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Installing a dedicated electric vehicle (EV) home charger is the most convenient way to charge an electric car.
How we can help you
Transitioning to cleaner energy with RACV
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Frequently asked questions
Your at-home EV charging costs will depend on what type of energy plan you have, electricity rates, how much and how frequently you charge, and if you have rooftop solar.
If you have an energy plan, you can check your bill to confirm if you’re on an off-peak or time-of-use energy plan. Charging during off-peak times or when tariffs are low will reduce your charging costs.
If you have rooftop solar, it’s best to charge during the day (when energy is being generated) and consider installing a home EV charger with solar optimisation features to reduce your costs even further.
To maximise your EV’s battery life, keep it charged above 20% and below 80% (if you can help it) – this is when your battery will perform best.
Just like with other batteries, EV batteries degrade faster when they are frequently fully charged or completely drained.
There are two different ways to charge your EV at home:
- Charging from a regular wall socket.
- Charging from a dedicated home EV charger.
Using a regular powerpoint to charge can take up to 18 hours if charging from empty to a full battery (varies by size).
Installing a dedicated home EV charger allows you to charge your car up to 3x faster than using a standard power outlet. Find out more about our home EV chargers.
Electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids have much lower running costs than petrol and diesel-powered vehicles. Once the inital cost of buying a vehicle is removed, you’ll save money that otherwise would be spent on petrol and servicing costs. EVs have far fewer moving parts, so they require less maintenance and don’t require regular fluid changes.
To find out how much you might save by owing an EV or hybrid, check out this EV cost calculator tool.
^Speed estimates are based on figures provided by JETCharge. Actual charging speeds may vary based on factors such as your vehicle, household electricity supply, and installation requirements. Charging from a standard 240V general power outlet will add around 10km of range per hour of charge. When using a dedicated EV home charging station, the charging time will depend on your vehicle's on-board charger. If your vehicle can accept charging speeds of 7 kW or more, our charging stations can deliver approximately 30 km of range per hour of charge - making it up to three times faster.
The information provided is general advice only. Before making any decisions please consider your own circumstances and the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determinations. For copies, visit racv.com.au. As distributor, RACV Insurance Services Pty Ltd AFS Licence No. 230039 receives commission for each policy sold or renewed. Product(s) issued by Insurance Manufacturers of Australia Pty Ltd ABN 93 004 208 084 AFS Licence No. 227678.
*The Offer: 10% off the Retail Charging Price at all Chargefox ultra-rapid sites. The Offer only applies to the Retail Charging Price. Other fees and charges may apply. The Offer is only available at participating Chargefox ultra-rapid sites. For participating locations please download the Chargefox app. Where an RACV Member is also entitled to a discount via a vehicle manufacturer partnership with Chargefox (see here), they will receive a minimum of 50% off the Retail Charging Price. The Offer can only be activated by current RACV Members who have completed the following steps prior to charging their vehicle:
(a) Downloaded or updated the Chargefox app (on a compatible smartphone).
(b) Logged into the Chargefox app and added their credit card information and a valid RACV Membership number in their profile.
Discounts cannot be applied after a charge session has begun or has been completed. The Offer may be withdrawn at any time and without notice. RACV accepts no responsibility in respect to any damage or loss to a member caused through their use of, or lack of availability of Chargefox equipment to charge their vehicle. Members should review the Chargefox terms and conditions and privacy policy.
These terms and conditions are subject to change from time to time. Please read the latest RACV Member benefits terms and conditions. View a copy of Chargefox’s full terms and conditions.