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How does EV Charging at Home Work?
How does EV Charging at Home Work?
Written by
Rachel Gregg
Edited by
Andrew Kemp
Reviewed by
Julia PaszkaCompare Electricity & Gas Plans
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What is home EV charging?
Long story short
Home EV chargers keep your car powered on your schedule
Whether it’s a slow top-up each day or a faster overnight charge from a dedicated wall charger, your EV can power up right from your home.
Charging speeds depend on your setup
Your home’s wiring, charger level, and EV model can all decide how quickly you get back on the road and how beneficial a home EV charger will be.
Costs vary, but home EV charging can be cheaper
A home EV charger might be slower than a public charging station, but it could cost you less and be more convenient.
What is home EV charging?
Home EV chargers connect your electric vehicle (EV) or plug-in hybrid car to your home’s main power supply, helping keep their batteries topped up. Just like how you plug in your phone at the end of the day, your EV needs a regular charge to get you from A to B.
You can either charge your vehicle through a standard wall plug or by installing a wall-mounted charger for faster, efficient charging.
Around one in eight car sales in the first half of 2025 were EVs, and for most owners charging at home remains the norm. While a standard electrical power point might do the job for slow top-ups, a dedicated EV home charger can speed things up and give you more control over when your car charges, which is handy if you’re trying to take advantage of lower electricity prices.
How does home EV charging work?
A home EV charger pulls electricity from your home’s connection and sends it to your car’s battery. This is either through a power point or a dedicated wallbox charger. Wall connected home chargers or Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) will need to be installed by a licensed electrician (no permits needed!).
When it comes down to how fast they actually work, it’s broken down into three different levels. These are based on how much power they can deliver to your EV’s charger, which is pretty much how quickly you can get back out on the road again.
Level 1
Your standard point charger is your basic wall power outlet. It doesn’t need anything installed, but it’s slower, delivering around 1.4–3.7kW of alternating current (AC). That means that for every hour your EV is plugged in, you’ll get about 10–20 km of range. If you need a full recharge from zero, it could take a few overnight shifts or full days of charging, depending on your battery size.
Level 2
Level 2 is your wall-mounted option, which needs to be installed by an electrician. They can deliver between 7 – 22kW of AC power. This means for every hour your EV is charging you could get 30–130km added to your battery life. The exact specifics of your EV model will dictate exactly how fast it’ll charge.
Level 3
Level 3 is the fastest charging option, using direct current (DC) to deliver 25–350kW of power. An hour of charging can add a whopping 150-300 km of range to your battery, meaning some EV models could be charged within 10–15 minutes. Level 3 chargers are generally reserved for public fast-charging stations – as they pull more power than local residential networks are designed to handle – so you probably shouldn’t expect to add one to your home!
While you might have your heart set on a level, your home’s wiring matters. Most residential homes have single-phase power, which means you could install a charger up to 7 kW. For homes with three-phase power, you’ll be able to install an EV charger with a capability of up to 22kW. So, make sure to look into your home’s specifics before locking anything in.
What charger type will suit me best?
While Level 1 and 2 home charges both offer charging convenience, their different charging speeds mean each will suit drivers in different ways. A level 1 setup might be great for someone who just needs to top up their battery after parking in an EV charger spot at work all day. But if you don’t have the option to charge at work – and use your car for more than the daily commute – then a level 2 charger could help ease any range anxiety you might have. At the end of the day, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. When it comes down to what charger type works best for you, it will depend on your EV model, your home’s wiring, and how you like to charge your car.
It’s also important to note that some EV manufacturers recommend keeping your battery level between 20% and 80% for long term battery health. This could influence your charger options as well.
In terms of what this means for your charging approach, it will depend on what EV car you own. For example, if you own the popular Tesla Model 3 a Level 1 charger could mean you need 40 hours to reach full battery, while a Level 2 could cut that down to only 11 hours. Knowing your EV model specs is key to seeing where your best option might lie.
| Level 1 | Level 2 | |
| Power | 1.4-3.7 kW | 7-22 kW |
| Range added per hour | 10-20 km | 30-150 km |
| Time to fully charge (7kW) – Tesla Model 3 | 40 hours | 11 hours |
| Time to fully charge (7kW) – MG ZS EV | 26 hours | 7 hours |
Helpful tip
Most home EV chargers are connected to your wi-fi which means you could get an app included with your installed equipment. These apps can track your charging progress and even be programmed to schedule your charging at certain times. Which can be useful if you want to take advantage of lower rates during off-peak times.
Julia Paszka
General Manager – Utilities & Credit Cards
What does it cost to charge my EV at home?
While a full recharge for an average electric car might cost about $20.53 on a dedicated home charger, what you pay will depend on your specific EV model, electricity rate, and energy setup.
Fictional scenario: Aaron’s home charging situation
Let’s look at this in more detail with our fictional friend, Aaron.
Aaron has bought a new EV but wants to know how much it will cost him to charge daily. He drives his car 33 km every day (the Australian average) and only wants to use his Level 2 home charger to cover his daily use. He put his EV charger on a controlled load tariff in Victoria, which put his rates at about $0.22 per hour. Using a 7kW Level 2 EV charger, which adds roughly 30 km to his driving range for every hour it’s plugged in. After charging for a little over an hour, his battery would be full, and he’d be $1.69 out of pocket.
But what if Aaron planned a long trip and his battery was empty? To be able to completely fill his battery – which in his case has a max range of 400 km – he’d need to charge his car for just over 13 hours, which would cost him about $20.53. So, at the end of the day, when you compare that to a full tank of petrol, it does come out a lot smaller cost-wise.
How will EV charging change my energy bill?
The number one difference you’ll notice is that your energy bill will go up. This shouldn’t be any surprise since you’ve added a massive appliance to your home’s energy rotation.
How much your bill will change depends on:
- your EV model, specifically its battery size and its efficiency
- how far you drive
- how much you charge your EV at home
- your electricity rate (cost per kWh)
- if you use off-peak rate or time-of-use tariffs
- if solar power is used for charging
- if you throw any public EV charging stations into the mix.
There are a lot of factors that can fall into the mix, but at the end of the day, how much your bill changes depends on your individual scenario.
Is it worth getting an EV charger at home?
It’s important to think about both sides of the EV charging debate. Whether that’s the cheaper rates of home charging (pro) or the added installation costs on top of your new EV (con), there’s a lot to think about before making your decision.
Pros
- Generally cheaper charging rates than public fast charging sites
- More control over rates when using off-peak tariffs or solar panels
- Convenience of at-home charging
- Apps for live charging data and scheduling options
Cons
- High upfront installation cost for a Level 2 home charger
- Slower than public DC fast charging sites (Level 3)
- Might be harder to get for apartment residents
- Switchboard upgrades might be needed
How to set up EV charging at my home?
Before setting up your EV charger, it’s important to think about where you park and how you’ll connect your car each day (do you reverse or drive straight in?). This will help you figure out how long the charging cable needs to be.
Your switchboard also matters in this pre-installation stage. Most Australian homes have single-phase power – typically supplied via one main switch – which usually supports chargers up to 7 kW. Homes with three-phase power – often identified by three main switches – can usually support chargers up to 22 kW, which could mean faster EV charging.
If you’ve run out of space in your switchboard (or its older), that could mean upgrades are needed, which means a bigger bill. A dedicated EV charger installer or licensed electrician will be able to check your electrical limits, install a new dedicated circuit for your charger, and make sure everything is up to code.
It’s also a good time to look at EV-related energy plan offers. Some electricity providers could offer benefits more specific to EVs, which can make all the difference when compared to one that doesn’t.
Frequently asked questions
How can I keep EV charging costs down?
There are a few ways to keep your EV charging costs down, including checking your tariff plan type, adding rooftop solar, and taking advantage of smart chargers. For those looking to reduce the cost, here’s how you might go about it:
- Time-of-use tariff: If your energy plans have off-peak periods or a time-of-use tariff, these lower rates could work out to mean possible lower electricity costs. Shifting even a few hours of your charging time to off-peak periods can help to reduce your bill.
- Controlled load tariffs: Controlled load tariffs let you run more energy-hungry appliances, like your EV charger, on a separate circuit. They’ll likely run during off-peak hours or only to operate during a limited number of hours in a day.
- EV tariffs: Some energy providers could offer EV-specific plans. These could include different tariff conditions or free charging periods. For example, a few hours free during the peak of the day when there’s lots of solar energy being sent into the grid.
- Rooftop solar: If you have rooftop solar, charging your EV during peak sunlight hours can mean less electricity being pulled in from the main grid. Just keep in mind that charging your EV through your panels could mean less solar power for your home’s everyday usage. Which could also affect your feed-in tariff credits.
- Smart charger: Smart chargers are set-and-forget programs for your EV battery. This means you could automatically charge during cheaper periods with your time-of-use tariff or when your solar panels are working their hardest. It’s a simple way to make sure your charger only turns on when it’s best for your pocket.
How does EV charging work in apartments and strata buildings?
If you live in an apartment complex or strata property, you’ll need to talk to your owners’ corporation or strata manager before installing a charger. There are an increasing number of apartments and strata buildings installing EV chargers for tenants or are at least EV charging ready. For older buildings, however, this will likely mean higher installation costs. Either way, you should talk to your building manager about their EV charging installation policies before jumping in and buying an EV.
Can I charge my EV at home with solar?
Pairing your EV charger with rooftop solar panels could be a game changer, but only if it’s planned out right. The average EV uses around 10kW of power a day, depending on driving habits, while the average 5kW solar panel system might generate roughly 23kW of power. This means solar can help with charging, but it might not be able to fully recharge a battery from empty while also meeting your home’s daily power needs.
If you’re currently using feed-in tariffs (FiTs), using your panels to charge your EV could leave less or no credits at all from FiTs.
Some homes add a battery to their setup to store excess solar power during the day and use it to charge their car overnight. It can be a big upgrade cost to your setup, but it can increase your home’s energy independence while having enough power for your EV and daily home usage.
If you’re thinking about installing solar to help with your EV power needs, it’s worth calculating how much power your EV model needs to charge and adding that to your household needs. That way you can size your solar system to suit both your home and car’s energy needs.
Plug in and power up using an energy plan from iSelect
If you have an EV (or are just browsing), then your energy plan could matter a lot more than you might think. Comparing how different energy plans can work for your EV setup can help ensure your current plan is working for you, not making things harder. With iSelect, you can compare from a range of energy plans and providers to find one that works with your charging needs. Head online to compare or call our energy comparison experts at 1800 664 532.
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