Thinking about buying an EV, but uncertain about how often you’ll need to charge it? Or if you’ll need to install a dedicated EV charger? Find out how long it takes to charge an electric car at home in Australia. Compare EV charging times by charger type and model in this comprehensive guide.
For anyone new to electric cars, EV charging times are one of the first practical questions that come up. Unlike petrol, where you’re in and out in a few minutes, charging is measured in minutes or hours, depending on where you charge.
The reality to the question “How long does it take to charge my EV” is that it varies. It depends on the size of your battery, the type of charger you have at home, and how much driving you actually do per day.
Most Australians – about 70 per cent, according to the Bureau of Statistics – live in a detached home, and the majority of these are able to charge in their driveway, carport or garage.
In Australia, many homeowners will be weighing up whether to rely on a regular household power point, to invest in a dedicated wall charger, or to make the most of their rooftop solar system. Each choice comes with different charging speeds and different costs, and understanding them will help you set realistic expectations.
The good news is that the cost to charge an EV at home can be next to nothing (or even completely free), offsetting the costs of installing a charger should you need to.
How long does it take to charge an EV at home?
When you plug in at home, three main factors decide how long it will take:
- Battery size – larger batteries need more energy, so they take longer to fill.
- State of charge – topping up from 50 to 80% is much quicker than filling from empty.
- Charger type – the power available from your plug or wall unit makes the biggest difference.
To keep the maths simple, let’s use a 60kWh usable battery as a reference point. That’s roughly the size found in a mid-sized electric SUV or sedan today.
Charging times by charger type
The first thing to understand is that there are three “levels” of charging. Level 1 is charging using AC power on a household outlet, Level 2 is charging using AC power on a dedicated “wall charger”, and Level 3 is charging using DC power on a public fast charger.
Here’s how that 60kWh battery looks when charged on different setups:
| Level | Charger type | Power output | 0–100% full charge | 20–80% top-up*** |
| Level 1 | 10A household outlet | ~2.4kW | ~25 hours | ~15 hours |
| Level 2 | 7kW single-phase wall charger | 7kW | ~9 hours | ~5 hours |
| Level 2 | 22kW three-phase wall charger* | up to 22kW | ~3 hours | ~1.75 hours |
| Level 3 | DC public fast charger | Up to 350kW | ~15–60min** | ~10–40 min** |
* Most EVs in Australia max out at 7kW or 11kW AC, so not all can take advantage of 22kW charging.
** Varies widely according to charger power, battery size and State of Charge (SoC) as most EVs slow down when the battery is above ~80%.
*** Also note, it is recommended EVs with lithium-iron-phosphate batteries are charged to 100% at least once a week, while other battery chemistries are kept charged between 20-80% most of the time, to protect the battery from excess degradation.
Charging time by EV model
While the figures above are based on a 60kWh battery, the capacity of a battery varies by model. Here are some examples of best-selling EV models in Australia in 2025. Top up times are based on charging from 20-80%, but note LFP batteries can charge once a week to 100%.
| Model & variant | Usable battery (kWh) | Top AC charge rate | 10A outlet (~2.4kW, 0-100%) | 10A outlet (~2.4kW, 20-80%) | 7kW wall charger (20-80%) | 11kW three-phase* (20-80%) |
| Tesla Model 3 RWD | ~57.5 | 11kW | ~5 hrs | ~14.5 hrs | ~5.0 hrs | ~3.0 hrs |
| Tesla Model Y Long Range | ~75 | 11kW | ~7 hrs | ~19.0 hrs | ~6.5 hrs | ~4.0 hrs |
| BYD Sealion 7 | ~82 | 7kW | ~34 hrs | ~20.5 hrs | ~7.0 hrs | ~7.0 hrs (capped at 7kW) |
| BYD Seal (Dynamic) | ~61 | 7kW | ~25.5 hrs | ~15.5 hrs | ~5.0 hrs | ~5.0 hrs (capped at 7kW) |
| Geely EX5 | ~60 | 11kW | ~25 hrs | ~15.0 hrs | ~5.0 hrs | ~3.5 hrs |
| Kia EV5 (Long Range) | ~88 | 11kW | ~37 hrs | ~22.0 hrs | ~7.5 hrs | ~5.0 hrs |
| MG S5 (49kWh) | ~49 | 11kW | ~20.5 hrs | ~12.0 hrs | ~4.0 hrs | ~2.5 hrs |
Real-world charging habits
In practice, EV owners rarely charge from empty to full. The most common approach is “top-up charging” — plugging in when you get home and adding back the kilometres you used that day. For example, if your EV has a driving range of 400km and you drive 40km to work and back, that would use 10% of your battery. For an EV with a 60kWh battery, that would be about 6kWh of energy. A 7kW wall charger can restore that in under an hour. Even a 10A power point will do the job if you leave it plugged in for a few hours, and definitely overnight.
Range added per hour
It’s often easier to think about how many kilometres of range you’re adding rather than percentages. A typical mid-sized EV uses around 150Wh per kilometre, which works out to about 6.6km per kWh. With that in mind:
| Charger type | Range added per hour | Range added in 8 hours (overnight) |
| 10A outlet | ~16km | ~130km |
| 7kW wall charger | ~46km | ~370km |
| 11kW wall charger* | ~73km | ~580km |
For most households, this means that even a standard overnight charge covers far more driving than you’ll do in a day.
What affects charging speed?
Factors that may affect charging speed include:
- State of Charge: How “full” the battery is (also known as SoC)
- Top charge rate: The limit of the onboard charger
- Ambient temperature: Extreme cold and heat can slow down charging
- Charging curve: The higher the SoC is, the slower the battery charges
Charging at low rates such as Level 1 won’t be affected by these factors, but it might on a three-phase 22kW charger.
Overnight charging – is it enough?
For most Australian households, yes. Average driving distances are in the range of 30–50km per day, and as per the above table, a 7kW charger can easily add 300–400km overnight. That means you can start each morning with a full battery without ever thinking about public charging.
Where overnight charging becomes a stretch is in multi-car households or for people who regularly drive long distances. A 10A outlet, for example, might only restore 130km of range in 8 hours, which is fine for city drivers but not for someone clocking 100km-plus every day.
If you drive a lot, or have more than one EV in the household, it might be time to consider installing a wall charger.
Do I need a faster charger?
It depends on your lifestyle. If you only drive locally and have a single EV, a 7kW wall unit is usually more than enough. If you commute long distances or run two EVs in the household, you might want to consider a three-phase 11kW charger or even multiple units with load sharing.
Another factor is future-proofing. Even if today’s car doesn’t support 11kW, your next one might. It’s worth checking whether three-phase power is available at your property before installing (typically it isn’t in residential areas, unless you’re prepared to pay big bucks for the connection.)
Can I charge from a power point safely?
Yes, but with caution. A regular 10A outlet provides only about 2.4kW, and it is best to be on a dedicated circuit installed by a licensed electrician. If you’re going to do that you may as well ask your sparky to upgrade to a 15A, or even 32A dedicated line to the garage.
That said, a 10A outlet is safe as a backup or for light users who only drive a few kilometres each day. Just make sure that if you are going to use an extension cord that you get a heavy duty cord and consider a breaker unit too. For anything more, a wall charger is the safer and more convenient option.
Home vs public charging
Home charging is about convenience and cost. You can plug in every night, use off-peak tariffs, or schedule the car to soak up excess solar. Public charging, on the other hand, is about speed. A DC fast charger can restore 300–400km of range in under an hour — but you’ll pay more per kilowatt hour, sometimes double or triple the cost of home electricity.
Most owners use public chargers occasionally, for road trips or emergencies, but rely on home charging for their day-to-day driving.
Charging from solar power
One of the biggest drawcards for EV owners is fuelling up directly from the sun. If you have rooftop solar, you can schedule your charging or use a solar EV charger with a load management system to line up with the hours when your panels are producing. In effect, your car can soak up power from your solar system instead of selling it to the grid.
The amount of range you can add depends not just on your solar system size, but also on where you live. Sunshine hours vary from city to city. Perth and Adelaide, for example, generate more solar power per kilowatt of panels than Hobart or Melbourne.
Solar EV charging potential
Here’s what different system sizes can typically add to your EV each day, assuming around 60% of solar generation is spare for charging after household use.
Average EV charging on daily solar generation
| City | 6.6kW system | 10kW system | 13kW system |
| Sydney | ~15.4kWh, or ~103km | ~23.4kWh, or ~156km | ~30.4kWh, or ~203km |
| Melbourne | ~14.3kWh, or ~95km | ~21.6kWh, or ~144km | ~28.1kWh, or ~187km |
| Brisbane | ~16.6kWh, or ~111km | ~25.2kWh, or ~168km | ~32.8kWh, or ~219km |
| Adelaide | ~16.6kWh, or ~111km | ~25.2kWh, or ~168km | ~32.8kWh, or ~219km |
| Perth | ~17.4kWh, or ~116km | ~26.4kWh, or ~176km | ~34.3kWh, or ~229km |
| Hobart | ~13.9kWh, or ~93km | ~21.0kWh, or ~140km | ~27.3kWh, or ~182km |
| Canberra | ~17.0kWh, or ~113km | ~25.8kWh, or ~172km | ~33.5kWh, or ~224km |
| Darwin | ~17.4kWh, or ~116km | ~26.4kWh, or ~176km | ~34.3kWh, or ~229km |
| Alice Springs | ~19.8kWh, or ~132km | ~30.0kWh, or ~200km | ~39.0kWh, or ~260km |
| Cairns | ~16.6kWh, or ~111km | ~25.2kWh, or ~168km | ~32.8kWh, or ~219km |
Notes:
- These are average daily generation figures across the year (Clean Energy Council baseline). Actual output varies seasonally — summer can be 30–40% higher than winter.
- Numbers assume optimal orientation and minimal shading; real-world installs may differ.
- These daily generation totals are before household consumption. The usable energy for EV charging will usually be less, depending on how much power the house consumes during the day.
- Gaining these range figures is dependent on wall charger speed and onboard charging capacity.
FAQs
How long does it take to charge an electric car at home?
Between 6 and 40 hours, depending on the size of the battery and the type of charger.
Can I fully charge my EV overnight?
Yes. A 7kW wall charger will comfortably charge most mid-sized EVs overnight.
How much range do I get per hour at home?
Roughly 16km from a power point, and around 45km from a 7kW wall charger.
Is a wall charger faster than a plug?
Absolutely. Expect about three times the speed of a standard household socket.
Can I charge using solar panels?
Yes, with the right setup. A 6.6kW solar system can add 90–130km of driving range per day, depending on where you live.
Takeaways
For Australian homeowners, charging times depend on your setup and your habits. A 7kW wall unit paired with rooftop solar is the sweet spot for most. It keeps costs down, works overnight, and can be tailored to your household’s energy use. Larger systems and faster chargers make sense if you’re driving long distances or running two EVs, but for many, the basics already cover 95% of daily needs.
As a co-organizer of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum, Bridie is actively involved in EV advocacy and community engagement. She also owns a Tesla Model Y.
- How Long to Charge an Electric Car? EV Charging Times (2025 Guide) - 19 September, 2025
- Sigenergy EV Charger – An Independent Review by Solar Choice - 29 August, 2025
- Enphase IQ EV Charger 2 Review - 28 August, 2025
