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Electric vehicle charging on the go

Whether it’s a long trip or topping up while you grab some groceries, Australia’s growing electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure means there are more places to charge your vehicle when out and about.
5 min read
Published on 22 Jan, 2025

The convenience of charging at home, even while you sleep, is one of the benefits of having an electric vehicle. It’s the cheaper charging option (and may even be free if you have rooftop solar and a battery) and when you’re ready to drive, your car is too. But there will be times when you need to top-up when you’re on the go. 

Shopping centres, car parks, hotels, tourist destinations and service stations are just some of the places where you can find dedicated EV charging stations. Plugshare is a great way to find chargers wherever you are. Once you register to this EV community, you can find compatible chargers and can see if someone is using them in real time.

EV charging etiquette 
Here’s some quick tips to help you get the most out of your public EV charging experience. 

DO DON'T
Only charge up to 80% (faster for everyone & better for battery health) Charge to 100% if unnecessary (the last 20% is really slow)
Wrap cables & put the plug back securely for next user Block access to other stations - park with courtesy
Use EV charging spots only when charging Park in dedicated charging bays for other EVs
Wait nearby if the charging bay is full Overstay once you have finished charging
Follow signposted time limits Be pushy & encourage others to finish charging because you're waiting
Check-in using Plugshare  
Types of EV chargers, full text below

In Australia, there are currently three levels of EV chargers that you can use to power up your vehicle. 

Level 1 

  • Uses an existing power point (10-15 Amp, single phase) and a specialised cable which usually comes with the car

  • Adds around 10km to 20km in range per hour it’s plugged in

  • Fine for top-ups but generally won’t charge your car fully overnight

Level 2

  • A dedicated AC EV charger at up to 22kW (32 Amp, three phase)

  • Specially installed in homes, workplaces, shopping centres etc

  • Adds from 40km to 100km of range per hour of charging depending on the vehicle

  • Good top-up in one hour, or for a full recharge overnight

Level 3

  • A dedicated DC EV charger at power levels from 25kW to 350kW (40 – 500 Amp, three phase)

  • Used in commercial settings and road-side locations for rapid charging

  • This method can add up to 150km of range per hour, recharging some electric vehicles in as little as 15 minutes

Building a solid EV infrastructure

Range anxiety is one of the things holding people back from switching to an EV, but with a growing public charging infrastructure, this barrier should soon be overcome.  Making it easy to charge an EV across Australia was one of the six outcomes of the Federal Government’s National Electric Vehicle Strategy. 

Using the Driving the Nation fund, they committed $39.3 million to build 117 fast EV charging sites across Australia, in partnership with the NRMA. The plan is to ensure there is a fast charger approximately every 150km on national highways, with new sites to be delivered in regional and remote areas in every state and territory. 

If you’re planning a long trip or driving through remote or regional areas, make sure you plan your trip with charging destinations in mind. The PlugShare app helps you plan your route, showing you the best charging locations along the way. You can also read about AGL team members Andy and Shiv’s own EV road trip and how they prepared to drive from Melbourne to Sydney.  


What does it cost to charge an EV? 

Government sources say that a petrol car costs on average $2,400 in fuel each year. In comparison, the average EV costs around $400 to charge each year. These costs are based on, so expect to pay more if you’re only recharging at public stations. You can use the Green Vehicle Guide to search and compare vehicles on different factors including fuel cost, emissions and home charging costs. 

If you’re planning to upgrade your EV charging infrastructure at home, or want to find out about off-peak discounts or solar, check out our home EV charging solutions.

Discover more about AGL's electric vehicle offering, including subscriptions, home charging options and energy plans.

Learn more about EVs

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