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While Australia is not there yet with countries that are recording very high EV sales, there is no doubt that more people are switching to electric cars in Australia. On the other hand, while you may appreciate the advantage of saving on fuel costs and contributing to a greener environment, you may wonder how much it costs to charge an EV at home in Australia.
This post will answer the question, "How much does it cost to charge an EV at home in Australia?" and provide details on EV charging options and their charge costs in Australia. You can learn more about how to reduce your EV charging costs, the differences between EVs and plug-in hybrids, and how electrical contractors can help with EV charging costs. Continue reading to uncover more!
What is the cost of charging an EV in Australia?
The costs of charging an electric car in Australia can depend on factors like battery size, type and weight of electric vehicle, and charging time. Home EV charging costs and public electric car charging also rely on the charger type and charging network.
In Australia, charging an electric car can cost between $ 0.15 and $0.60 per kilowatt hour. The cost depends on the electric vehicle and the charging station.
EV charging options and costs in Australia
Here are three charging options and their estimated charging prices in Australia. Note that the indicated charging costs depend on your household energy tariff, region, and charging rate updates.
Level 1
You can install a level 1 home charger as a dedicated or regular wall socket charger. The charging price ranges from $0.25 - $.040/kWh.
Electric vehicle home charging costs
A home EV charging station can cost between $ 0.30 and $0.60 per kWh, depending on the EV and the charging station.
How to calculate electricity costs to charge EVs at home
A method to calculate your fee for charging an electric vehicle at home is to factor in your location's average electricity rates and your EV's battery size. For example, the home EV charging costs for a Tesla Model 3 that has a battery capacity rating of 57.5kWh using the electricity costs in Victoria (21.14 c/kWh) are a product of the two factors - $12.16. Up to 70% of EV owners in Australia use a home solar system to run their EVs at little additional cost.
Level 2
These are often public chargers with AC specifications. Public EV charging here is around $0.25/kWh, and you will ultimately pay between $15 and $19 to charge a small electric vehicle fully. If you have a larger EV, you may expect to pay between $30 and $36 for a full public EV charger to charge fully.
Level 3 DC fast charging
These are public DC chargers with power levels between 25kWh and 350kWh. The charging price can range from $0.40 to $0.70/kWh (40 to 70 cents per kWh).
The charging costs for EV owners to fully charge their electric cars at level 3 public charging stations range from $15.30 to $45 to $54, depending on whether the EV is a small or larger one.
Rapid and public charging stations in Australia
Owning an electric charging system allows you to charge your EV at home instead of dealing with possible queues at public EV charging stations.
There are more than 3,700 public charging stations in Australia and up to 1,000 in NSW. These public charging stations are easily accessible in the cities. These public charging stations are usually Level 2 AC chargers.
In addition, you can use rapid charging stations on highways if you are on a road trip. Also called fast or ultra-rapid stations, these Level 3 DC fast charging stations provide the fastest charging station available in Australia. However, the charging costs tend to be higher.
Costs to charge your EV at public stations
Public EV charging costs depend on several factors. The factors include network electricity fares, idle fees, and other conditions such as limited charging time. For example, what you may pay as idle fees can vary depending on what EV charging station you are in.
The following information on charging networks in Australia and their average charging costs can give you an idea of how much it costs to charge your EV.
- Chargefox has an AC standard charger, a DC fast charger, and a DC ultra-rapid charger, with charging costs of $0.30, $0.40, and $0.60, respectively.
- Jolt DC chargers are charge-free for the initial 7kWh and $0.42 subsequently.
- Elvie offers a fast DC charger for $0.40 and a DC ultra-rapid charger for $0.60.
- Tesla superchargers are at the rate of $0.63.
- NRMA DC fast chargers offer free charging for members.
Regarding EV models, the fast and ultra-rapid chargers' charging costs to charge them fully are as follows:
- Polestar 2 Standard Range: $27.6 (DC fast) and $41.4 (Ultra rapid).
- Tesla Model Y: $24.2 and $36.3
- Hyundai IONIQ Electric: $15.32 and $22.98
- Nissan Leaf: $24 and $36
- Hyundai Kona Electric: $26 and $39
- Some free EV charging stations also exist in business places that offer incentives.
How to charge electric cars at home
There are two options for charging your EV at home. You may use a standard AC wall socket for home charging. The process is as easy as plugging your EV the way you plug your laptop or smartphone. You only need a compatible lead.
However, this option provides the slowest charging speed as your EV may require up to 18 hours to charge fully – depending on the battery size. Alternatively, you may install a dedicated EV charger. This home charging option can charge your EV as much as three times faster than a standard power outlet.
How to reduce your EV charging costs
EVs are considerably cheaper than Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles. Ice vehicles can cost up to $14 per 100 km on average, whereas the cost is estimated at $4 for EVs. It is possible to further reduce the cost of charging an EV at home. Read on for some great tips on this.
- It's about more than just the need to follow public charging etiquette. Using public charging stations to charge your car is often more expensive than charging your EV at home. Therefore, installing a home charger in the long term is more cost-saving.
- You may be able to enjoy special tariff plans for EV owners. Confirm this with your electricity company.
- As an EV owner, you may benefit from off-peak lower fares and tax rebates.
- It is more optimal to ensure that your EV is charged at least 80 per cent before leaving it parked.
- Ultimately, EV charging costs remain cheaper than ICE vehicles, considering the time of day or peak and off-peak periods.
- Using a scheduled AC charging timer can be both convenient and optimal. You may also use 'smart' trickle charging cables and wall boxes for easy plug-ins.
- Bigger EV batteries contribute to the high purchase costs of an EV and may need more electricity to charge them up.
Differences between EVs and plugged hybrids
If the purchase, installation, and running costs of EVs are too off-putting for you, you may go for Plug-In Hybrid EVs (PHEVs). PHEVs are hybrid cars that run on both electricity and fuel.
This option is excellent for you if you have shorter commutes that can benefit from electricity use and need the fuel power option for extended road trips.
While PHEVs usually have lower upfront costs than EVs, you must be prepared for higher servicing costs. As such, the running costs for hybrid vehicles are higher.
How contractors can help eith EV charging costs
You need all the help you can get regarding the cost of charging an electric car in Australia. It is best to get a solution that meets your specific needs. For example, you need to properly weigh the average electricity costs, cost of charger installations, charge speeds, and running costs before buying a Toyota Hilux or Ford Ranger family.
Before buying an electric vehicle, you can consult a licensed electrical contractor to provide EV guides on residential and commercial chargers, EV charging cables, and home EV charger costs. Even after installation, they can give you a charging guide for EVs in apartment complexes.
Contact a reliable electrical contractor
After reading this post, you have a detailed answer on how much charging an EV at home in Australia costs. Reading EV car guides may not be enough to help you simplify your EV charging needs. You can contact a qualified, licensed and professional electrician for ideal EV charging solutions. They can provide safe and reliable energy-saving solutions for a smooth EV transition.
