Charging
How to choose a home EV charger in Australia
Short answer: many drivers don't need a wall charger at all. The Victorian Government says a standard power point meets most people's daily driving. If you do want one, a single-phase Level 2 charger of about 7 kW suits most homes. Choose a smart model that can schedule charging for cheap or free windows and soak up spare solar. Industry quote data puts the average installed cost at about A$2,280 nationally (A$2,277 in Victoria) as of October 2026. As at 19 October 2026, the only state help still open for home chargers is loans in the ACT and NSW. We found no cash rebates for home chargers in any state.
General information, not advice. Always get a licensed electrician to assess your home.
General information, not tax advice. Rules change and your circumstances differ. Check the ATO sources linked here and speak to a registered tax agent or your employer's payroll team before you decide.
Do you need a wall charger?
The Victorian Government says the average Victorian drives about 38 km a day. It also says a standard socket adds about 14 to 21 km of range an hour. A few hours overnight or in a midday free window covers that. A wall charger makes sense if you:
- drive long distances most days, or share one charger between two EVs
- want to fill up quickly inside a short cheap or free window
- want smart features such as solar-surplus charging.
The main types
| Option | Typical power | Range added per hour* | What's involved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portable cable, standard 10A socket (Level 1) | About 2.3 kW | About 14–21 km | No changes needed; a dedicated circuit is recommended |
| Portable cable, 15A socket | About 3.5 kW | About 50% faster than 10A | A 15A outlet on a dedicated circuit |
| Wall charger, single-phase (Level 2) | Up to about 7 kW | About 42–65 km | Dedicated circuit; sometimes a switchboard upgrade |
| Wall charger, three-phase (Level 2) | 11–22 kW | Limited by the car | Needs three-phase supply; most EVs accept at most 11 kW AC |
Range figures from the Victorian Government. Power figures are approximate electrical ratings (230 volts × amps).
Australia uses the Type 2 plug for AC charging. Choose a tethered charger with a fixed cable for convenience, or a socketed one if you'll use your own cable.
What it costs
Solar Choice publishes an EV Charger Price Index from installer quote data. Its October 2026 averages include the charger, a basic installation and GST:
| State | Average installed cost |
|---|---|
| NSW | A$2,378 |
| VIC | A$2,277 |
| QLD | A$2,207 |
| ACT | A$1,919 |
| TAS | A$2,123 |
| SA | A$1,971 |
| WA | A$2,795 |
| National | A$2,280 |
Solar Choice is a quote-comparison business that we may apply to as an affiliate. We have no affiliate relationship with it today. See our affiliate disclosure.
The extras that push a quote up are a switchboard upgrade, a long cable run to the garage or driveway, trenching, and a three-phase upgrade. Ask for these as separate lines on the quote.
Smart features worth having
- Scheduling, so charging starts in your off-peak or free window. See the best time to charge your EV at home.
- Solar-surplus mode. This usually needs a current clamp at the switchboard, so the charger can follow your spare solar.
- Load management. The charger slows down when the house is busy, which can help you avoid a switchboard upgrade.
- Open standards such as OCPP, so you're not locked into one app.
- South Australia: since 1 July 2026, new hard-wired home chargers must support remote demand response and be on the Technical Regulator's approved list.
- Bidirectional (vehicle-to-home and vehicle-to-grid) chargers are emerging. They need network approval and compatible cars, so check your network's rules first.
Installation and safety
- Use a licensed electrician. In Victoria they must work for a Registered Electrical Contractor and give you a Certificate of Electrical Safety. Work on the main switchboard is "prescribed" work and needs an independent inspection, which the contractor arranges.
- Ask whether your network distributor needs to be notified or approve the charger, especially for larger or three-phase units.
- Get at least three quotes, and ask about warranty, safety-device protection and who registers the job.
- Renters should talk to their rental provider first. Apartment owners usually need owners corporation approval. Victoria has guidance for strata buildings.
Rebates and loans by state (checked 19 October 2026)
| State or territory | Home charger support | Status |
|---|---|---|
| ACT | Sustainable Household Scheme loan, 3% interest, up to A$20,000 per household across eligible upgrades | Open; must use a Brighte-accredited supplier |
| NSW | Home Energy Saver zero-interest loan up to A$15,000; EV chargers listed; household taxable income up to A$210,000 | Open; a separate discount of up to A$4,000 is "coming soon" |
| Victoria | No home charger rebate found | – |
| Queensland | No home charger rebate found | – |
| South Australia | No rebate found; smart-charger rules apply from 1 July 2026 | – |
| Western Australia | No home charger rebate found | – |
| Tasmania | Energy Saver Loan Scheme | Closed 1 September 2025 |
| Northern Territory | EV Charger Grants Scheme (up to A$1,000 residential) | Closed 31 December 2025 |
| Federal | No home charger rebate; the Cheaper Home Batteries Program covers batteries only | Battery discounts tiered by size from 1 May 2026 |
Programs change often. Always check the official page before you buy, because some schemes need pre-approval or an accredited installer.
If you're on a novated lease
The ATO says a home charging station is not a car expense, so the EV FBT exemption doesn't cover it. If your employer provides or reimburses one, it may be a separate fringe benefit. Ask your provider how they treat it before you add it to a lease. Our lease inclusions list covers this, and the novated lease and FBT guide explains the exemption.
Questions to ask an installer
- Can my switchboard and supply handle a 7 kW charger, and would load management avoid an upgrade?
- What's itemised: the charger, cable run, protection devices, switchboard work, certificates?
- Does the charger support scheduling, solar-surplus mode and OCPP?
- What warranty covers the charger and the workmanship?
- Do you notify the distributor, and lodge the compliance certificate?
FAQ
Is a 22 kW charger faster?
Only if your car and supply can use it. Most EVs accept at most 11 kW on AC, and the Victorian Government says most Victorian houses are single-phase.
Can I install a charger myself?
No. Fixed wiring must be done by a licensed electrician.
Will a charger save me money?
The charger itself doesn't. Charging at the right time does. A smart charger makes it easy to use cheap windows. Compare costs on our charging costs page.
Where can I find charger deals?
We list dated, sourced offers on our deals page once verified.
Sources
- Victorian Government, Charging your electric vehicle: https://www.energy.vic.gov.au/renewable-energy/zero-emission-vehicles/charging-your-electric-vehicle
- Solar Choice, EV Charger Price Index (October 2026): https://www.solarchoice.net.au/ev/charging/price-index/
- Energy Safe Victoria, Certificates of Electrical Safety: https://www.energysafe.vic.gov.au/certificates-electrical-safety/certificates-electrical-safety-consumers
- ACT Government, Sustainable Household Scheme FAQs (September 2026): https://www.climatechoices.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/1865863/SHS-Households-Frequently-Asked-Questions-September-2026.pdf
- NSW Government, Install a home electric vehicle charger: https://www.energy.nsw.gov.au/households/transport/electric-vehicles/home-charger
- NSW Government, Home Energy Saver: https://www.energy.nsw.gov.au/households/grants-rebates/home-energy-saver
- ReCFIT Tasmania, Energy Saver Loan Scheme closed: https://www.recfit.tas.gov.au/get_involved/news/energy-saver-loan-scheme
- NT Government, EV Charger Grants Scheme: https://nt.gov.au/industry/business-grants-funding/electric-vehicle-charger-residential-and-business-grants-scheme
- SA Government, EVSE standards: https://www.energymining.sa.gov.au/industry/hydrogen-and-renewable-energy/electric-vehicles/electric-vehicle-supply-equipment-evse-standards
- CERI, Load control requirements for EVSE in South Australia (secondary): https://kb.ceri.net.au/en_GB/network-load-control-schemes/load-control-requirements-for-evse-in-south-australia
- SA Power Networks, Bidirectional and V2G charging: https://www.sapowernetworks.com.au/connections/connect-solar-and-ev-chargers/electric-vehicle-charger-installations/bidirectional-and-v2g-charging-on-the-network/
- Clean Energy Regulator, Battery rebates changing 1 May 2026: https://cer.gov.au/news-and-media/media/2026/march/battery-rebates-are-changing-1-may-2026
- Solar Choice, EV charger rebates by state (last updated February 2026, partly out of date): https://www.solarchoice.net.au/ev/charging/rebates-incentives-australia/
- ATO, Electric cars exemption (home charging station): https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/hiring-and-paying-your-workers/fringe-benefits-tax/types-of-fringe-benefits/fbt-on-cars-other-vehicles-parking-and-tolls/electric-cars-exemption
Last checked: 19 October 2026. General information only, not tax, financial, legal or credit advice. We don’t recommend any provider; where businesses are named, it’s for information. See our affiliate disclosure.