Never charge through an extension cord
The ACT Government warns that running an extension cord from a charger to an EV would be impractical or illegal. Plug the lead straight into a sound wall socket. If the plug or socket gets hot, discoloured or smells of burning, stop charging and have an electrician check it before you use it again. If there's smoke or flame, call 000.
How slow is slow?
The ACT Government says a standard 10 amp garage socket can take an EV from empty to full in 15 to 30 hours, depending on the battery. Its rule of thumb is to divide the battery size in kWh by 2.3, so an 80 kWh battery takes about 35 hours.
That sounds grim, but most nights you're not starting from empty. If your daily driving is short and you plug in every evening, the lead may keep up. The charging time calculator works it out for your car.
10 amp point or 15 amp point
| 10 amp power point | 15 amp power point | |
|---|---|---|
| Power (WA Government) | About 2.2 kW | About 3.7 kW |
| Range added per hour | Roughly 10 to 15 km | Roughly 15 to 20 km |
| What it takes | An existing, sound power point | A 15 amp point installed by a licensed electrician |
The middle step before a wall charger
The ACT Government says a 15 amp socket upgrade outputs 3.6 kW, enough to add over 220 km of range from an overnight charge. For plenty of driving patterns, that's a sensible step before a full wall charger.
The NSW Government calls charging from a wall socket Level 1, and notes a specially designed smart EV power point is another option. Either way, the new point is licensed work.
Check you've actually got one
Not every car maker includes a 10 or 15 amp home charging lead with a new EV as standard, the ACT Government notes. Some charger makers sell portable units too: Fronius makes the Wattpilot Go, which it calls a portable charging station.
What's fine for you, and what's licensed work
You can
- Plug the lead into an existing power point. Under NSW rules, items plugged into a power point aren't part of the electrical installation.
- Look over the lead and plug for damage before each use.
- Charge overnight or, if you have solar, through the day.
Leave to a licensed electrician
- Installing a new 10 or 15 amp power point in the garage or carport.
- Checking the circuit and wiring can handle hours of extra load, as the WA Government advises.
- Moving a point closer to where the car parks, so a cord is never needed.
- Fitting a wall charger on its own circuit later on.
Our take
Start with the lead if your car came with one and your daily driving is modest. If it can't keep up, ask an electrician about a dedicated 15 amp point before jumping to a wall charger. And if the nearest power point is out of the car's reach, have one put in where it parks rather than stretching a cord.
Want a specialist to sort it?
Tell us the job and your postcode. We match the licence-checked local electrician who does this kind of work, and they call you. No ring-around, and your number goes to them alone.