How to choose an EV Charger: 10 questions for first time buyers
Charging at home is one of the best parts of owning an electric vehicle. You’ll never have to squint at another fuel price sign or wait in line behind another stranger paying for a full tank with coins and discount cards. However, not all home charging options are created equal—and some may not work with your EV at all.
If you’re the proud new owner of an EV (or are planning out the logistics before pulling the trigger on your purchase), there are a few questions you should ask before locking in a charger. Home charging stations are a fantastic investment, but they’re also complex pieces of electrical equipment; installing the wrong one and having to remove it later can cause some very expensive headaches.
At Earth EV, our goal is to make your life easier. Whether you’re thinking of buying one of our chargers or just looking for more information, these questions can help you make a confident and informed decision about your EV setup.
What type of charger do I need?
You might be familiar with this advice from phone and laptop guides. For most battery-powered devices, charging all the way to 100% or waiting for the power to drain completely can increase the strain on the battery, wearing it out faster.
The “safe zone” for EV batteries is between 20% and 80%. Most systems have safeguards that slow down charging above 80%, but even slowly climbing to 100% and keeping the battery fully charged can reduce its long-term capacity.
And, of course, letting the power drop below 20% can cause more issues than a reduced battery life—it can leave you stranded! Keeping at least one fifth of your battery power ready to go protects the power cells and makes sure your EV is ready for an emergency trip.
What kind of connector does my vehicle have?
Once you’ve established how much power you want your charger to have, the next step is to make sure the plug will fit into your vehicle’s connector. Most EVs in Australia use a J1772 connector (a ring of five circles, three bigger than the other two), but several newer models are transitioning to a more efficient Mennekes connector (a cluster of five large circles and two smaller ones above). Some manufacturers also use their own proprietary connectors, like Tesla with their supercharger systems.
Before buying a charging system of any level, make sure the tether will connect to your EV’s socket (or comes with a compatible adaptor). If you’re not sure exactly what type of connector your vehicle has, check your owner’s manual or the manufacturer’s website.
How fast do I want to charge?
This will depend on your lifestyle and how much you’re planning on driving your EV. There are two major factors that will impact your device’s charging speed: amperage and power output.
Amperage refers to the number of amperes or “amps” passing through an electrical circuit. Think of the circuit like a funnel; the wider the base of the funnel is, the more electricity will be able to pass through. Chargers with higher amperage (32A, 40A, 48A, etc.) have wider funnels and allow a larger volume of power through. This charges your vehicle more quickly, but you’ll usually have to install separate hardware.
Power output, also known as “wattage”, is the actual energy delivered by the charger. This is usually expressed as a measure of kilowatts (kW), or sometimes kilowatt hours (kWh – how much power would be produced if the device sustained maximum output for a full hour.)
Earth EV offers 7kW and 22kW chargers, both charging at 32A. The 7kW options are ideal for overnight charging, taking roughly 8 hours to fully charge a typical 60kW EV battery. Our more powerful 22kW chargers can refuel the same vehicle in 3-4 hours, making them more suitable for shared setups, priority charging, or people with unpredictable schedules.
Where and How would I install the charger?
Whether you’re planning on installing a dedicated fast charger or just need a new outlet closer to where you’ll be parking your EV, make sure you’re leaving all the technical work to a qualified electrician. They’ll be able to inspect your home’s electrical system ahead of time to make sure it can handle the additional load of a fast charger, then install the device itself safely and legally.
Apart from the safety concerns and potential damage you could cause to your home and property, having the system installed by anyone but a qualified electrical technician will likely void its warranty. We avoid this issue altogether by supplying Earth EV systems exclusively through licensed electricians and official wholesalers.
Which smart features would I actually use?
Premium chargers often bombard customers with “smart” features, justifying their higher price points with built-in LCD screens and elaborate security setups. We’re all for smart features, but make sure you’re going to get real value out of everything you’re paying for.
The most important features to look for are smart scheduling, live monitoring, and remote control. Setting up automatic charging schedules and remotely operating your device lets you protect your EV’s battery health and use off-peak electricity rates, saving money in the short and long term, and live monitoring lets you check the status of your device and any plugged-in vehicles without having to go out to the charger.
Smart chargers often come with a free app to monitor and control the device remotely. Check out the Earth EV app to see how it unlocks the real value of our charging stations.
How do I know if my charger will be safe and reliable?
Make sure any charger you’re looking at is ready to handle Australian conditions. Electrical devices like EV chargers should always have built-in protections for power surges or dips, and reliable options will be water-resistant and properly insulated against extreme heat/cold.
Australia’s climate can be unpredictable, so it’s important to make sure your system is designed (and certified) specifically for Australian conditions. Our country has some of the highest electrical safety standards in the world, so imported products may not be as reliable or resilient as locally built options.
Earth EV devices have all gone through Australia’s rigorous certification processes, from Electrical Equipment Safety System registration to Electromagnetic Compatibility checks.
Which would I use more, a portable tether or wall box charger?
This will depend on where you’ll be doing most of your charging. If you park in a shared garage or don’t have regular access to a power outlet at home, it may make more sense to charge at work or on the go. Conversely, if you live in an area with very little charging infrastructure, setting up your own charger at home might be the best option.
Portable chargers are more flexible, letting you use any charger you have access to. They also come with tether cables of different lengths, so you’re not limited by the cable connected to a wall box system. If you travel a lot and want to be able to charge your EV wherever you go, a portable charger improves the quality of every public charger you pass.
However, stationary/permanent wall boxes also have their advantages. They’re more reliable, can be monitored and controlled more easily, and can be shared by multiple EV owners. If you live in a household with multiple EV drivers (or want to set your device up as a public charger and generate income by renting it to other drivers), a wall box may make more sense.
How long do I need the cable to be?
This is a basic but important question to consider. Think about where you’ll be parking, the location of your vehicle’s charging port, and where the charging device would be placed. Stretching a short tether to reach a distant port can risk disconnections and electrical hazards, and the loops of a too-long tether can create a tripping hazard and are a real headache to store.
Earth EV systems come with either a built-in 5m cable or a socket compatible with 5, 7.5, 10, and 15m cables.
How do I choose which company to buy from?
When you’re investing in a professionally installed piece of hardware like an EV charger, it’s important to make sure you’re getting it from someone you trust. Reputable manufacturers will use qualified installers, offer local support (not overseas call centres that put you on hold for an hour), and include generous warranties on every purchase.
It’s also worth checking how long a provider has been in business and how much experience they have in the industry. Our team, for example, has been involved in electrical work for decades across multiple countries and has a strong manufacturing background.
10. Do I need to install a dedicated EV charger?
We’d love for you to drop everything and buy one of our chargers immediately, but it’s worth considering if now is the right time for that kind of investment. An ordinary wall socket may not have the same advantages in convenience, cost, or control as a dedicated Level 2 system, but it will still charge your EV.
If you’re buying an EV directly from the manufacturer, they may also have options for fast charging stations. You may not get the best possible quality or value from these proprietary chargers, but they’re guaranteed to be compatible with your specific vehicle and can reduce decision fatigue.
However, while it’s possible to keep your car charged without buying a separate charging system or looking further afield for better value chargers, there are plenty of great reasons to upgrade your setup. Electric vehicles are all about long-term value and savings, so protecting battery health and using lower energy rates are great ways to get more out of your purchase.
Convenience and utility are also huge factors to consider. If you’re planning on driving your EV every day, a wall socket may not be able to keep up with your battery usage; some EVs take up to 24 hours to build a full charge from a standard 2.4kW wall outlet, so driving every day and charging overnight may not be sustainable.
Even if you don’t need a full battery for your commute, a full hour of charging from the wall only gives about 15km of range to most EVs. Having the option of fast charging and smart scheduling can save you from being stranded.
If you’d like to take care of your new EV (and your wallet) with a charging system that ticks all these boxes, you can contact our team via our website or give us a call on 1300 345 624. We’ll put you in touch with an electrician in your area who can help you answer all 10.