Charging your electric vehicle
Find out how and where to charge your electric vehicle (EV), and how to maximise the driving range of your battery.
Where to charge your EV
You can charge your EV at your home and at public charging stations.
The actual speed can vary depending on your car and on the specific charger, but the speeds listed here are listed as a reference, and are calculated based on guidelines from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.
- At home with a standard portable charger
All of our EVs come with a portable charging cable, which you can plug into any standard power point. This will give you around 15km of driving range per hour of charging, depending on your car. That might take care of your commute, but these portable chargers won't fully charge your EV overnight.
- At home with a dedicated home charger
A wall charger (also called a home charger) is 3 to 5 times faster than your EV’s standard portable charger. Depending on the power supply to your house, and the type of car, dedicated home chargers give you around 42–66km of driving range per hour of charging, and can fully charge your EV overnight.
You can select a charger from our home charger range and book your installation through AGL.
- At a public charger
Public charging stations are a bit like the bowsers at a petrol station – simply find one nearby and pay to use it. You can generally use public chargers from any brand or company, including some Tesla chargers (even if you don't drive a Tesla – check the Tesla app to see which chargers are open to other vehicles). Some charging stations may require you to use their app.
Public chargers can be Level 2 or Level 3 chargers, and one hour of charging can give you anywhere from 42kms of range to 80% of your battery capacity.
To find your closest charger, search for your suburb on the EV Charger Map.
Plug in your charger
Park your EV close to the charger and plug the cable into your vehicle’s charging port.Start charging
Depending on your charger model, you might need to press a button or use an app to start the charging process. Some chargers start automatically when they’re plugged in to a vehicle.Check your charging progress
Most chargers have apps or displays that show the charging status. You can monitor the progress and see when your vehicle is fully charged.Unplug and store your cable
When you’ve finished charging, unplug the cable from your vehicle and store it properly. Make sure to close the charging port on your EV.
Find a charging station
You can find your closest one on the EV Charger Map.Park and turn off your vehicle
Plug the charging cable into your vehicle’s charging port
If the charger doesn't have its own cable, connect your type 2 cable to the charging station and plug the other end into your EV.
Type 2 cables are available to rent as an add-on to your EV subscription.Start charging
If the charging station is free, your EV will start charging automatically.
If the charging station is not free, check the instructions on the charger – you might need to tap your card, use a mobile app, or enter a code to start the charging process.Wait for your vehicle to charge
The charging speed will depend on the type of charger you’re using and the size of your battery.
To make sure the charger is working, check the charging status on your car's dashboard or display screen. Chargers that use a mobile app will usually show the progress in the app.Unplug and drive away
Once you’re finished charging, just release the charging cable, unplug it and return it to its holder, and you’re ready to go.
If you're using your own type 2 cable, unplug it from your car first and from the charger second.
Some Tesla chargers are available for use with any brand of EV. Download the Tesla app to check which chargers you can use.
You’ll need the Tesla app to use a Tesla charger.
Download the Tesla app and create an account.
Tap Charge Your EV and select your Supercharger site.
Add your payment method.
Plug your vehicle in, select a stall and tap Start Charging.
When you’re finished, tap Stop Charging.
Cost & electricity usage
As with petrol cars, the running costs will depend on the size of the vehicle and how it is driven. Generally EVs are significantly cheaper to run, with fuel savings of up to 70%.
Electricity usage
The amount of electricity it takes to fully charge your EV depends on its battery capacity. A Tesla Model 3 has a battery capacity of 50 kilowatt-hours (kWh), which means it takes 50kWh to charge the car from 0% to 100%.
Calculating cost
To calculate how much it will cost to fully charge your EV, multiply your electricity rate by the size of your EV battery. Here’s the formula:
Electricity rate ($ per kWh) x EV battery size (kWh) = Total charging cost ($)
For example, if you drove a Tesla Model 3 with a 50kWh battery, and your electricity rate was $0.25/kW, your calculation would be:
$0.25 x 50 = $12.50
Follow these tips to reduce the amount of power you use while driving.
Remove unnecessary items from your car.
Wind the windows up when you’re driving over 60km/h.
Keep your tyres properly inflated.
Accelerate gently, or use 'Eco' mode to ensure more gentle acceleration.
Use regenerative braking.
Use cruise control when possible.
Go easy on air conditioning.
Drive more slowly.
Follow these tips for better battery life.
Time your charging so your battery reaches full just before you hit the road.
Keep rapid charging to a minimum because it can degrade the battery life over time.
Give the battery time to cool down after a long trip before you charge it.
Park in a garage or in the shade when the weather is very hot, because extreme temperatures can reduce your driving range.
