EV Charger Types Explained: Which One Do You Need?

The most common home EV charger in Australia. A 7.4 kW single-phase unit comfortably refills a typical EV overnight and suits the vast majority of homes, which only have a single-phase supply.

A 7.4 kW Level 2 AC charger draws 32 amps from a standard single-phase supply, which is what most Australian homes have. Compared with a standard 10A wall socket (often called Level 1, delivering roughly 2.0–2.4 kW and only 10–15 km of range per hour), a Level 2 unit is around three to four times faster, turning an overnight charge into a full battery for almost any daily driving pattern.

Because it charges through the car's onboard AC charger, the real-world speed is capped by whatever that onboard charger supports. Most modern EVs accept the full 7.4 kW on single phase, so you'll see the rated speed. The unit is wall-mounted, weatherproof models are available for outdoor or carport installation, and it requires a dedicated circuit and (in NSW) installation by a licensed electrician.

For a household that parks at home overnight and drives average daily distances, a 7.4 kW charger is almost always the right balance of cost, speed and simplicity. Going faster generally requires upgrading to a three-phase supply, which adds cost that most single-car households don't need.

A three-phase home and workplace charger that adds range noticeably faster than a single-phase unit. Ideal when your property already has three-phase power and your EV supports three-phase AC charging.

An 11 kW charger uses three-phase power, drawing around 16A per phase. This delivers roughly 50–60 km of range per hour — meaningfully quicker than a 7.4 kW single-phase unit — and is a popular choice for homes that already have a three-phase supply, as well as for workplaces and small fleets.

The important caveat is the car's onboard charger. Many EVs sold in Australia have an 11 kW three-phase onboard charger and will use the full speed, but some models are limited to single-phase AC (often 7.4 kW) regardless of the wall unit. On those cars an 11 kW charger won't charge any faster than a 7.4 kW one, so it's worth checking your vehicle's onboard AC charging specification before upgrading.

If your home doesn't already have three phase, retrofitting it through the network can be a significant cost. For most single-car households that isn't justified, but for multi-EV homes, faster turnaround, or properties already on three phase, an 11 kW charger is an excellent middle ground between standard home charging and commercial-grade equipment.

The fastest AC charging available, drawing 32A across three phases. Best suited to commercial, destination and workplace settings — and only faster than 11 kW if your EV has a 22 kW onboard charger.

A 22 kW AC charger draws 32A per phase across a three-phase supply, making it the quickest AC option. In commercial car parks, shopping centres, hotels and destination locations it lets multiple vehicles top up quickly while customers shop, dine or work.

The catch is significant for residential buyers: very few EVs sold in Australia have a 22 kW onboard AC charger. Most max out at 7.4 kW (single phase) or 11 kW (three phase) on AC. If your car has an 11 kW onboard charger, plugging into a 22 kW unit still only charges at 11 kW. For this reason, a 22 kW charger rarely makes sense for a single home unless you specifically own a vehicle that supports it.

Where 22 kW shines is shared and commercial use. A single 22 kW unit can be load-shared across several cars, and the headroom future-proofs a site as more vehicles arrive. For genuinely fast charging that bypasses the onboard charger entirely, you move to DC fast charging instead.

Rapid commercial-grade charging that converts AC to DC inside the unit and feeds the battery directly, bypassing the car's onboard charger. Built for public, fleet and high-traffic commercial sites — not homes.

DC fast chargers do the AC-to-DC conversion inside the unit and deliver DC power straight to the battery, sidestepping the car's onboard AC charger entirely. That's why they can deliver far more power: a 50 kW unit can add roughly 150 km of range in 10–15 minutes, and higher-output models (100–350 kW) charge supported vehicles even faster.

Because of the high power draw, DC chargers need substantial three-phase supply, significant electrical infrastructure and often network approval. The equipment cost is an order of magnitude above home AC chargers, so they are deployed where rapid turnaround drives value — highway corridors, service stations, public charging hubs, dealerships and commercial fleets.

Actual charge speed still depends on the vehicle's maximum DC charge rate and its battery state of charge (charging slows as the battery fills, typically tapering after around 80%). For commercial operators, DC charging is about throughput and customer experience rather than overnight convenience, and units commonly include OCPP support for payment and remote management.

Not a separate power class, but a feature set: scheduling, app control, dynamic load balancing, solar integration and OCPP. Smart chargers cut running costs and protect your switchboard.

A smart charger adds intelligence on top of standard Level 2 AC charging. Through an app you can schedule charging for off-peak tariff windows or overnight, monitor energy use and costs, set charge limits, and in many cases control the charger remotely. For households on time-of-use or EV electricity plans, scheduling alone can substantially reduce charging costs.

Dynamic (or dynamic load) balancing is a key safety and capability feature. The charger monitors the whole property's electricity draw and automatically dials charging up or down so the total never exceeds the supply or main switchboard rating. This often lets a home add a charger without an expensive supply upgrade, and it's essential in apartments and shared car parks where several chargers compete for limited capacity.

Solar integration lets the charger prioritise surplus rooftop solar, charging the car from excess generation rather than exporting it — effectively charging on free energy during the day. OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol) is an open standard that lets chargers work with third-party management and billing platforms, which matters for strata, workplaces and commercial sites that need metering, access control or payment.

A choice between a charger with a permanently attached cable (tethered) and one with just a socket you plug your own cable into (untethered). It affects convenience, tidiness and flexibility — not charging speed.

A tethered charger has a fixed charging cable attached to the unit, with the connector ready to plug straight into your car. It's the most convenient for daily use — no fetching a cable from the boot — and looks tidy on the wall. The trade-offs are that the cable is always exposed (so cable length and weatherproofing matter), and you're committed to one connector type, which is fine since almost all EVs in Australia use the Type 2 AC connector.

An untethered (socket-outlet) charger has just a Type 2 socket on the unit; you plug in your own portable cable each time. This keeps the wall unit compact and the cable stored away when not in use, lets you swap cable lengths, and accommodates different vehicles or connector types more flexibly. The downsides are the minor inconvenience of handling the cable every charge and an extra item to keep in the car.

For a single-EV home where the car parks in the same spot, tethered is usually the more convenient pick. Untethered suits shared driveways, multiple vehicles, public or strata installations, and anyone who values a clutter-free wall and maximum flexibility. Both deliver the same charging speed for a given power rating.