The day has come: you’ve got your shiny new EV and your home charger is ready to go. You’re ready to say goodbye to the petrol pump and the costs of filling up!
While your EV might not run on petrol or diesel, it still needs electricity to go – and if you’re not smart about it, charging your EV could lead to a surge in your electricity bill. In this article, we’ll explore the most cost-effective ways to charge your EV so you can drive away for less (or maybe even nothing!)
The three different types of EV chargers – explained
Solar is your EV’s best friend
Most EV owners already have solar panels installed on their homes – which is ideal, as solar panels can effectively provide free power for your EV.
Several brands of EV charger – including Evnex, Wallbox and Schneider – include the ability to specify that your EV charger uses 100% solar energy. This completely eliminates electricity from the grid, meaning you won’t need to pay a cent to charge your EV.
There may be situations where there’s not enough solar energy to charge your EV – perhaps it’s a cloudy day, or you need to run other power-hungry appliances. In these situations, you can use your charger’s app to charge your EV using a mix of solar and grid energy (usually prioritising solar).
Last but not least, using solar to charge your EV obviously won’t work if you need to charge your EV overnight: in this situation, the ultimate solution to charging your EV for free is to install a battery as part of your home solar system and charge your EV from the power stored in it.
Which EV charger is right for me?
Timing is everything
Alternatively, if you’re looking for a lower cost way to charge your EV overnight, you can also take advantage of your electricity provider’s time-of-use tariffs.
Most electricity companies offer plans under which you pay different unit prices for electricity as follows:
| The peak period | From 2pm to 8 pm on working weekdays during 1 November and 31 March (inclusive) – the ‘summer months’; andFrom 5pm to 9pm on working weekdays during 1 June to 31 August (inclusive) – the ‘winter months’. |
| The shoulder period | In simple terms, the shoulder period applies from 7am to 10pm every day, except where a peak period applies during that period. Specifically, it applies:from 7am to 10pm on all weekends and public holidayson working weekdays in the summer months:from 7am to 2pm; and from 8pm to 10pmon working weekdays in the winter months:from 7am to 5pm; and from 9pm to 10pmon working weekdays in spring and autumn, from 7am to 10pm. |
| The off-peak period | All other times, 10pm to 7am |
Source: Ausgrid
The unit price for the off-peak period is usually significantly cheaper than the peak and shoulder prices – often less than half the peak unit price. Therefore, if you’re signed up to a time-of-use plan, charging your EV during the off-peak period – ie, overnight – can net you substantial savings.
As with solar power, many EV charger brands also allow for off-peak charging suggestions and scheduling – meaning all you need to do is get home, plug in your EV and let the charger take care of everything while you count the savings.Need advice on which charger to choose so you can power your EV for less?Saints Electrical are the St George region’s EV charging experts. We’ll get your EV charger set up quickly and efficiently – including free home assessment, charger supply, any necessary home upgrades, integration with your solar panels, and helping you manage your charger so you can drive away for less outlay. To book your free consultation, contact us today.
