Electric vehicles

These chargers connect to a regular outlet but are generally only suitable if you use your car occasionally or for short trips. They will likely be suitable if you travel up to 200km per week as they can take days to provide a full charge.

We recommend a dedicated EV charging unit if you plan to cover 200-500 km per week. These charge a modern EV in eight to 12 hours and must be installed by a registered electrical contractor. A basic 7kW outlet will typically cost up to approximately $500.

If you plan to travel more than 500km per week, we recommend a higher output home charging point. Like the lower output wall chargers, these outlets must be installed by a registered electrical contractor. A typical 22kW fast charger requires three phase power and will cost up to approximately $2500. They can charge modern EVs in between five and eight hours.

Charging during the day allows you to benefit from flexible time-of-use tariffs and soak up renewable energy when it is most abundant and affordable.

Some EV chargers can communicate with the grid to ramp charging up and down depending on network conditions. These allow you to charge when energy is most abundant and affordable, and automatically ramp down when supplies tighten and prices rise. These chargers must be installed by a REC and be registered with our online application connection service.

Like any other appliance or electronics in your home, it’s important you make sure the equipment used to charge your car is safe:

• follow the manufacturer’s instructions and never use a charging point that isn’t compatible with your vehicle.
• only buy EV supply equipment that’s designed to fit your car and approved for use in Australia
• never use household adaptors (like a multi-socket, double plug or travel plug) between your supply equipment and a wall socket. Try and avoid using an extension lead, but if you do, make sure it’s suitable for outdoor use
• never daisy-chain extension leads. Plugging one extension lead into another increases the risk of electrical fire and electric shock
• never use faulty or damaged supply equipment. Check your charging cable for wear and tear and replace it if any damage is visible

• never use an EV charger that has been modified in any way
• if you notice a fault or issue, stop using the car and/or charging station immediately and contact the manufacturer
• engage a registered electrical contractor to install a ‘residual current device’ (RCD) in your home to shut off power if a fault is detected. Standard safety switches may not be powerful enough to protect from faults with an EV or charger.