How much does it cost to install an EV charger at home?
You know how much your dream EV costs. You know how much the home charger costs. And now you’re wondering: what does it cost to install an EV charger at home? Ed Harvey, Evnex CEO, breaks down what your electrician is looking at when they quote your charger installation.
What influences your EV charger installation cost? No home is the same, but understanding some of the key drivers can help you understand where your install is likely to land.
We’re here to walk you through exactly what your electrician is looking at when they quote your EV charger installation, so you can get started with no surprises.
We may be starting with a bold assumption: you know how much the EV charger costs. If you don’t, and you’d like to go back a step and find out how much a home EV charger costs prior to installation, take a look at our product comparison chart.
Wait, first up — why would I install an EV charger at home?
Put simply: speed and convenience.
Your EV likely came with its own charging cord, affectionately termed a “granny charger”. These chargers deliver a maximum of 8 amps, or 1.8kW of power. That’s about 8-10km of range per hour for an average-sized EV; or more than two days plugged in to get a full charge.
That’s fine if you’ve got a short commute, but can become inconvenient if you rely on your car as your primary mode of transport — which most people do. An installed or “level 2” home EV charger delivers more power to your EV — usually around 7kW — so you can charge to full overnight, instead of over a weekend.
What affects my EV charger installation cost?
The key factor here is your switchboard. Where is it? Is it in good condition? And is there space in it to add new equipment?
When figuring out the cost of EV charger install, your electrician is looking at:
· Length of cable run — the distance between your switchboard and where you’re installing the EV charger.
· Condition of your switchboard — the age and condition of your switchboard, and the availability of space for an additional circuit.
· Single or three-phase — most homes are on single-phase power, but if you’re installing a three-phase charger in your three-phase home, this will affect the overall cost of install.
· Number of obstacles in the cable path — if your charger is to be installed far away from your switchboard, is there trenching required for the cabling, or will it need to go through multiple walls or roof cavities?
So, best case scenario: you’re installing a single-phase charger — like an E2 Core — beside, below or “back to back” your brand new switchboard. There are no obstacles in its path. Your EV charger installation cost will likely come out at around $1,000, or $2,149 including the charger.
Worst case scenario, you might be looking at $3,500 — $4,000 in total for a complex install where the charger is installed in a different building or the cable run is very long with no access to roof or floor-spaces.
What contributes to the cost of the EV charger installation?
EV chargers draw a significant amount of power — a single-phase E2 Core that delivers around 40km or range per hour will draw 32 amps, or 7.4kW (around half of a typical home’s entire power capacity). Because of the high electrical load, an EV charger requires a specialised installation and components that ensure your safety:
· Heavy-gauge cable — the charger requires its own dedicated, high current cable from the switchboard, a bit like an oven circuit. Sometimes the cable needs to be pulled through roof spaces and walls which requires two electricians to be on site.
· An additional circuit breaker — legally, all chargers require their own dedicated circuit protection device to be installed inside the switchboard.
· A power sensor device — all Evnex charger installations also include a cable for a clever device that measures the total power consumption at your switchboard, this enables the charger to smartly decrease its charging power if you’re at risk of overloading your home’s electrical supply. It’s also what enables smart solar features that adjust your charging speed to match your solar generation.
· Testing and commissioning — once the charger is installed, your electrician should always complete testing specific to EV charging and follow a comprehensive commissioning procedure to ensure that the charger is working correctly, and the safety features are setup correctly.
Can I get my own electrician to install an EV charger at home, to save money?
If you’re lucky enough to know a sparky who’ll do your install for a couple of crayfish or a box of beers, you’re in luck — all qualified electricians can install an Evnex charger, they just need to complete a short training module and get set up with an Evnex installer account.
But if you haven’t got a mates rate sorted out, Evnex offers a comprehensive, no-hassle installation service, delivered through our network of hundreds of trained and vetted electricians across New Zealand and Australia.
Keen to get started on a quote for your home now? Get started here.
