Knowing where and how you charge is important to your driving routine.
On top of your home charging outlet, shopping centres, car parks, hotels, and tourist hot spots across the country have already installed electric charging stations, helping the emerging number of electric vehicles on our roads fuel up.
Here’s what you need to know about charging at home, work and all the stops along the way.
An electric vehicle (EV) can be charged using a standard electrical power point. The time it takes will depend on the make and model, but generally, you can expect it to be fully charged in 8–12 hours.
Most vehicles will also allow you to automatically set the times for charging, enabling you to take advantage of any applicable off-peak rates. Faster charging is also available at your home or office through specialised equipment.
If your day involves driving further than your EV’s range, stay calm, knowing that there are now thousands of public charging stations located in Australian metropolitan and regional areas.
These stations are extremely convenient as you can use these to charge your vehicle while you’re at work or top-up while you’re doing your grocery shopping. There’s no need to rely solely on your home charging system, helping to relieve any potential range anxiety.
You may have already seen public stations around where you live or work, but you can also view this Plugshare map to find a charging point close to you.
Dedicated chargers (also known as level two chargers) allow for a much faster charging speed. They’re ideal for households that use the car frequently and at short notice because they can fully charge an EV in as little as four hours.
Some newer vehicles even have bi-directional capability. This technology enables you to charge your compatible EV battery during cheaper off-peak times (if available), and then use any leftover charge to power your home during more expensive, peak demand times.
The refuelling costs of an EV are significantly less than a traditional petrol car. In an electric car, with charging costs based on an assumed rate of $0.22 per kWh, 100km can cost between $3 to $5. While the same in a petrol car will cost around $15 or higher, depending on the fuel price.
Using smart chargers, most electric cars can be fully charged in as little as four hours (standard electrical points generally take between eight and 12 hours).
If we were to compare electric vehicles by model, cars with bigger batteries, like the Tesla S Model at 100kWh, for example, would cost around $22 to charge fully.
Whereas a 2019 Nissan Leaf with a 40kWh battery size would be fully charged after $8.80. So, like larger petrol-powered vehicles have higher fuel costs and tank capacity than smaller models, electric vehicle charging costs largely depend on the model and battery size.
| Model | Estimated charging cost per 100 kms* | Full battery charging costs* | Battery size | Efficiency^ |
| Tesla Model 3 (Standard Range Plus) |
$4.13 | $11.00 | 50kWh | 188Wh/km |
| Nissan Leaf 2019 | $3.76 | $8.80 | 40kWh | 171Wh/km |
| BMW i3 BEV 120Ah | $2.94 | $9.24 | 42kWh | 134Wh/km |
| Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV ES | $3.01 | $2.64 | 12kWh | 137Wh/km |
*Charging costs based on an assumed rate of $0.22 per kWh.
^Information taken from the manufacturer’s website or greenvehicleguide.gov.au and is true as of September 2019.
Charge your vehicle at any time on our EV electricity plan, plus you’ll receive bonus credits towards your bill.
