Charging an electric vehicle (EV) as a renter can be a bit challenging, especially since you typically don’t have the option to install a permanent charging station. EVSE breaks down the solution to owning an EV for a renter.
The most straightforward approach and the cheapest is to use a standard household outlet, which is called Level 1 charging. This method involves simply plugging your EV’s charging cable into any regular Australian household outlet. The downside is that it’s relatively slow—usually adding around 8-10 Km of range per hour. As a result, you’ll likely need to charge overnight or for extended periods to achieve a full battery. Not ideal if you travel for work on take extended road trips. Portable chargers are particularly useful for renters because they don’t require any installation, offering flexibility and convenience.
For those who are particularly invested in finding a solution, it’s worth having a conversation with your landlord or property manager about the possibility of installing a Level 2 charging station. While permanent installations may not always be feasible, some landlords are open to working with tenants, especially if you offer to cover the costs. Additionally, there may be incentives or subsidies available to offset the installation expenses. A home EV charger provides access to an overnight fully charged EV.
Some modern apartment complexes are starting to offer shared EV charging stations as part of their amenities. If your building provides this, it could be a convenient solution, although availability may be shared among other residents.
Like Petrol 50% of EV owners will need to use public charging stations regularly. Thankfully we are seeing a host new charging infrastructure, including fast chargers that can significantly reduce charging time. We recommend downloading both the PlugShare or Exploren APP can help you locate nearby stations. We recommended DC charging in public where possible as this gives you freedom and flexibility. DC chargers are called Level 3 chargers and provide charging speeds from 10minutes to an hour.
A nice 4th alternative is if your workplace offers EV charging, this could be an excellent opportunity to supplement your home charging needs. Many companies are installing charging stations on-site to encourage employees to adopt electric vehicles. If available, it could allow you to recharge your vehicle during the workday, reducing reliance on home charging.
While charging as a renter can present some hurdles, it’s definitely possible with the right approach. From using standard household outlets to using public or workplace charging, there are multiple strategies to keep your EV charged. As electric vehicles become more widespread, it’s likely that more rental properties will adapt by offering charging infrastructure as a standard amenity and that more public charging becomes available.
AT EVSE we supply and install EV chargers at home, work and on the go and can provide advise and recommendation to everyday Australia’s and companies big and small about how they can have the fastest and most cost-effective charging solutions.
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