When people research home chargers they quickly hit a fork in the road: 7 kW or 22 kW? It sounds like "slow vs fast", but for most Australian homes the honest answer is that 7 kW is the right choice — and 22 kW often isn't even possible.
7 kW — the standard for most homes
A 7 kW charger runs on single-phase power, which around 85% of Sydney homes have. It adds about 40 km of range per hour and comfortably refills a full day's driving overnight. For the vast majority of drivers, it's all the charger they'll ever need, and most homes can take one without any electrical upgrade.
22 kW — faster, but with two big "ifs"
A 22 kW charger is roughly three times faster, but only if two things are true:
- Your home has three-phase power. More common in newer estates and some units, but the minority of existing homes.
- Your car can accept 22 kW AC. Many EVs cap their onboard AC charging at 7 kW or 11 kW — so a 22 kW charger would never run at full speed anyway.
Three-phase can be added to a home if you genuinely want the headroom, but for overnight home charging it's rarely worth it. Where 22 kW earns its place is workplaces, fleets and shared car parks — which is a different conversation.
Simple rule of thumb: if your car sits at home overnight, 7 kW single-phase is almost certainly the sweet spot. We check your power supply and your car's real charging limit before recommending anything — no upselling you into speed you can't use.
Want us to confirm what your home and car can do? See how we tailor the install or get a free assessment.
Common questions
Is a 7kW EV charger enough for home?
For most drivers, yes. A 7 kW charger adds about 40 km of range per hour and comfortably refills a full day's driving overnight. It runs on single-phase power, which around 85% of Sydney homes have.
Do I need three-phase power for a 22kW charger?
Yes. A 22 kW charger only works on three-phase power, and only if your car can accept 22 kW AC — many EVs cap onboard AC charging at 7 kW or 11 kW, so they'd never reach 22 kW anyway.
How do I know if I have three-phase power?
It's more common in newer estates and some units than in existing homes. We check your switchboard and supply as part of a free assessment before recommending a charger.
Want this sorted for your home?
We check every grant you qualify for — free — then install before your car arrives.