You’ve got the EV – congratulations! It’s a smart means of protecting yourself from fuel increases while enjoying some pretty cool driving technology.
Unless you’ve thought ahead and installed a home EV charger, you’re initially going to be relying on the ‘granny charger’ that comes in the boot of your car. It plugs into your home power points and provides a slow method of charging your electric vehicle battery.
For faster charging and greater convenience, you’ll soon want to upgrade to a dedicated home EV charger. In this article, we’re going to discuss why a granny charger isn’t a long-term solution and what you’ll get out of a 7kW home charger.
What’s Wrong With a Granny Charger?
Nothing, as a backup. The problem is when you use it as your primary charging source, because it’s a slow charge that draws from 1.6kW to 2.4kW from a standard power point in your home.
In real-world terms, if you have an EV with a 60kWh battery, you’re looking at 25 hours of charging to get it from flat to full. Realistically, at night you’re going to get in 8 or 9 hours of charging, which is fine if you need a top-up but is going to leave you well short of a full charge. You’ll add around 15 kWh to the battery, which will be about 100km of range depending on your EV.
Another thing to think about: 1.6kW to 2.4kW is a pretty high load to put through a standard household circuit every night. It’s not a big catastrophe, but it’s not ideal – installing a home charger would be safer in the long term.
What a 7kW Home EV Charger Actually Delivers
A dedicated 7kW AC wall charger is the standard residential install in Australia, and for good reason. Installed by a professional electrician, it sits on its own dedicated circuit that’s isolated from the other house circuits. Because it doesn’t share a circuit with other appliances, it won’t trip your breakers. It’s a clean and fast setup.
How fast? Well, when it comes to charging, that 7kW current is adding 35 to 40km of range per hour of charge. So the 60kW battery we mentioned above will go from empty to full in 8 or 9 hours. Plug in your EV at night and it will be fully charged for when you go to work in the morning.
What Does a Full EV Charge Cost?
Many motorists are looking at EVs for the cost benefits recently, given the recent fuel price surges. With that in mind, how much does it cost to run an EV? A lot will depend on what kind of plan you have with your energy provider, but let’s say average Victorian grid electricity will set you back 30-35 cents per kWh. At these rates, a full 60kW battery will cost $18 to $21. Realistically, you could travel around 350 to 400km on that charge. That’s a fraction of what you’d spend driving that distance in a petrol or diesel vehicle.
Is Three-Phase Power Worth Upgrading To?
We get asked this question a lot. A vast majority of Melbourne properties are single-phase, and that is perfectly adequate for their needs. If you want faster charging than 7kWh for your EV (consumer-grade 11kW and 22kW chargers are available), you need three-phase power.
Here’s the thing, though: most residential EVs sold in Australia are single-phase vehicles, which means they accept a maximum of around 7.4kW regardless of what your home charger or power supply can deliver.
Upgrading your home to three-phase won’t make your car charge faster if the car itself can’t use it.
Thee-phase only makes sense if:
- You’re running a higher-end EV that supports three-phase AC charging,
- Your household already has significant electrical loads that benefit from it
- You’re building new and want to future-proof the property.
For most single-EV households, upgrading to three-phase power isn’t a worthwhile investment. Unsure whether your vehicle supports three-phase charging? Check the onboard charger specs in your owner’s manual. It’ll list the maximum AC input.
Is Your Home Ready? What Voltora Checks
Before any installation, the Voltora Industries team will look at some key factors that determine scope and cost:
Your switchboard: Older fuse-based boards often need upgrading before a dedicated EV circuit can be added. A modern switchboard with safety switches is a prerequisite.
Available circuits: Your switchboard needs a spare circuit or the capacity to add one. Most modern boards handle this without issue.
Single vs three-phase supply: You may need to upgrade to 3-phase power if you want higher charging speeds than 7kWh or you’re planning future expansion.
Cable run distance: The cable will run from your switchboard to your garage or parking area. A longer distance will add more cost, though most suburban homes in Melbourne are well within a practical range.
A straightforward installation on a property with a modern switchboard typically takes three to four hours. If a switchboard upgrade is needed first, that adds time and cost. We’ll be upfront about that before any work begins.
Melbourne-Wide Home EV Charger Installation
The Voltora Industries mobile team of electricians is based in Ringwood but covers all of Greater Melbourne. From Croydon and Mitcham in the east, through to Hawthorn, Camberwell and Glen Waverley in the inner east, south through Dandenong, Frankston and Berwick, and north into Preston, Coburg and Brunswick.
Wherever your home is, we can get your home EV charger installed.
Get a Quote from Voltora Industries
If you’re getting frustrated by the granny charger and want to get a proper home EV charger installed at your property, get in touch here for a quote. We can help out at both residential and commercial premises. You can expect upfront pricing, excellent communications and certified Gold Master electricians ensuring the job gets done safely, on time and within budget.
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