The Complete Guide To EV Charging
It’s important that the charger you buy works for your electric vehicle, home and lifestyle. Here’s everything you need to know before you make your decision.
Get a fixed quoteTethered vs. Untethered
There are two main types of EV chargers: tethered and untethered. The difference between the two of these is simple. A tethered system comes with a charging cable already attached, for convenience and security. Alternatively, an untethered system can completely detach from its charging cables, for tidiness and flexibility.
Types of plugs
When it comes to your EV charger, you need to determine the compatibility between its plug type and your electric vehicle. There are three plug types available: Type 2, CHAdeMo and CCS.
Type 2 can be a single- or three-phase plug. Charging at home, this plug allows for speeds of up to 22kW. Most new EVs on the market come with this plug as standard.
CHAdeMo plugs allow for charging speeds of up to 100kW, but are not commonly seen in Australian vehicles.
CCS is very similar to the Type 2 plug, ensuring maximum charging speed and allowing up to 350kW of power. Most new EVs on the market come with this plug as standard.
Although we all want our EV to charge as fast as possible, choosing the right EV charger with the maximum power and the fastest charging speed may not actually work for your home or your electric vehicle. It’s always best to check first before finding out your EV charger doesn’t meet your required specifications. The easiest way to do this is by engaging chargedirect today.
Solar, Battery & Electric Vehicle
If you have a solar system installed in your home, there are now a handful of EV charging brands, such as Zappi and Wallbox, that have the ability to tap into and use your self-generated energy to charge your EV. These are called “Smart EV Chargers”. Smart EV Chargers also harness energy stored in your home battery, meaning you can self-generate energy throughout the day, and charge your EV overnight for no extra cost.
Having a home solar system, battery and electric vehicle is the perfect trifecta.
Most solar-friendly systems can also utilise energy from the grid, so you don’t have to have a home solar system installed to use them. If you’re conscious of the future, purchasing an EV charger that comes with solar optimisation is a great idea.
Choosing the Right Provider for EV Charging Installations
Should you do it yourself?
Unless you're a qualified electrician, you're not legally allowed to do it yourself. There are serious safety implications if you install it yourself and you're not qualified to do so.
Should you find an electrician to install a unit you’ve already bought?
Although this could be a suitable option, there is still the issue of time and quality of the install. Finding an electrician who is trained to install your particular system can mean hours spent trawling through the web and calling different businesses until you finally find someone. Once found, there is usually a lengthy waiting period before your installation can take place and no guarantee this person has undertaken training specific to your make and model of EV charger.
Should you find a solar integrator?
Despite the fact that solar integrator electricians tend to be more specialised in installing electric vehicle chargers than your standard electrician, the level of service you may receive from them is not the same as a dedicated EV service provider. Why? EV charger installation is a much lower margin product for these businesses. Their primary focus is on helping homes save with solar and battery. Charger station installation is only a supplementary service they offer as part of a bigger picture.
Why it makes sense to engage an end-to-end dedicated EV charging service provider like revcharge
We are an end-to-end EV charging service provider, meaning we take the stress and guesswork out of not only finding an EV charger that meets your needs, but that too of organising a trained technician to install and activate your system. Every EV charger on offer has been carefully evaluated for its performance and features by our specialised team.
Our technicians are all licensed A-grade electricians, publicly insured, comply with Australian regulation standards (AS3000) and undergo ongoing and up-to-date training for each type of charging system they install. Our goal is to save you time and money, while ensuring a quality install that will last you for years to come.
Knowing What to Expect After Your EV Charging Installation
A big part of ensuring our customers are satisfied with their EV charging solutions, is what happens after the installation process. For your peace of mind, all of our systems each come with a manufacturer’s warranty of 3-5 years that ensures their longevity. If something were to go wrong or you needed help for any reason post-install, our customer support team is at your disposal 5-days a week.
Our technicians are also trained to show you how to get the most from your system over its lifetime. This includes how to use your system correctly, how to care for your system as well as how to set up and integrate your system with its corresponding app.
Would recommend to my family & friends
The team at chargedirect did a fantastic job at recommending the right EV charger for my home. The 3-step questionnaire was quick and saved me time searching the internet to compare all the different EV charging models out there. Plus, we’re thinking of getting solar, so we wanted to be solar ready but wasn’t sure which charger was best for this.
The technician installed the unit only a few days after it arrived at my home. The installation service was quick and the technician was extremely knowledgeable. They also spent time showing me how to use the app that came with the charger, so now I can monitor the usage remotely and do more from my phone. I would not hesitate in recommending revcharge to my family and friends!” - Suzie M.
Frequently asked questions
How fast is a home EV charger?
This depends on whether it’s a Level 1 or Level 2 EV charger. Level 1 EV chargers utilise a regular 240-volt wall socket and charging cable. They are the simplest and cheapest form of EV chargers and take up to anywhere from 10 hours to the most part of the entire day to fully charge an electric vehicle depending on your charger's capacity and EV’s battery size.
Level 2 EV chargers come in both single and 3-phase varieties. These types of chargers require a charging station that can be recommended and installed for you by revcharge. Single phase chargers can take anywhere from 4-8 hours to fully charge an EV, while 3-phase chargers will only take a couple of hours.
Can I plug my electric car into a regular outlet?
If you purchase a Level 1 charger it is possible to charge your car from a regular power point at home. This method can take up to a full 24-hours for some electric vehicles to recharge from empty, depending on the make and model of charger and car. We recommend a Level 2 charger to reduce the recharge time and your reliance on public EV charging stations.
If you are interested in getting a Level 2 charger installed at your home, go here and find out which electric vehicle charging system is right for you.
