The best ways to charge your electric car (EV) at home

Are you driving an electric car and looking for the best ways to charge your EV at home?

With so many different charging options available, it can be confusing to decide which one is best for you. Don’t worry - we’ve got the perfect guide to help you make the right charging decision for your EV.

How do you know how fast your car charges?

Charging an electric car (EV) at home can be both cost-efficient and convenient, but how do you know how fast your car is capable of charging?

But let’s not confuse terms, as "Fast EV charging" is often used to refer to public chargers, which use DC (direct current) to bypass your car’s onboard inverter and charge your battery directly with DC power.

But all home chargers run on AC (alternating current – the power that comes to your home from the electricity grid) and rely on your car’s onboard inverter to convert the AC to the DC current the car’s battery needs.

And to be even more accurate: your home “charger” isn’t really a charger at all, it’s just a device that packages up the electricity in the right way and can communicate with your car. In fact the “charger” itself is in the car – or as previously referred to; the onboard inverter.

So having got that nomenclature out for the way, when it comes to charging your EV at home, the speed will depend on the type of specialized EV wallbox “charger” you have installed; the general range with which they charge vary between 2.3kW to 7kW, with some models even offering speeds up to 22kW.

And if you don’t have a home charger installed, don’t fret! You can still charge your car from any household power outlet… but it will be slow and may take 40 or more hours to fully charge an almost depleted battery.

Remember when you are deciding on your choice of EV that the car’s onboard charger will have charging speed limitations – nowadays, they are usually either 7kW or 11kW maximums for AC fast-charging.  

Do you need a special wall charger?

When it comes to charging an electric car at home, the most important factor is finding the right wall charger. A dedicated EV wallbox charger, also known as an EVSE, is specifically designed to charge electric cars. Regular household electrical outlets or typical charging cables may not be able to provide your car with enough power to safely and efficiently charge in a useful timeframe.

An EVSE is a stronger device that can deliver more consistent and accurate levels of electricity directly to your car’s battery. This type of charger also has built-in safety features that help prevent overcharging and protect your car from any damage caused by surges or other electrical issues. Additionally, some EVSE units come with advanced features that allow you to remotely monitor and manage charging cycles remotely using smartphones or smart home systems.

So when it comes time to charge your electric car at home, ask yourself if you need a special wall charger? Chances are the answer is yes!

How long will the car take to charge?

If you’re looking to charge your EV at home, you’ll need to know how long it takes to get a full charge. This depends on the size of battery in your EV, the kW speed of charging, and the number of kWh of your car’s battery capacity. Generally speaking, most electric vehicles will take anywhere from 4-8 hours to completely recharge, depending on these variables.

To work out how long a full charge will take, divide the kilowatt-hours (kWh) capacity of your car’s battery by the kilowatt (kW) charging rate that is available. For example: if an EV has a 58kWh battery and is being charged at 7.4 kW - then this would take about 8 hours for a full charge.

To make sure your car charges quickly and safely at home every time after long trips or short drives, it is essential you understand what kind of charging set-up best suits your needs. These will vary depending on your specific location and power supply availability, so we recommend speaking directly to a professional installer to avoid any confusion. They can assess your home’s power capacity and circuitry and advise accordingly.

What is the difference between single and three-phase electricity supply and how does this affect charging?

When it comes to charging electric vehicles at home, one of the key considerations is the power supply in your house. Your home may have either a single or three-phase power supply, and each of these will have an impact on the time it takes for your EV to charge.

Three-phase can effectively triple the power available from the grid to your home, although in practice, it will only add 50% charging speed as most EVs cannot charge at the full 22kW speed of a three-phase EVSE and will be capped at 11kW. But this is still 50% faster than the single-phase max of 7kW, so if you regularly need to charge at home as fast as possible, then look into three-phase availability.

But not all homes have access to three-phase power, so you may be limited to 7kW…

I have rooftop solar, how does that change my charging schedule?

If you have rooftop solar panels on your home, you have access to an abundant and free fuel source that can help you create an efficient charging plan for your EV. With solar power, you can take advantage of the sun's rays during the day to charge your EV. By using excess solar energy generated during the day and applying it towards charging your car, you can save a significant amount of money while also reducing your carbon footprint. But to make this work really well in conjunction with your EV charging needs, you'll want a decent-sized system - over 10kW is recommended.

The first step when using solar energy to charge your EV at home is determining when to use it. If you want to maximize its potential, daytime charging is recommended. As the panels generate power during peak hours of sunlight, use this time to capture as much energy as possible and store it for future use in the form of electricity or battery power. Checking out online monitoring or apps can help keep tabs on how much energy is being generated at any given moment so that you know exactly when to start charging your car.

Using solar panels at home is a great way to save money while taking advantage of a clean fuel source for your EV's battery. However, there are still other methods of EV charging available that may be more suitable for different climates or budgets - like grid-subsidized electricity or even wireless chargers. By understanding and researching all of the options available, drivers will be able to find a solution best suited for them and their lifestyle in order to maximize their return on investment and decrease their impact on the environment. Helpful local apps are also recommended to keep track as changes occur in prices or availability, so be sure to stay informed about new offerings that may become available!

What are the best times of day to charge my car?

When charging your electric car at home, it's important to take into consideration the tariffs and wholesale electricity pricing. In general, off-peak prices are available during the night hours and can be substantially lower than peak prices. To benefit from these discount rates, you should be mindful of when you plug in your car and plan to charge it between 11 pm - 7 am. Doing so could help you save money on your electricity bills while also allowing you to use the power grid more efficiently with less strain on the system during peak hours.

It’s also important to know your kilowatt-hour costs since this will determine how much it will cost to charge your vehicle each time. Knowing this rate ahead of time can help you budget for electricity costs in advance and plan for installation costs if necessary (such as a dedicated circuit).

Finally, understanding wholesale electricity pricing is key to ensuring that you're charged only for what is necessary when charging an electric vehicle. This type of pricing is based on supply and demand which ensures that prices remain fair allowing customers access to lower rates through competition with other suppliers while avoiding undesired costly spikes during peak times. With this knowledge, drivers of EVs can take advantage of different plans that offer lower rates based on when they decide to charge their vehicles without compromising on quality or reliability.

You may find an electricity retailer in your area who offers access to wholesale pricing – but be very careful, as this may mean in peak periods, your cost per kWh could skyrocket! Generally this arrangement suits those who have both rooftop solar and a house battery. If you do enjoy the benefit of both of those, it’s worth checking if you can access wholesale pricing as there are even times where you might be paid to charge your car! (The price of power can occasionally turn negative when there is a surplus eg daytime when solar generation outproduces demand.)

Can I charge my EV on the street or outside my home?

Electric car owners may be wondering if they are able to charge their EV on the street or outside their home. While there are some cities that have on-street EV charging available, many areas do not have this type of infrastructure in place.

Before installing an on-street charger, it is important to check with your local council or county regulations regarding what type of security measures should be taken and if there are any restrictions that apply. In many jurisdictions, this may not be possible at all. On-street EV charging must be installed correctly according to safety regulations, including using signage to prevent a trip hazard and any exposed wiring must also meet safety standards.

It is also important for owners to consider the safety risks associated with having an EV charging unit in their front yard or at the side of their house. In these cases it is recommended that drivers undertake some basic security measures such as illuminating the space around the charging point and discouraging strangers from tampering with it.

Drivers should think about whether installing an on-street EV charger is reasonable for them before jumping into investing in one - since either private home-based chargers or public charging locations can offer a more convenient long-term solution for most drivers