01 / AT HOME
Check the place you park
Identify whether you have a dedicated parking space and permission to install charging equipment. Ask a licensed electrician to assess your supply and installation. Apartment and strata properties may need additional approvals.
An AC charger's rating is only part of the picture. The car's onboard charger and the building's electrical supply can limit the actual rate. Compare your typical daily energy needs with the time you are parked.
02 / PUBLIC CHARGING
Know the stop before you go
Confirm connector compatibility, charging speed, access hours, payment method and current availability with the operator. Check pricing for energy, time, sessions and idle fees. A nearby charger may be unavailable or occupied.
03 / LONGER JOURNEYS
Plan with a little margin
Use the car's route planner or a charging operator's current app. Keep a backup stop. Speed, temperature, elevation and load affect consumption; battery temperature and state of charge affect charging speed.
A peak DC charging figure does not describe a whole charging session. Look for a supported charging curve or a comparable 10-80% time for the exact model and conditions.
A simple charging-time example
A 60 kWh usable battery charged from 20% to 80% needs 36 kWh stored. At a constant effective 7 kW, that is about 5.1 hours before losses. Real charging can take longer because of charging losses, tapering and power limits.
Ask these four questions
- Which connector does this exact car use?
- What rate can the car actually accept?
- How long will it be parked?
- What will this session cost?
Sources reviewed 10 November 2026: Australian Government charging guide; Tesla home charging guide. Equipment and standards differ by country.
Estimate energy costs