Smart charging meets free power hours: why now’s the best time to go electric

Australia’s solar boom is changing the way we power our lives — and our cars. The launch of the Solar Sharer offer in July 2026 will make EVs even more appealing. Here's how.

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From July next year households in South Australia, New South Wales, and Southeast Queensland will be offered three hours of free power in the middle of the day through the new Solar Share program.

It’s a simple idea with big impact: soak up the midday solar surplus by rewarding households that use power when the sun’s shining. For electric vehicle (EV) owners, this isn’t just good news — it’s a reason to charge smarter and drive cheaper.

What the Solar Sharer offer means for you

When the grid overflows with solar energy, electricity prices fall — sometimes below zero. Rather than wasting that renewable power, the Solar Sharer plan gives households access to free electricity between 11am and 2pm.

If you already drive an EV, those hours could become your golden charging window. If you’re considering one, it’s another reason why making the switch now makes sense.

What can I charge with three hours of free power?

For EV owners, three hours of free energy could mean 250 free kilometres.

A basic 3-pin plug adds around 10 kilometres of range per hour. So if you’re home over the weekend to charge your car, you’ll lock in about 60km over two days of free charging. That’s a decent top-up for errands, but hardly worth rearranging your day for.

A smart home charger running at 7.4 kW can add roughly 250 kilometres of range in the same time — up to 50km per hour of charging —  and it won’t cost you a cent in electricity.

Smarter charging, bigger savings

According to Renew Economy’s Tristan Edis, the Solar Sharer plan is bold but risky — free electricity isn’t really free if retailers hike up fixed charges to compensate, or if everyone rushes to plug in at once and local transformers struggle.  

Smart chargers like Evnex’s  help make it work in practice:

• Schedule charging during free hours

• Balance household load to prevent overloads

• Integrate with solar so your car keeps charging on free, self-generated energy the rest of the day

For most drivers, it means transforming a three-hour policy incentive into genuine fuel savings and energy independence.

Why free power makes EVs more affordable

For households, the takeaway is straightforward: the more control you have over when and how you use energy, the more valuable these new tariffs become.

Driving an EV was already cheaper than filling up with petrol. Now, with daily windows of free electricity, the economics become even stronger. Every kilometre powered by midday solar is one you don’t pay for — and with the right charger, you can capture all of it.

A fast, scheduled charger like those in the Evnex E2 range can get you on the road to work and back (and work again) in less than half that time.

And with built-in scheduling, drivers don’t need to hover near the switchboard at 11am. You set your smart charger once, and it’ll automatically top up during the free window.  

At Evnex, we see this as a win for smarter electrification. Free midday energy is only as good as your ability to use it; and we know how to use it.

Evnex chargers are built to make programs like the Solar Sharer plan work.  They automatically start when free power begins, stop when it ends, and charge fast enough to turn three hours of sunlight into a full battery.

Switching to an EV has never made more financial sense - and with smart charging, it’s never been easier.

Ready to take advantage of free power hours? Get a quote now.

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