EVs are a brilliant invention that is environment-friendly, sleek, modern, and twice as cheap to charge and run as their gasoline rivals. Furthermore, the EV market is constantly growing, with items like portable EV chargers becoming easily available.
But before buying an EV, one of the first questions you’ll probably have is: How do I charge my EV at home? After all, nobody wants to rely on public charging stations every time the battery runs low.
This guide will walk you through the basics of how EVs work, how charging at home actually happens, and the different types of charging options available.
An electric car consists of 3 main components:
The battery: Stores the energy that powers the car.
The electric motor: Converts electrical energy into motion.
The motor controller: Manages power flow, performance, and the overall operation of the vehicle.
Like petrol cars need fuel, EVs need electricity. Over time, the battery depletes and must be recharged. The type of battery used depends on the vehicle, but the most common are:
Lithium-ion batteries
Lead-acid batteries
Nickel-metal hydride batteries
Without regular charging, both the motor and controller can’t operate, which is why charging access is so important.
Charging an EV is simpler than you may think. Just like plugging in a phone, you connect your car to a power supply via an EV charger.
A home EV charger, either level 1 or level 2 (see below for more info on levels), has two ends: one end will plug in to the car’s charging port and the other end will connect to your home’s power supply. All current EVs in the Australian market have the same compatibility for charging ports – AC ports are type 2 and DC ports are CCS2. If you own a model before 2018, you may have a different plug, so it is worth checking.
A home EV charging station will always be an AC charger, although DC is much faster, they require huge levels of electricity, which is not feasible in homes and would be very expensive to run.
Before you try to charge your EV at home, it might be a good idea to electrify your home to support your EV with a solar and battery system (or a battery-only upgrade to your existing system). Exclusive subscription offer available from Enreal. Find out more here
Having the freedom to charge your EV at home is amazing because you won’t have to go to a public electric station every time your vehicle runs out of juice. Also, if your car’s battery goes down to zero, you won’t have to tow it to a public power station.
So charging your EV at home is often the most convenient option, but how exactly do you charge your EV at home? Well, the process is pretty simple — in fact, it’s just like charging your mobile phone at home!
All you’ll need is a charger and power/electric output.
All EVs are made with charging units that can be compatible with 240-volt sockets. This means that you can use your standard house socket to charge your EV or upgrade to a dedicated 7kW or 22kW charging station. Check out our online store for both portable chargers and 7kW/22kW charging stations.
Some people may see the longer charge times of a home charger compared to a public charger to be a downside, but for most EV drivers, they simply plug in when they get home and in the morning, their vehicles are ready for the day.
Charging speeds at home:
Portable charger: 0–100% in 24+ hours.
7kW charger: ~8 hours.
22kW charger: <5 hours.
Charging speeds are highly dependent on your vehicle’s battery and charging capacity.
It is important to remember, the average person is only driving 20-50km a day so the daily charge will just be a top-up rather than 0-100% charge.
There are 2 main levels of EV charging at home. Here’s a quick run-down of each.
Level 1 charging is when you use your household socket to charge your EV, which means all EV owners have access to this level of charging. In this type of charging, the charging station sometimes comes with the EV itself.
However, despite being a convenient and easy method of charging your EV, most EV owners don’t use this method often and keep it reserved for emergencies and roadside assistance.
That’s because level 1 charging stations are 240-volt plugs, and it can take over 24 hours to reach 80% battery charge. In addition, only one EV can be charged at a time.
To access faster-charging speeds at home, you will need a better and faster-charging station. You can accomplish this with the help of a level 2 power station. Using a level 2 power station is the fastest way to charge your EV at home.
It needs to be directly wired into your domestic supply, which may require the assistance of a certified electrician. It can then be installed in your house’s garage, the backyard, or your private parking area.
Level 2 charging stations are available in either 7kW or 22kW. It will depend on you home’s power supply and your vehicle’s charging capacity to choose which power is right for you.
You can purchase a high-quality EV power station from EVSE.
Charging your EV at home is a pretty simple process and our expert team can guide you on the right charger for your needs.
Keep in mind that not all EV charging stations are the same. So make sure the power station you buy meets your requirements and is compatible with your home electricity supply.
Tell us about your car and home to see recommendations.
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