13 Oct • Written By Jarred Nielson

EV charging at home in Tasmania: solar, off-peak power and the charger you need

If you are charging a car at home in Tasmania, there are two options. Write down a normal week before you pick one.

On that week, note how far you drive, when you get home, and when you leave. Note which days the car is home in daylight. A long trip is a different week. Leave it off this list.

The Australian Government describes the two home chargers like this.¹

Option	What it is	What to check
Standard power point	Level 1, also called trickle charging. You use a charging cable, often the one supplied with the car, in an ordinary outlet. The page says this is up to 2.4 kW, and a full charge can take up to 24 hours.	Whether overnight or daytime charging covers your normal week. Plug into the outlet itself, not a power board or an extension lead.
Dedicated home charger	Level 2. A unit wired into the house. The same page says these charge at 7 to 22 kW, are typically 3 to 10 times faster than a power point, and can add between 30 and 80 km of range for each hour of charging.	A licensed electrician has to install it. The switchboard or the supply may need work. Follow the car’s manual.

ABC News spoke in August with a Tasmanian owner who charges at home when the rate is lower. For your house, ask when the car is there, and whether solar or the cheaper hours on your plan are available then.

A dedicated charger can be set to run when power is cheaper, or when the solar has some left over. A power point will not time itself. Either way, the car has to be home in that window. Solar only helps if the house has generation left after the other loads. Use the times and rates on the plan you have now, and look at the rest of the household bill as well.²

If you put a cost on solar charging, include the export credit you give up. If you put a cost on grid charging, use the electricity drawn at the wall. Do not assume all of it reaches the battery. Ask for that loss to be shown.

Ask what still works if the internet connection or the app is down. An app setting is not proof the supply is adequate.

You do not need a promised saving to choose. You need the week you actually drive, and a licensed electrician if you are installing a dedicated charger.

Frequently asked questions

What should I check before choosing a home EV charger in Tasmania?

Write down a normal week of driving, and when the car is home. Then choose between a standard power point and a dedicated charger. A licensed electrician has to install the dedicated charger.