kW vs kWh — what's the difference?
The two most-used terms in EV charging, and why confusing them leads to bad buying decisions.
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kW (kilowatt) measures power — the rate at which energy flows. Think of it like the speed of a tap: a 7.4kW charger fills your battery faster than a 3.6kW one, just as a wide-open tap fills a bucket faster than a trickle.
kWh (kilowatt-hour) measures energy — the total amount stored. Your EV's battery is rated in kWh: a BYD Atto 3 has a 60.5kWh battery; a Tesla Model 3 Long Range has 82kWh. This is the size of the bucket.
The simple formula
Charge time = Battery capacity (kWh) ÷ Charger power (kW)
A 60kWh battery on a 7.4kW charger takes roughly 8 hours to charge from flat. The same battery on a 22kW charger takes roughly 2.7 hours — but only if your home has three-phase power and your EV supports 22kW AC charging.
7.4 kW
Typical home wallbox speed (single-phase)
22 kW
Maximum AC speed (three-phase)
~30 km
Range added per hour at 7.4kW
~110 km
Range added per hour at 22kW
What does it cost to charge at home in Australia?
Home charging is 3–5× cheaper per km than petrol — here's how to calculate your actual cost.
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The cost depends on two things: your EV's efficiency (kWh per 100km) and your electricity rate (cents per kWh). Most Australian residential tariffs sit between 25c and 40c per kWh, though time-of-use plans can drop overnight rates to 10–20c/kWh.
| Electricity rate | Cost per 100km* | Full charge (60kWh) | Full charge (82kWh) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15c/kWh (off-peak) | $2.25 | $9 | $12.30 |
| 25c/kWh (typical) | $3.75 | $15 | $20.50 |
| 35c/kWh (peak) | $5.25 | $21 | $28.70 |
| Free (surplus solar) | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| *Assumes 15kWh/100km average EV efficiency | |||
Practical tip: schedule overnight charging
How home EV charging actually works
What happens between the wall, the charger, and your car.
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Your home charger (technically an EVSE — Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) doesn't charge the car directly. It provides a controlled AC power supply and communicates with the car's onboard charger, which then converts AC to the DC that fills the battery.
Your switchboard
The charger draws power from a dedicated 32A circuit connected to your main switchboard. A licensed electrician installs this.
The wallbox (EVSE)
Manages the flow of power safely, communicates charging parameters to the vehicle, and handles smart features like scheduling.
The car's onboard charger
Converts AC to DC and manages the final charge into the battery cells. The onboard charger limits the maximum AC charging speed.
Why your car's onboard charger matters
AC vs DC charging explained
The two fundamentally different ways electricity enters your EV's battery.
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All home wallbox chargers — including every charger on this site — are AC chargers. The conversion from AC to DC happens inside your vehicle. DC fast chargers (found at public stations, not homes) bypass the onboard charger and push DC directly into the battery at much higher power.
| AC Charging | DC Fast Charging | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Home, some workplaces | Public fast-charge networks |
| Speed | 3.6–22kW | 50–350kW |
| Conversion location | Inside the vehicle | In the charging unit |
| Typical cost to install | $1,000–$2,500 installed | $50,000+ (commercial) |
| Battery impact | Gentle on battery health | More heat; limit frequent DC use |
| Best for | Overnight home charging | Long-distance trips, quick top-ups |
Level 1, 2 and 3 charging
The international framework for categorising charging speed — and what it means in an Australian context.
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The Level 1/2/3 terminology originates in North America but is used globally to describe charging tiers by speed.
Source: 10A standard power point + travel EVSE
Range added: ~10 km/hr
Emergency backup only — not suitable for daily charging.
Source: Dedicated home wallbox on 32A circuit
Range added: 30–110 km/hr
The right choice for every Australian home. Overnight charging, daily use.
Source: Public DC fast charger (Tritium, BP Pulse, Tesla Supercharger)
Range added: 200–1,000+ km/hr
Not for home use. Great for road trips and quick top-ups on the go.
Charging connectors — Type 2 and CCS2
Australia's standard connectors, and why you don't need to worry about compatibility.
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Australia has converged on two connector standards. Type 2 (also called Mennekes or IEC 62196) is the universal AC charging standard, used by every non-Tesla EV sold in Australia. Every home wallbox on this site uses Type 2. Tesla's own Wall Connector also now ships with a Type 2 connector (Gen 3+) and works with all EVs.
Type 2 (Mennekes)
Home charging- Use: AC home and public charging
- Max speed: Up to 22kW AC
- Vehicles: All EVs sold in Australia
This is what your home wallbox uses.
CCS2 (Combined Charging)
- Use: DC fast charging (public)
- Max speed: Up to 350kW DC
- Vehicles: All modern EVs (Type 2 + CCS2 combo)
Add-on to Type 2 port — same port, larger plug.
What about CHAdeMO?
Tethered vs untethered chargers
Should the cable be permanently attached to your charger or stored separately?
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A tethered charger has a fixed cable permanently attached — you plug straight into the car. An untethered charger has a socket; you need to provide and plug in a separate Type 2 cable.
Tethered
+ Grab and go — no fumbling with a cable
+ No loose cable to store or lose
+ Slightly cleaner installation
− Cable degrades over years and is harder to replace
− Less flexible if you change EVs
Best for most Australian homes — convenience wins.
Untethered (Socket)
+ Use any Type 2 cable — upgrade when needed
+ Works if you share the charger between multiple vehicles
+ Sometimes lower upfront cost
− Need to always have a cable at hand
− More steps to start charging
Best for multi-vehicle households or commercial installs.
Single-phase vs three-phase charging
The most misunderstood topic in home EV charging — and why most Australians don't need three-phase.
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The vast majority of Australian homes (approximately 90%) have single-phase power supply, which limits AC charging to a maximum of 7.4kW (32A × 230V). Three-phase supply — more common in newer homes, homes in SA and WA, or homes that have upgraded — unlocks charger speeds of 11kW or 22kW.
Even if you buy a 22kW charger, it will operate at single-phase speeds (7.4kW) if your home only has single-phase supply. Check your switchboard or ask your electrician before assuming.
Single-phase homes (most Australians)
- Max charging speed: 7.4kW
- Adds ~30–40km range per hour
- Fully charges a 60kWh battery overnight
- Perfectly adequate for most drivers
Three-phase homes (newer builds, some states)
- Max charging speed: 22kW
- Adds ~110km range per hour
- Charges a 60kWh battery in ~3 hours
- Worth unlocking if your EV and home support it
Upgrading to three-phase
Smart features worth paying for
Not all smart features add equal value. Here's which ones genuinely matter for Australian homes.
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Solar diversion (CT clamp)
High — if you have solarMonitors your solar production in real time and charges your EV using surplus solar rather than exporting it at low feed-in tariffs. Can effectively charge for free on sunny days.
OCPP support
High — future-proofingLets your charger work with third-party energy management platforms, home batteries, and tariff optimisers. Closed-protocol chargers lock you into a single ecosystem.
Load balancing
High — older homesMonitors total home electricity draw and reduces charging speed when you near your switchboard limit. Prevents circuit breaker trips with air con, induction cooktops or hot water running simultaneously.
App scheduling
Medium — on time-of-use tariffsSchedule charging for off-peak windows overnight to cut costs. Most apps also track energy use and charge history.
RFID / access control
Low — for most homesAuthentication before charging starts. More relevant for shared parking, rental properties, or commercial contexts than typical single-home installations.
Solar panels and EV charging
How to use your solar system to charge your car — and the right charger features to make it work.
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If you have rooftop solar, a solar-aware charger can be one of the best home energy investments you make. Instead of exporting surplus solar to the grid at feed-in tariffs of 3–10c/kWh, you redirect that energy into your car — effectively charging at zero cost.
⚡
Fast (Grid)
Charges at full speed from the grid regardless of solar. Fastest possible charge; use when you need range quickly.
⚡🌤
Solar Assist (Eco)
Uses surplus solar first, tops up from the grid when solar isn't enough. Balances speed and solar self-consumption.
☀️
Solar Only (ECO+)
Only charges when surplus solar exceeds the minimum charge rate (~1.4kW). Charging pauses if cloud reduces output below threshold.
What you need for solar charging
- ✓ A charger with solar diversion support (myenergi Zappi, Ocular IQ, etc.)
- ✓ A CT clamp installed on your main switchboard (most solar-ready chargers include one)
- ✓ Your solar inverter doesn't need to communicate directly with the charger — the CT clamp monitors net consumption at the switchboard
- ✓ OCPP support lets you connect to third-party solar management platforms for more sophisticated control
For GoodWe, Fronius, SolaX, Sungrow, Enphase, or Sigenergy households, choosing the matching brand's EV charger unlocks deeper integration through native inverter communication — going beyond CT clamp accuracy.
Tips for living with an EV in Australia
Practical habits that save money and protect your battery long-term.
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Charge to 80–90% for daily use
Modern EV batteries age fastest above 90% charge. Most manufacturers recommend daily charging to 80–90% and reserving 100% for long trips.
Don't let the battery sit at under 20%
Deep discharge also accelerates degradation. Aim to plug in overnight rather than running the battery very low regularly.
Schedule charging for off-peak hours
Most home charger apps let you set a charge window. Scheduling 10pm–7am can cut your per-km cost by 40%+ on a time-of-use tariff.
Precondition on hot days while still plugged in
Use your EV's scheduled pre-conditioning feature to cool the cabin before unplugging. This uses grid/solar power — not battery — keeping your range intact.
Get at least two installation quotes
Installation costs vary widely depending on switchboard capacity, cable run distance, and site complexity. Always get written quotes from licensed electricians.
Check your EV's max AC charge rate
Buying a 22kW charger is pointless if your car's onboard charger maxes at 7.4kW. Verify your vehicle's AC acceptance before choosing charger power.
Consider future-proofing your install
Even if you only need 7.4kW now, having your electrician install a cable capable of 22kW (if you have three-phase) costs little more and avoids future re-work.
Register your charger with your energy retailer
Some Australian energy retailers offer EV-specific tariffs or rebates. Check with your retailer after installation.
Bidirectional charging and V2H — what's coming
How your EV could become a household battery — and where Australia sits in 2025–2026.
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Standard EV chargers move power in one direction: grid or solar → car. Bidirectional charging reverses the flow, using the car's battery to power your home (V2H — Vehicle to Home) or export to the grid (V2G — Vehicle to Grid). There is also a simpler version — V2L — which lets you run appliances directly from the car without any special charger.
V2L (Vehicle to Load)
Run appliances directly from the car's battery via a standard 240V outlet — no special charger or electrician needed. Available now on Hyundai Ioniq 5/6, Kia EV6/EV9, BYD Atto 3, BYD Seal, MG ZS EV, and most Mitsubishi PHEVs. Great for camping, power tools, and blackout backup.
V2H (Vehicle to Home)
Your EV powers your entire home during a blackout or at peak tariff times — no grid export, purely domestic use. Requires a CEC-listed bidirectional charger, a compatible EV, and switchboard modifications. Total installed cost: $12,000–$20,000. The most practical near-term bidirectional use case for Australian homes.
V2G (Vehicle to Grid)
Your EV exports power to the grid during peak demand, earning payments from the grid operator. Requires a compatible EV, CEC-listed bidirectional charger, network distributor approval, and an energy retailer with a V2G program. Ausgrid is running pilot programs in NSW. Economics are not yet compelling for most homeowners.
What you need for V2H in Australia today
✓ A compatible EV — confirmed or expected V2H capable in AU:
- Confirmed now: Nissan Leaf 2018+ (via CHAdeMO connector)
- Confirmed now: Kia EV9 (strongest V2X roadmap of any AU-sold EV)
- Confirmed now: Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV / Eclipse Cross PHEV
- Confirmed now: Volkswagen ID.4 (select configurations)
- Expected — not yet confirmed in AU: Hyundai Ioniq 5 / Ioniq 6 — V2L available now; V2H pending Hyundai AU evaluation and software rollout (no confirmed timeline as of mid-2025)
- V2L only (not V2H): BYD Atto 3, Seal, Dolphin — V2L via adapter only, no V2H capability in current AU specification
✓ Grid-approved bidirectional charger — current AU options:
- V2Grid Numbat (Australian-made, Ausgrid-approved, ~$9,990 + GST)
- StarCharge Halo (grid-approved under AS/NZS 4777.2, Ausgrid-certified for NSW)
- Infypower Numbat7 (grid-approved under AS/NZS 4777.2)
- SigEnergy SigenStor (available, entry-level pricing)
Always verify grid approval and local network distributor compliance before purchasing.
✓ Additional requirements:
- A licensed electrician experienced in bidirectional installations — not all EV charger installers are qualified for V2H
- Switchboard modifications to handle bidirectional power flow safely
- Distribution network approval (e.g. Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy, Powercor) under AS/NZS 4777.2:2020 Amendment 2 (effective 23 August 2025, which introduced Mode 4 bidirectional provisions)
- ISO 15118-20 protocol support in both the charger and vehicle is required for full bidirectional functionality via CCS2
💰 Total installed cost — realistic budget for 2025
Bidirectional charger hardware: $9,990–$15,000 AUD
Switchboard modifications + network approval + installation: $2,000–$5,000 additional
Total: $12,000–$20,000 AUD all-in — comparable to a home battery (Tesla Powerwall: ~$12,000–$16,000) but requires a compatible car to function.
⚡ Honest assessment for 2025–2026
V2H is real and arriving in Australia, but it is not yet practical for most homeowners. Compatible cars are limited, hardware costs $12,000–$20,000 installed, and only a handful of grid-approved bidirectional chargers exist. If V2H matters to your long-term plans, the best move today is to buy a V2L-capable EV (Hyundai, Kia, BYD) and ensure your charger has the bidirectional field set in its spec sheet — so you are hardware-ready when the ecosystem matures. We will update this section as new certified bidirectional chargers and compatible AU EV models are confirmed.