EV Charging Strategy & Home Charger Options
When planning your EV charging strategy, it's important to consider both the vehicle's capabilities and your typical driving routine.
Vehicle Capabilities:
- Range: Over 400 km (DC fast charging)
- DC Fast Charging Capability: Up to 195 kW
Typical Driving Habits:
- Daily commute: 20 km each way (40 km round trip, Mon–Fri)
- Airport trip (CBD to airport): ~40 km round trip, once a fortnight
- Perimeter metro trips: 50–150 km per week, mixed across weekdays and weekends
- Occasional country trips: Up to 200 km one-way (400 km round trip), a few times per year
Assumption: Your weekly driving typically sits between 200–300 km, well within the range of a single full
charge. Country trips may push you to use public fast charging.
Charger comparison:
| ✅ Option 1: 11 kW AC Charger | ✅ Option 2: 22 kW AC Charger | ⚠️ Option 3: 50 kW DC Charger | |
| Charging time | 7–8 hours for 0–100% | 3.5–4 hours (if your EV supports 22 kW AC) | 1–1.5 hours |
| Cost | $2,500 AUD to install – assumes you have 3 phase to home | Around $5,000 AUD – assumes you have 3 phase to home. | $50,000+ AUD, with significant power upgrades required |
| Use case | Plug in once per week overnight, preferably during off-peak hours. | Same as above but offers flexibility for mid-week top-ups or short-notice longer drives. | Quick, frequent charging at home for users who do long trips often or run high-mileage schedules. |
| Best for | Predictable, routine driving. Easily covers weekly driving needs and most metro trips. | Users with more dynamic schedules or weekend-heavy driving patterns. | Fleets or high-frequency drivers needing rapid home turnaround. |
| Battery health | Excellent – slower AC charging is gentle on the battery. | Still AC, so relatively gentle. | Higher stress on the battery if used frequently—use sparingly. |
Charging Routine Recommendation
With 11 or 22 kW at home:
→ Charge once per week overnight to cover your standard weekly driving (commute + errands + metro).
→ Top up mid-week or before a long weekend if needed.
Country trips:
→ Use public DC fast chargers along the way or at your destination.
→ Plan a quick top-up en route or overnight using destination charging.
→ With 400 km range, many trips can be completed with just one fast charge.
DC at home (if installed):
→ Use only when necessary, like tight turnarounds or unplanned long drives.
