Charging an electric vehicle
Using an EV charger is often as simple as 'plug and play', but charging an EV has some key differences to refuelling a petrol or diesel car. Check out the information below to get up to speed on EV charging.
Charging at home
Charging at home is the cheapest and most convenient way to keep your EV battery fully charged. Charging your EV overnight by plugging it into a regular wall socket in your garage/carport (AC slow/trickle charging) can add up to 150km of range.
The average Canberran drives approximately 40km a day, so you’ll only need to charge overnight twice a week to keep your battery topped up. If charging at home is not an option, public chargers offer great convenience for when you are at work, on a road trip, or at the shops on the weekend.
Using a public EV charger
The exact process for using a public charger will vary depending on the type of charging station (AC or DC) and the operator. Some chargers will require a dedicated card, or mobile app, to allow you to pay for charging. Accepted payment types will normally be clearly displayed on or near the charger.
Did you know?
DC fast charger speeds are automatically reduced when a battery reaches 80% charge to protect the battery from degradation. To improve the longevity of your vehicle battery, and make your trip quicker, only charge to 80% when using a DC fast charger.
Simple steps to use a public EV charger
One If the charger does not have a cable attached, connect one end of your charging cable to the charging station. | Two Connect the other end of the charging cable to the EV. If the charging station is free and does not require payment, charging should start automatically. Otherwise, check the charger screen/display for further information. To ensure your EV is charging, look out for indicator lights on your vehicle’s display. |
Three Once your EV is charged, disconnect all plugs, and leave the charger as you found it. | Four To allow access for other drivers, you should vacate the charging bay as soon as your vehicle is charged. Never park in an EV charging bay if you are not charging your EV. Fines apply in the ACT for parking any vehicle (EV, petrol, or other) in a charging bay if it is not actively charging. |
Public EV charger checklist
Before you use a public charger, we recommend you check the following things:
- Speed - is it a slow or fast charger? How long will it take to get the charge you need?
- Cables - are cables attached to the charger, or will you need to bring your own?
- Plugs - is the type of plug on the charger compatible with your EV and/or cable?
- Operator - who operates the charger? Do you have the relevant app or RFID card required to make payment?
- Access - is charger access restricted to certain times of the day or limited to a business’ customers or patrons?
A charge operator’s website or app will always be the best source of truth to check whether chargers are operational and available. However, www.plugshare.com is a great place to check information about public EV chargers and see a map of charger locations right across Australia.
Download our Public EV Charging Fact Sheet [1.4 MB].
Charger speeds
The speed of an EV charger will vary depending on the power output in kilowatts (kW) and the type of electrical current (AC or DC). DC chargers typically have a higher power output than AC chargers. This means they are often much faster, but also more expensive to use.
Charging speeds will vary depending on the make and model of your EV, but typical charge speeds for the most common types of chargers are:
Level | What is it | Type of charger |
|---|---|---|
Level 1 | Uses a regular wall outlet (i.e., a power point), common for home charging |
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Level 2 | Physical charger that can be installed at home or for public use |
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Level 3 | Very high voltage fast charger, common on long distance travel routes |
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Did you know?
Plug in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) may not be compatible with DC charging and often have a limited charging capacity from AC chargers.
Tips to estimate charging speed
- AC slow/trickle charging - to estimate the time to charge from 0 to 100% battery capacity, divide your EV battery capacity by 2.3. For example, an 80kWh battery EV would take approximately 35 hours to charge from 0 to 100%.
- DC fast charging - the power of the charger (in kW) will be delivered to the battery (in km of range) every 10 minutes. For example, a 50kW DC fast charger should deliver approximately 50km of range every 10 minutes. Charging speed may slow once charge is above 80%.
Did you know?
Charging speeds for EVs vary depending on the power of the charger and the maximum charge speed a vehicle can accept. When planning a trip, remember to consider the maximum AC and DC charging speeds of your vehicle.
Cables and plugs
EV chargers often have cables that look similar to a petrol pump. However, some AC chargers do not provide cables to connect the charger to your car. In this situation you will need to bring your own cable. Carrying your own cable with the right plug means your EV can be compatible with more public chargers.
Charging cables are typically provided when you purchase an EV. If you want to buy a spare cable, ask your car dealer or manufacturer to make sure you get the right cable. DC chargers will always have attached cables for safety reasons. When using a DC charger, be sure to check that the attached cables have the correct plug for your vehicle.
Before using a public charger, you should check that the plug on your vehicle is compatible with the plug on the charger. The type of plug will vary depending on the type of charger (AC vs DC). Adapters can be purchased for AC charging cables that allow you to charge at almost any public AC charger.
For DC chargers, CCS2 is the most popular plug type and is common on new EV models. CHAdeMO is typically found on Japanese manufactured EVs such as the Nissan Leaf but is much less common than CCS2.
Charging tips for good battery health
In general, each EV model has a charging ‘sweet spot’ where the battery will stay healthy for longer. But every EV is different, so check your manufacturer’s recommendations to see what type of charging is best for your model. Some general tips and tricks are:
- Keep the battery charge between 20% and 80%
- Only use DC fast chargers when you really need to - like on a road trip
- Avoid full cycle charging and discharging (i.e., 0% - 100% or 100% - 0%)
- Don’t charge every day unless you need to
- Store your EV somewhere it can be protected from temperature extremes.
- Estimate the time and cost of charging your EV at home using the Australian Government’s Home Charging Calculator
- See a map of public EV chargers available on Plugshare
- Learn about public EV charger etiquette with the Australian Electric Vehicle Association.
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as traditional custodians of the ACT and recognise any other people or families with connection to the lands of the ACT and region. We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region.