Is it better to charge an EV at home or use public chargers? For everyday driving, home charging wins clearly on both cost and convenience — you wake up full every morning for a fraction of the price. Public charging is best kept for road trips and top-ups. Here's the side-by-side.
Cost: home is a fraction of public fast charging
Charging at home is the cheapest energy you'll put in the car. On general 2026 figures:
- Home (standard rate) — about $4.80 per 100km; on an off-peak/EV tariff, $1.60–$3.20; from surplus solar, close to free.
- Public fast charging (DC) — commonly 60–70c/kWh, which works out to roughly $10–$11 per 100km — two to three times the cost of home.
So the driver who relies on public fast charging pays a big premium for the same kilometres. A home charger is what unlocks the low running cost EVs are known for — see EV vs petrol running costs.
Convenience: full every morning vs planning stops
This is the part people underestimate before they own an EV. With a home charger you plug in overnight and never think about "fuel" — the car is full every morning. Public charging means driving to a charger, sometimes queuing, and waiting 20–40 minutes. For daily driving, home is simply in a different league.
Speed: public DC is faster per session — but that's not the whole story
A public DC fast charger adds range far quicker in a single session than a 7kW home charger. But because you charge at home while you sleep, session speed barely matters — you're not waiting for it. The only time raw charging speed wins is on a long trip, which is exactly what public charging is for.
When public charging makes sense
- Road trips and long drives beyond your car's range
- The occasional top-up when you're out and about
- If you genuinely can't charge where you park (some apartments — though we can often fix that)
The rule most EV owners settle into: home for ~90% of charging, public for the occasional long trip. The home charger is what makes the maths work — and if you're in an apartment, an apartment/strata install is often more achievable than people expect.
Getting set up at home
A proper 7kW home charger refills a full day's driving overnight, and a smart charger can time it to the cheapest power or your solar automatically. When you're ready, get a free quote — we can have it in before your car arrives.
Common questions
Is it cheaper to charge an EV at home or at a public charger?
Home is far cheaper — about $4.80 per 100km at a standard rate (less on off-peak or solar), versus roughly $10–$11 per 100km on public DC fast charging at 60–70c/kWh. Home charging is what delivers an EV's low running cost.
Do I still need public charging if I have a home charger?
Only occasionally — mainly for road trips beyond your car's range or the odd top-up out and about. Most EV owners do around 90% of their charging at home and use public chargers only now and then.
Is home charging fast enough?
Yes, because it happens while you sleep. A 7kW home charger refills a full day's driving overnight, so session speed doesn't matter the way it does at a public charger you're waiting at.
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