Charging your EV for less
An electric vehicle can be the cheapest car you've ever run — or a surprisingly expensive one. The difference comes down to when and how you charge.
Level 1 vs Level 2 charging
Home EV charging comes in two speeds, and most Australian EV owners end up using both at different times:
Level 1 — Standard outlet
Plug into a regular 10-amp power point using the portable charger that comes with most EVs. Delivers about 2–2.4 kW, which adds roughly 10–15 km of range per hour.
Overnight (10 hours): ~100–150 km of range. Enough for most daily commutes, but slow if you need a full charge from empty.
Level 2 — Dedicated charger
A wall-mounted charger on a dedicated circuit, typically 7 kW (single-phase) or up to 22 kW (three-phase). Adds 40–130 km of range per hour depending on power.
Overnight (10 hours at 7 kW): 400+ km of range. Full battery from empty in 6–10 hours. Install cost: $1,500–$3,000 including wiring.
Which one do you need?
What does it cost to run an EV?
A typical modern EV uses about 15 kWh per 100 km. Compare that to petrol:
| Fuel source | Cost per 100 km | Assumptions |
|---|---|---|
| EV on solar | ~$0 | Charging from your own rooftop solar (effectively free electricity) |
| EV off-peak | ~$2.25 | 15 kWh at 15c/kWh off-peak rate |
| EV standard rate | ~$4.50 | 15 kWh at 30c/kWh standard retail rate |
| EV peak rate | ~$6.00–$7.50 | 15 kWh at 40–50c/kWh peak TOU rate |
| Petrol car | ~$15–$20 | 8 L/100km at $1.90–$2.50/L |
The takeaway: even at standard retail electricity rates, an EV costs about a third of what a petrol car costs to run per kilometre. Charge on solar or off-peak and the gap widens dramatically.
Smart charging strategies
The cheapest way to charge depends on your setup. Here are the three main strategies, ranked by cost:
- Charge from solar (midday) — If your car is at home during the day and you have a Level 2 charger, set it to charge between 9am and 3pm. Every kWh from your panels avoids a 30c grid import and a 3c export, netting you about 27c of value per kWh. This is by far the cheapest option.
- Charge overnight on off-peak TOU — If you’re on a time-of-use tariff, overnight rates can be as low as 12–18c/kWh. Set your car or charger’s timer to start at 10pm or whenever your off-peak window begins. Many EVs have built-in charge scheduling.
- Use a dedicated EV tariff — Some retailers now offer specific EV plans with very cheap overnight charging rates (as low as 8–10c/kWh) if you install a separately metered charger. The trade-off is usually a higher daytime rate or supply charge. Worth calculating based on your total household usage.
Avoid peak charging
Dedicated EV tariffs
Several Australian retailers now offer EV-specific plans or add-ons. These typically provide very cheap overnight electricity for your charger in exchange for a separate meter or a time-restricted charging schedule:
- Separate EV meter — Some plans require a second meter installed at your charger, so the retailer can bill your EV usage at a different rate to your household. Installation adds cost but gives you the cheapest per-kWh rate.
- Whole-of-house TOU with EV discount — Other plans simply offer extra-cheap overnight rates to the entire house. Simpler to set up, and benefits other overnight loads too (like hot water).
- Subscription models — A few retailers offer flat monthly fees for unlimited home charging. Worth comparing if you drive high kilometres.
Check the government’s Energy Made Easy comparison site or your retailer’s website for current EV tariff offerings in your state.
The future: bidirectional charging (V2G and V2H)
Most EVs today can only receive electricity — power flows one way, from the grid (or solar) into the car. But bidirectional charging is coming, and it could change the economics of EV ownership dramatically.
V2H (Vehicle-to-Home)
Your car’s battery powers your house during the evening peak, then recharges overnight on cheap off-peak rates or from solar the next day. A 60 kWh EV battery is 4–6 times the size of a typical home battery.
V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid)
Your car exports electricity back to the grid during peak demand, earning feed-in credits or VPP payments. Your parked car becomes a mobile power station.
Bidirectional charging requires compatible hardware in both the car and the charger. As of 2025, only a handful of EVs support it in Australia (notably some models with CHAdeMO ports, and newer vehicles being designed for the CCS bidirectional standard). Expect this to become mainstream over the next 3–5 years as standards solidify and more chargers and vehicles support it.
Next step
After your EV, hot water is likely the next biggest opportunity to shift load to cheaper times.
Next: Hot Water →Continue in Solar, Battery & EV