Any licensed electrician can legally install an EV charger — so does it matter if you use an EV specialist instead of your local sparky? The honest answer: the licence is the same, but the EV-specific experience isn't, and that's where the difference shows up. Here's a fair look at both.
What's the same either way
Both an EV specialist and a good general electrician are licensed to do the work, wire the charger to code, and issue a Certificate of Compliance. If all you need is a straightforward 7kW charger next to an easy switchboard, a competent general electrician can absolutely do a safe, compliant job. Plenty do.
What a specialist actually adds
- Choosing the right charger. Tethered vs untethered, smart vs basic, solar matching, single vs three-phase — a specialist fits these every day and matches the unit to your car and home.
- Grants and finance. Knowing which government programs you qualify for, and handling the paperwork, is not something a general electrician typically does.
- Network rules. EV loads have their own notification/approval rules with Ausgrid, Endeavour and Essential — a specialist knows them cold.
- Timing around your car. Coordinating the install to land before your EV is delivered is a specialist habit, not a general one.
Think of it like tyres: any mechanic can change them, but you'd back the tyre specialist to have the right ones in stock and fit them faster. Same idea.
When the specialist edge matters most
For a plain single-phase install, the gap is small. It widens when there's anything to get right: an apartment or strata building, a three-phase upgrade, a smart or solar-matched charger, grants on the table, or a delivery date to work around. That's exactly what we do all day. Get a free assessment.
Common questions
Can any electrician install an EV charger?
Yes — any licensed electrician can legally install an EV charger and issue a Certificate of Compliance. For a simple single-phase job, a good general electrician does fine. A specialist adds EV-specific know-how: choosing the right charger, grants, network notification rules and timing around your car's delivery.
Is it worth paying an EV charger specialist?
It matters most when there's something to get right — an apartment or strata building, a three-phase upgrade, a smart or solar-matched charger, grants, or a delivery date to work around. For a plain install the gap is small; for anything more, the specialist experience pays off.
Want this sorted for your home?
We check every grant you qualify for — free — then install before your car arrives.