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Running costs
Home EV charging savings and benefits
Charging at home usually costs less per kilometre than relying on public fast chargers — but by how much depends on your rates and your driving. Use the calculator to estimate your own numbers.
Estimate it yourself
Run your own numbers
Every field is editable. The starting values are examples to show how the calculation works — replace them with your actual driving, your electricity rate from your bill, and the public rate you would realistically pay.
The maths is simple: your annual driving and your car's efficiency give the energy your driving needs, a charging-loss allowance is added on top, and that total is priced at both rates. The difference is an indication, not a promise.
In practice almost nobody charges exclusively at home or exclusively in public. Treat the result as the size of the gap between the two extremes, then judge where your own split realistically sits.
If the numbers make a home charger look worthwhile, the next step is finding out what an installation at your property would actually cost — request quotes or read what affects installation cost.
How much could you save charging at home?
An estimate only. Change any figure to match your own driving, car and rates — the defaults are examples, not current or guaranteed prices.
Roughly how far the EV travels in a year.
Check your car's trip computer — many EVs sit somewhere around 14–20.
Example: enter 8.00 for 8¢/kWh
Cents per kWh from your bill. Use your off-peak or EV rate if you charge overnight.
Example: enter 65.00 for 65¢/kWh
Cents per kWh — public DC rates vary widely by network, location and time of day.
Estimated energy needed / year
2,311 kWh
Estimated home charging cost
$577.78
Estimated public fast charging cost
$1,386.67
Potential annual saving
$808.89
Potential estimated saving per year compared with charging exclusively on public fast chargers at the rate entered.
Assumptions: charging losses of 10% are added to the energy your driving needs, and the same energy total is priced at both rates. Real results depend on your tariff, how much you charge publicly, solar surplus, and your car. This is general information, not financial advice, and no saving is guaranteed.
Why people charge at home
Six practical benefits
Cost is the headline, but convenience is what most owners mention first once they've lived with it.
Lower cost per kilometre
Household electricity generally costs less per kWh than public DC fast charging. How much less depends entirely on your plan and the network you would otherwise use.
Off-peak and EV tariffs
Cars sit still overnight, which is exactly when cheaper off-peak windows apply. Scheduling charging into that window is one of the simplest levers you have.
Surplus solar
If you have panels and the car is home during the day, surplus generation you would otherwise export can go into the battery instead.
Wake up charged
No detours, no queues, no waiting at a site. For everyday driving, the car is simply ready each morning.
Faster than a power point
A dedicated wallbox adds range far quicker than a portable charger on a standard outlet, and is built for sustained, repeated use.
Smart scheduling
Most modern chargers let you set windows, cap current or follow solar, so charging happens when it is cheapest without you thinking about it.
Public fast charging still has its place
DC fast charging exists to add a lot of range quickly, and it does that job well. Road trips, long unexpected days, apartment living without a dedicated space, and quick top-ups all suit it far better than a home wallbox does.
The realistic picture for most households is a mix: home charging covers the routine kilometres cheaply, and public charging covers the exceptions. That mix is also why we ask you to treat the calculator as a comparison of two extremes rather than a forecast of your bill.
Be careful with headline savings claims
Percentage claims about home charging depend entirely on which two rates are compared, and electricity and charging prices both change. Any figure quoted as a universal truth is a marketing number, not a calculation about your household.
That is why every rate here is editable and nothing is fixed in the page. Enter the rate on your own bill and the public rate you would actually pay, and the output becomes meaningful rather than decorative.
This is general information only and is not financial advice. No saving is guaranteed.
Common questions
Home charging cost FAQ
Is charging at home always cheaper than public fast charging?
Usually, but not automatically. It depends on your electricity rate, the public network's pricing and how much of your charging happens at each. If you are on a high flat electricity rate and use a cheap public network, the gap narrows. Run your own numbers with the calculator rather than assuming a headline figure.
What is an off-peak or EV tariff?
Many Victorian retailers offer plans with cheaper rates during defined off-peak windows, and some market EV-specific plans. Because a car typically charges overnight, shifting charging into those windows is one of the more effective ways to reduce running costs. Compare offers carefully — a cheaper off-peak rate sometimes comes with a higher peak rate.
How much do charging losses matter?
Some energy is lost in the charger, cable and vehicle during charging, so the grid supplies a little more than the battery gains. Our calculator adds a 10% allowance by default, which is a reasonable general assumption. Actual losses vary with the vehicle, ambient temperature and charging rate.
Is a wallbox faster than charging from a normal power point?
Generally yes. A portable charger on a standard outlet adds range slowly, which is fine for short daily commutes but frustrating otherwise. A dedicated wallbox on its own circuit charges considerably faster and is designed for repeated, sustained use, which is also why electricians recommend a dedicated circuit over long-term reliance on a general outlet.
Do I still need public fast charging?
Yes, and it remains genuinely valuable. Road trips, long unplanned days and quick top-ups are exactly what DC fast charging is for. The point of home charging is that it handles routine daily driving cheaply and conveniently, so public charging becomes an occasional tool rather than a weekly cost.
We are an information and quote request service — we do not carry out electrical work. All installations are performed by licensed electricians.
Power your drive
Easy. Local. Trusted.
Charging at home means skipping expensive public fast chargers, waking up to a full battery and knowing the work was completed safely to Australian electrical standards by a licensed electrician.
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