the shelves, a slow 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. These staff would 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? Not in my opinion.
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.
- you defer the cable and circuit breaker selection to the licensed electrician (6mm cable and the supplied circuit breaker may not suit your specific situation)
- you are happy with the installer Bunnings finds you (who was not named on the quote we got, so I couldn’t search for reviews from previous customers)