Should you install an EV charger for home or business?

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Most Level 2 AC charging station models can output around 7kW on single-phase or 11kW on three-phase power – as opposed to the circa-2kW speeds from a standard domestic socket. It also benefits from less charging losses, so less energy is wasted.

The maximum charging speed will depend on whether your residential or business building can supply single- or three-phase electricity, which can be determined by looking at the fuse box – whether you have one or three main switches respectively – and the vehicle’s on-board AC charging capability.

By plugging in overnight, this would guarantee a fully charged battery (ideally up to the manufacturer’s charging limit recommendation) in a couple of hours for the start of every day for most EV models.

If you need to use up the full driving range capabilities daily (around 300 to 600km depending on the model, like Uber drivers), then installing an AC wall box is needed.

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There are two factors to the total cost – purchasing the AC wall box unit and electrician installation fees.

There are a range of AC charger models available with single- or three-phase capability, different housing designs, socketed or tethered cables, and smart features such as Bluetooth or internet connectivity, solar panel integration, and bidirectional charging functionality.

Most cost around $1000 to $1500 and need to be mounted to a wall or dedicated pedestal.

Additionally, buyers need to account for procuring a qualified electrician to install it at your home or business, which will cost an additional $500 to $1000 depending on the building. If more wiring or a three-phase upgrade is needed, then it would cost more.

Some car brands, such as Genesis and Lexus, include a Level 2 AC charger and ‘standard installation’ for free as an incentive for purchasing a new EV.

However, if you live in an apartment and park in a shared undercover garage, you’ll need to work with all stakeholders to get legal permission to install any EV charging infrastructure.

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Wall box EV chargers are safer than a trickle charging cable with built-in software that controls the electricity load and overload protection.

If you need to park and charge outside the driveway, for example, then installing an AC charger is a must. The housing has ingress protection from water and dust to ensure safe charging during natural weather events.

Furthermore, the AC charger model should be bought from a reputable retailer and be a well-known brand, such as Tesla, Ocular, Wallbox, Zappi and Delta, plus the electrician should be experienced and qualified in installing chargers to ensure safe operation.

Key EV charger retailers and installers in Australia include EVSE and Jet Charge, but there are a growing number of local businesses as well.

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Besides the key advantage of having a fully charged battery (up to the manufacturer’s limit recommendation) at the start of every day, EVs on employee novated leases can easily sacrifice their charging expenses. The EV charger however will not benefit from the FBT exemption.

Most AC wall boxes integrate a connected app for owners to accurately monitor and record the electricity output.

While the Australian Tax Office (ATO) provides a formula to estimate it and there are accessories to monitor electricity usage from a three-pin plug, Level 2 chargers have this feature built-in. This may also be useful for business fleets for monitoring electricity usage.

If your home or business has solar panels installed, some AC chargers are also ‘smart’ by automatically charging when there’s sun energy generation to slash charging costs.

They can also set scheduled charging periods to automatically start and stop charging when there’s an off-peak electricity tariff – if the EV model doesn’t have this feature built-in.