Charging an electric vehicle
Charging your EV is as easy as charging your phone, or plugging in the toaster.
One of the best things about driving an EV is that you can charge up at home, so there’s no need to queue at the petrol station before your summer roadie, or when you’re in a hurry to work. There’s a growing number of public EV charging options for when you’re out and about, too.
We’ve broken down the types of chargers available, home and public charging, as well as what charging your EV will cost you. Spoiler: not much.
Charging at home
One of the many advantages to driving an EV is charging from the comfort of your own home – and getting up in the morning to a ‘full tank’. Here’s everything you need to know about charging your EV at home.
Portable three-pin charging cable
Most electric cars come with their own portable charger, which, like all the other electrics in your house, can be plugged into a normal power point. These types of chargers should have an in-cable control and protection device (ICCPD). Never, ever (ever!) use a charger without an ICCPD – it’s risky business.
Wall chargers
If you’ve got a spot in your garage or around the house that’ll fit a wall mounted charging unit, this is a great way to charge your electric car way more efficiently than through a standard plug.
Wall chargers can cost you anywhere from $1,300 to $3,000 (excluding installation).
Safe EV charging at home
While driving an EV helps take care of the environment, when it comes to charging it’s important you look after yourself, too. We’ve got to play it safe when electrics are involved! Download our safe charging tips for advice on what to ask your charger supplier, getting chargers installed by a registered electrician, and the safety standards that your charger should meet.
Charging on the road
If you find your EV short of charge when you’re out in town or on a roadie, no worries. Range anxiety is becoming less and less of a thing with the amount of public electric car charging stations popping up around the country – and we’re playing a big part in this. We’ve launched our own network of chargers across the country, named Zero. Once completed, Zero will be one of the biggest destination charging networks in Aotearoa.
In the meantime, PlugShare has the full list of chargers across the country – just use the map to find one near you. If you’re on a roadie, it’s a good idea to plan ahead and see how far you’ll make it before you need to plug in.
Generally, a lot of public charging stations use rapid DC chargers which will get you back on the road within about half an hour. It’s a good time to stretch your legs and grab a coffee to recharge yourself, too.
Types of chargers
| Charger types | Use | Charging time | Power |
| Portable three-pin charging cable | For private car owners, used in the home or as a back-up while on the road | Trickle AC charge: 12-14 hours | AC: 1.75kW |
| Wall charger | Fast charging in the home Business fleet charging |
Fast AC charge: 4 hours | AC: 7-22kW |
| Public charger | For public use | Fast AC charge: 4 hours Rapid DC charge: 45 mins |
AC: 7-22kW DC: 50kW+ |
The difference between AC and DC chargers
AC stands for alternating current, and DC stands for direct current. The power that we get from the electricity grid is AC power, but EV batteries can only store DC power. So, AC power needs to be converted to DC in order to charge your car. The difference between AC and DC chargers is where that conversion takes place – inside or outside the car.
AC charging for EVs
Electric vehicles all have in-built converters that convert the AC power to DC power. So when you plug in to an AC charger, your car’s converter will convert the power to DC power so it can be stored in the battery.
DC charging for EVs
DC chargers are an amazing thing, because the charger has already converted the power from AC to DC before it reaches the car. So, it can feed the power into the car’s battery directly. That means less work for your EV, and a far quicker charge.
AC charging is the best choice for local driving, because you can charge in places that you already plan to spend time – like the supermarket, malls or near your local cafe. DC charging is the best choice for when you want to get back on the road quickly.
The cost of charging an EV
The cost of charging an electric car depends on how much you drive. If you’re like most Kiwis, who average around 25-35km of driving per day, it’ll cost around $3 per 100km (the equivalent to paying $0.30 for a litre of petrol) to charge at home. If you’re fast charging, that can go up to around $10 for 100km.
These are ballpark figures – factors like how far you drive, and the type of driving you do (around town, hills, motorways) all play a part. Regardless – you’re looking at some serious savings compared to filling up with petrol or diesel.
Read more: here’s a breakdown of the full cost of an EV.
EV power plan
If you have an EV, we recommend joining our Electric Car Plan. Why? Cheaper rates at night – so you can charge up for less. Our power plan was designed specifically for EV drivers. Check it out – we think you’ll like what you see.