What it costs
$800 to $2,500 for installation on top of the charger itself. The two variables that matter are the cable run from the board to the charger, and whether the board has spare capacity and RCD protection. If it needs upgrading, add the cost of that.
Charging from a standard power point gives you roughly 10 to 15 kilometres of range per hour. A 7kW wall charger gives about 40. On a normal commute that's the difference between plugging in every night and thinking about it once a week.
How fast
A site assessment first, then usually a single day on site. If the switchboard needs upgrading it's typically done in the same visit or the one after.
What the job involves
An EV charger is a dedicated circuit carrying a big continuous load — around 32 amps for hours at a time on single-phase. That's more than most homes in this suburb were built to supply.
- Load assessment first. Existing supply, main switch rating and consumer mains, before quoting. This is the step skipped by anyone quoting a flat price on the phone.
- Switchboard capacity. Most older boards here have no spare ways and no RCD protection. Budget for the possibility of an upgrade.
- Cable run distance. A garage on the far side of the block from the meter box is a very different job to a carport beside it.
- Load management. Where supply is tight, a charger with dynamic load balancing throttles itself when the oven and air-conditioner are running rather than tripping the main. Often cheaper than upgrading the supply.
- Solar matching. A charger that follows surplus generation and charges from excess rather than importing is worth the extra if you're home during daylight.
- Three-phase. Some properties here have it. If yours does, 11kW or 22kW becomes an option.
Heritage and street-facing installs
Where the charger and its cable run are visible from the street on a property under a heritage or Character Area overlay, placement matters. Running supply through the roof space or along a side boundary rather than across a front facade is usually the answer.
Common questions
How much does it cost to install an EV charger at home?
$800 to $2,500 on top of the charger, driven mostly by cable run distance and switchboard condition. A site assessment is the only way to price it properly.
Do I need a switchboard upgrade for an EV charger?
Often yes, particularly in older homes with ceramic fuse boards. The charger needs a dedicated RCD-protected circuit and spare capacity on the board, and many pre-war switchboards have neither.
Can I just charge from a normal power point?
You can, using the cable that came with the car, but it's slow — around 10 to 15km of range per hour — and it puts a continuous load on a general power circuit that wasn't designed for it. Workable for short commutes; not for much more.
Can my EV charger use my solar power?
Yes, with a charger that supports solar diversion. It monitors your export and ramps charging to match surplus generation, so you charge from your own panels rather than importing. Costs more upfront and pays back if you're home during daylight.
Related
Serving Unley, Parkside, Goodwood and Malvern. See what electrical work costs in Adelaide.