Depending on the type of vehicle, charger, and level or charge, it can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours to fully charge an electric vehicle.

Electric vehicle charges are categorised by levels indicating the amount of power delivered to an EV from the charger.

Level 1 is the same as plugging into a regular power outlet. Charging at between 1.4kW to 3.7kW it can take 5-16 hours to charge.

Level 2 is your dedicated EV charger. Charging at between 7kW to 22kW it can take between 2-5 hours to charge. These can also be found at public charging stations.

Level 3 chargers are DC fast charging stations found at major public charging stations. Charging at between 25kW to 350kW it can take between 10-60 minutes to charge.

Find out more from the Victorian Government at energy.vic.gov.au

While it is possible to charge an electric vehicle using a regular power outlet, it is not recommended for regular use as it is slow and inefficient – it can take a long time to fully charge your car!

Installing an EV charger means you can charge your vehicle at home in less time, and more safely.

The price of installing an EV charger through the Solar Savers program is between $2,000 – $3,500 for standard installation. However, the price may vary depending on the type of charger, size of the charger, distance from your switchboard, any additional upgrades needed and the supplier used.

Depending on the capacity of the charger and your home’s electrical setup, it may be possible to charge multiple electric vehicles with a single EV charger installation. However, it is recommended to consult with the electrician to ensure that the charger can support multiple vehicles safely and efficiently.

This will vary depending on how often you use your electric vehicle and therefore how much you will need to charge it. The Electric Vehicle Council provides some approximate calculations on the cost of charging an electric vehicle at home, and in general your electricity bill may increase by 50%.

However, this is typically cheaper than the cost of petrol for the same distance covered. Additionally, if you pair your EV charger with a solar PV system, you can use the energy generated from the system to charge your car.

This will depend on your home and electricity usage. If you run many energy-intensive appliances at the same time you are likely to be charging your car, you might want to consider upgrading to three-phase power.

When receiving a quote, your installer will be able to make recommendations based on your home and current electricity usage and set up