Why choose an EV smart charger?
You’ll get cheaper prices per kilowatt hour on your home electricity plan than you will if you charge at a public charging station.
A 7–11 kW wall charger charges your EV up to three times faster than a standard power point – delivering around 45 km of range per hour, compared to 15 km range per hour from a standard home power point.
Get cheaper (and sometimes free) energy during certain times of the day and night.
Set your smart controls to charge during peak solar generation hours (in Victoria, that’s usually 10am to 4pm in summer or 11am to 3pm in winter).
Top tips for EV charging
Find an energy plan that supports EV charging
There are various EV energy plans that encourage charging at different times of the day or night.
When demand on the electricity grid is lower at night, you might find a plan with a lower per kWh charge during a fixed time period. When renewable generation is higher during the middle of the day, you might find an EV plan with a free, time-limited charging window.
Go to Victorian Energy Compare to compare, or talk to your energy retailer – that’s who issues your electricity bill – to find out about their EV energy plans.
Most EV plans are based on Time-of-use pricing, and in many cases your energy retailer will help switch you to a Time-of-use tariff. Or they may be able to apply a special EV charging rate if you have a smart meter.
Understand home power phases and EV charging
Single phase power
In Victorian homes, single phase power is common. It can support a maximum alternating current (AC) charge rate of up to 7.4 kW (depending on your property’s energy supply), which is the sweet spot for 7 kW home EV chargers.
The other side of charging is how much your car can take. Most EVs sold in Victoria support a maximum AC charge rate of 7 kW or 11 kW.
Three-phase power
If you have three phase power at home, this can support 11 kW or 22 kW AC charging. Note, your EV must be able to support a higher AC input to use this type of charger. (If your car doesn’t support the higher AC input, it will still charge, but at a much lower rate.) Full 22 kW AC support is not common.
Know how your EV charger works with your switchboard
EV chargers require a dedicated circuit with safety switch protection. An SEC-endorsed installer can help you understand what will need to happen to your switchboard for the EV charger you’re thinking of buying.
They’ll take time to understand your preferences and any details about your installation. This includes plans for more electric upgrades over time and any changes to your switchboard if that’s what’s needed.
When you’re on the road, know where to charge and take a cable with you
Websites like PlugShare provide a map of EV charging options, and you can even plan a trip with charging stops. You’ll be able to see if it’s up and running or out of order, how many and what kind of plugs it supports. Take a look at Electric vehicle charging equipment for more information on plug types.
Most metropolitan charging stations have charging cables attached, but sometimes you’ll need to bring your own – particularly in rural areas. Keep that in mind when going on long trips.
EV smart charger FAQs
EV batteries store direct current (DC) electricity, but your electricity grid supplies alternating current (AC) electricity. So, when you charge your EV, this always involves converting AC to DC.
For Level 2, AC charging – at home and at public L2 charging stations
- AC power comes from the grid.
- The car converts AC to DC with its onboard technology.
- Charging is slower and gentler, ideal for everyday top ups.
- Sometimes you’ll need to bring your own charging cable.
For Level 3, DC fast charging – public, rapid charging stations
- The charger converts AC to DC.
- The DC power goes straight into your battery.
- Charging is much faster, ideal for road trips and quick topups.
- The charging cable is attached to the rapid-charging terminal.
Your car’s battery chemistry drives charging recommendations
EV battery chemistry matters when it comes to charging. It determines how much energy your battery can hold, how your battery ages and how you should charge it.
Types of EV batteries
Most EVs run on lithium ion batteries, which is the name of the battery family. Within it there area few types of batteries. Here are the main ones we’ll focus on:
- Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries (LFP)
- Nickel Manganese Cobalt batteries (NMC)
So, what’s the difference?
LFP batteries prioritise longevity and affordability, and you can typically charge these to 100%without affecting battery life.
NMC batteries prioritise range and performance, and you generally charge these regularly, staying within a 20–80% state of charge. This helps to protect the life of the battery.
Because each type of battery needs a different charging approach to stay healthy, go to your EV manufacturer’s website or refer to your owner’s manual and follow the recommendations for your EV.
That depends on the home charger that’s being installed. Some come with fixed cables, and some have untethered cables. There’s so much variation that it’s best to talk to your installer. They’ll take time to understand what you have and let you know if there are any extra cables to buy.
Including EV charging infrastructure could improve the rental appeal of a property, and your rental property owner could be interested.
Get in touch with your rental property owner to see if they might install an EV charger where you rent. You’ll need their permission, so raise a formal written request. In it, include:
- the charger type you’d like (e.g. a single-phase, 7 kW wall charger)
- where you’d like to install the charger
- confirmation that a licensed electrician will do the work
- confirmation about who will pay for the hardware, installation and ongoing electricity bills.
Unfortunately, there are no federal or state rebates for EV smart chargers right now.
It’s worth nothing, though, that using your EV charger’s smart controls – like scheduling charging to match free-or low-cost energy windows, or diverting solar exports into automatic car charging – can significantly reduce your transport and energy costs, even without rebates.
