EV often owners face several EV charging options. To find which works in what situation, San Williams looks among the different methods of EV charging and when they should be used.

The adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) is growing ever faster as we continue moving toward a greener, more sustainable future. In the first half of 2023, more EVs have already been sold than in all of 2022.

Optimism in better EV policy nationwide has also never seemed higher, with a High Court majority recently ruling in favour of EV drivers Chris Vanderstock and Kath Davies who argued Victoria’s road user charges were unconstitutional.

The ruling has since been considered a significant win for Australian motorists, the environment and the national interest in the eyes of the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC).

“There is nothing inherently wrong with road user charges, but they should never be calibrated to discourage the take-up of EVs,” EVC chief executive Behyad Jafari says.

“Australia’s priority should be on boosting the transition to EVs and decarbonising our transport system. This High Court ruling will pave the way to better policy across the nation.”

A percentage of parking spaces in new developments and significant renovations will be equipped with EV charging points following the appointment of a dedicated EV distribution board, coinciding with the recently introduced National Construction Code 2022 (NCC).

Providing a quick means for owners to charge EVs, (typically ranging between 25kW to 350kW, the kW rating roughly equivalent to the range added in kilometres per ten minutes) public DC chargers will continue to roll out.  These locations will continue to be a preferred charging solution for drivers covering long distances, and for drivers without convenient access to at-home charging.

For residential, there are various ways to go about charging at home for people who have access to off-street parking in standalone homes. When it comes to a standard power point, charging an EV can be done with a ‘mode 2’ or ‘level 1’ charger.

The standard power point charger made, sometimes included with a purchased EV, is a cable comprising of an indication box in the centre with lights that can be plugged into standard power outlets at one end and the car on the other.

Charging with this cable normally provides around 10 and 15km of range per hour from a standard 10A power point, meaning approximately a 100km daily range top-up with a car fixed to charge daily from 11pm to 7am (charging should be avoided where possible during peak times from 3pm to 9pm).

“Most drivers using high-power public charging don’t fill the tank, they top up to get enough range to wherever they’re going to spend the night, and then recharge to full while they’re sleeping,” EVC head of energy and infrastructure Ross De Rango says.

Using solar to charge your car from solar panels, or by drawing from the grid when lots of solar panels are turning sunshine into electricity, is regarded as the best energy supply option for this, according to the EVC.

Drivers can set their preferred charging time in a variety of ways – selecting a charge time via the interface in the car, installing a smart charger with a timer or more simply switching it on at the right times of day is advised. This will help avoid energy consumption during peak hours and alleviate demand on the grid and minimising the cost of electricity for the user.

A dedicated circuit will also enhance reliability and decrease the risk of tripping circuit breakers, typically costing a couple of hundred dollars through the quote of an electrician.

For a home EV charger, or a ‘mode 3’/‘level 2’ Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) in the technical term, the 7.4W single phase or 11kW three-phase are the most common sizes for domestic installations. A home EV charger also gives EV owners the option of a full charge of their EV car overnight, allowing for the maximum use of recharging with solar throughout the day.

“A limiting factor in charging speed is the vehicle itself, which has a battery management system to keep the charging rate consistent with what the battery can handle. The charging rate will slow down significantly as the battery gets close to full, and it also responds to temperature and other factors,” Ross says.

For installing mode 3 EV chargers in their homes, consumers should consider choosing a product with OCPP 1.6J (or higher) communications capability, according to the EVC. Some EV chargers even include smart features to sync with apps, planning charging times also can take advantage of excess solar or additional monitoring and control through the option of connecting to external systems.

Talking to the EV car manufacturer on who they prefer for EV charging supplier can be beneficial for installing while contacting a specialist independent installation company or your local electrician is another worthwhile option.

A local electrician will be able to help an EV owner understand the process of installation as many states, including Queensland, South Australia, ACT and the NT, have a variety of restrictions on the installation of 7.4kW EV chargers. If you’re renting discussion for EV charger installation should take place with the landlord.

For single-phase wired homes (approximately 90% of standalone dwellings) an upgrade to three-phase will be necessary if the consumer wants an 11kW or higher EV charger. However, this won’t be needed to install a 7.4kW EV charger, which can be expected to be sufficient for almost all drivers.

The transition to renewable electrical is on route but is nothing of short a job with the building of infrastructure to take place over the next 30 years. Being aware of the most effective EV practices, such as easier, faster and cheaper charging through excess solar or during the night, will ensure the support such a grand job needs.

By doing this small part, we can make for a more seamless shift, as doing a little will add up to a lot.