Home EV Charging Explained — How to Charge an EV at Home in New Zealand

There are three main ways to charge an EV at home in New Zealand, each with different speeds and installation requirements.

Most EVs come with a portable charger (sometimes called an EVSE or granny charger) that plugs into a standard 10 amp household power outlet. It delivers around 2.3 kW and adds roughly 10 to 15 km of range per hour.

At this speed, charging a 100 kWh battery from 10% to 80% takes about 30 hours. That makes the portable charger best suited for occasional top-ups, short daily commutes or as a backup when a dedicated charger is not available.

No installation is required — it plugs into an existing outlet. However, the outlet should be on a dedicated circuit and in good condition. It is worth having an electrician check the circuit if you plan to use it regularly.

A dedicated AC wall charger is the most common home charging setup for New Zealand EV owners. On a standard single-phase electricity supply, a wall charger typically delivers 7 kW and adds around 35 to 45 km of range per hour.

At 7 kW, a 100 kWh battery charges from 10% to 80% in about 10 hours — easily done overnight. For most drivers covering typical daily distances, plugging in each evening means the car is fully charged every morning without any change to routine.

Wall chargers are hardwired to the home's electrical supply and must be installed by a licensed electrician. The charger unit itself is mounted on a wall in the garage or carport, close to where the vehicle parks.

Homes with a three-phase electricity supply can install a 3-phase AC charger operating at 11 kW or 22 kW, which charges significantly faster than a single-phase 7 kW unit. An 11 kW charger adds about 55 to 70 km of range per hour and can charge a 100 kWh battery from 10% to 80% in around 6.4 hours. A 22 kW charger is faster still, though not all EVs can accept the full 22 kW — the actual speed depends on the vehicle's onboard charger.

Three-phase supply is more common in newer homes and some older homes that have been upgraded. If your home already has three-phase power, a 3-phase AC charger is a worthwhile option — especially if you drive longer distances daily or want faster turnaround between charges.

If your home does not have three-phase supply, upgrading is possible but involves additional cost through your electricity distributor. For most owners on single-phase, a 7 kW wall charger is more than sufficient for overnight charging.

What is involved

Installing a home wall charger typically involves mounting the charger unit, running cabling from the switchboard to the charging location and installing a dedicated circuit with appropriate protection. The work must be carried out by a licensed electrician.

Where to install

Most wall chargers are installed in a garage, carport or on an external wall near where the vehicle parks. The charge port location on the vehicle determines the best mounting position — aim to minimise cable reach.

Electrical capacity

A 7 kW charger on a single-phase supply draws around 32 amps. Your electrician will check that the home's switchboard and supply have enough capacity to support the charger alongside existing household loads. In some cases, a switchboard upgrade may be needed.

Installation cost

Installation costs vary depending on the distance from the switchboard to the charger location, the condition of the existing electrical supply and whether any upgrades are required. The charger unit itself is a separate purchase. Getting quotes from multiple electricians is recommended, and some EV charger brands offer installation through their own installer networks.

The cost of home charging depends on your electricity rate. Most New Zealand households pay between $0.25 and $0.45 per kWh depending on their plan, location and time of use.

Compared with a medium petrol car doing 8 litres per 100 km at $3.00 per litre — which costs $3,360 per year — even the standard home electricity rate delivers a substantial annual saving. If you know your actual electricity rate, you can set it in the My EV panel — the cost figures in the table above and across the site's calculators will update to match what you pay.

Time-of-use tariffs

Many New Zealand electricity plans use time-of-use pricing, with lower rates during off peak hours (typically overnight) and higher rates during peak periods. Charging overnight on an off peak rate of around $0.25 per kWh instead of a peak rate can reduce your charging cost by a third or more.

Most wall chargers and EVs allow you to schedule charging to start at a set time. Setting the car or charger to begin charging when the off peak window starts means the vehicle charges at the cheapest rate automatically.

Dedicated EV tariffs

Some electricity retailers offer a dedicated EV charging tariff, sometimes as low as $0.12 per kWh, available as part of a time-of-use plan during overnight hours. Some retailers require a separate meter or controlled load arrangement, but many offer the EV rate on your existing meter. Check with your retailer for the specific requirements.

At $0.12 per kWh, charging 15,000 km worth of driving costs just $192 per year. That is less than a tenth of the equivalent petrol cost and roughly a quarter of the standard home rate.

Solar charging

Owners with rooftop solar can charge their EV using excess solar generation during the day. If the electricity would otherwise be exported to the grid at a low buy-back rate, using it to charge the car effectively makes the electricity cost very low or free. This works best for vehicles that are parked at home during daylight hours.

Most New Zealanders drive around 30 to 50 km per day on average. At a typical EV efficiency of 16 kWh per 100 km, that uses roughly 5 to 8 kWh of energy — which a 7 kW wall charger replaces in about 45 minutes to just over an hour.

This means that for everyday driving, a standard home wall charger provides far more capacity than most people need. Even plugging in every second or third night is enough for many owners to keep the battery comfortably topped up.

Longer trips or higher daily distances may benefit from a faster 3-phase AC charger, but for the majority of New Zealand households, a single-phase 7 kW wall charger is the practical choice.

Charge to 80% for daily use

For everyday driving, many EV owners set a charge limit of around 80%. This keeps charging times shorter (since charging slows above 80%), helps maintain long-term battery health and still provides more than enough range for daily needs. Charging to 100% can be reserved for longer trips or when the extra range is genuinely needed.

Plug in regularly rather than waiting for empty

Unlike petrol vehicles, where you fill up when the tank is low, the most convenient approach with an EV is to plug in regularly — much like charging a phone. Topping up from 50% to 80% takes far less time than charging from 10% to 80%, and it keeps the battery in a comfortable range.

Use scheduled charging

If you are on a time-of-use electricity plan, set the vehicle or charger to begin charging when the off peak window starts. You can plug in when you get home, and the charging will start automatically at the cheapest time. This is one of the easiest ways to reduce your running cost without changing any other habit.