Charging an EV is easy, but for many new users it won’t be as familiar as pumping petrol. So how does it all work?

Like any new technology, EVs come with their own learning curves, and charging is chief among them. Prospective owners may find themselves asking questions like: Will I need a special charging port? Will charging on the road take hours? How much will it cost? Will my power bill go through the roof?

Better NZ Trust aims to educate the public on EVs and promote their uptake. Chairperson and longtime EV enthusiast Kathryn Trounson spoke to Naomii Seah to answer some of the most common EV charging questions.

Will my power bill skyrocket?

Running an EV will result in a higher power bill, but the increase may not be as dramatic as you expect. And this cost will also be offset by savings at the pump. 

“You will see an upturn in your power bill, but you’re not going out and buying petrol. If it costs you 80 dollars to fill up, well you’d get a lot of mileage out of 80 bucks of electricity,” Trounson says.

“Filling up” an EV at home costs the equivalent of $1.60 per litre during off-peak hours. By comparison, the average price of Unleaded 91 is currently sitting around $2.50 per litre.

What are ‘off-peak’ hours?

Off-peak hours are times when electricity demand is low, like overnight when most people are sleeping. Time of use power plans, which adjust the cost of electricity based on the time of day, can be particularly good for EV drivers. Genesis has a plan specifically for EV owners that offers time-of-use benefits. With Genesis’s EV plan, you save 50% on variable electricity rates from 9pm to 7am every day.*

So how do EV drivers charge at home?

“We’ve been charging our cars in the garage for 10 years, and we just use the standard three-pin plug,” says Trounson.

Three-pin domestic chargers are usually included when you buy an EV and don’t require any fancy equipment, just a standard household socket. An electrician can install an outside power point if you don’t already have one, as extension cords should never be used to charge an EV. 

How long does charging take?

Most EV owners charge overnight, says Trounson. While you probably won’t get to 100 percent (nor would you want to, for battery health reasons) an overnight charge is usually more than enough, as most people drive less than 30km a day. 

For those who use their car often, a faster at-home option is a wall-mounted charging unit. These charge at around twice the rate of a standard plug, so are a good option if you can only charge for a few hours between uses. Some wall-mounted chargers have smart features. They can be programmed to charge at off-peak times, set to stop at a specific charging level and connect to your phone. It’s a good idea to consult an electrician on this though as it may require work on your wiring.

Where can I charge on the road?

“We have 1,400 or so charging places up and down the country. Their speed varies… for some of the higher spec cars, you might only sit charging for 10 minutes,” Trounson says.

Public chargers are available at malls, gyms and supermarkets and at least every 75km on most of our state highways. In addition to fast-chargers, some public stations offer a slower, cheaper (sometimes free) charge, but you might need to bring your own cable. 

Fast chargers vary in speed. Slower ones can add 50km to your car’s battery in under half an hour. Faster ones can add 400km in under 15 minutes. Trounson generally finds she has enough time for a bathroom break or a coffee run while charging, but that’s it. 

One thing to note is that charging speeds are limited by an EV model’s internal capacity. Plugging an older model into an ultra-fast charger won’t shorten charging times.

How do I charge on-the-go?

ChargeNet is the major supplier of our public charging stations with over 400 sites. You just have to set up an account to use them. Sessions can be started through the ChargeNet app, or through a key fob. The fob links to your account, and you just scan it to start and stop sessions.

“I find that the app is fine and dandy if you’re travelling in places with good reception… I choose to use my tag because it’s almost simpler, but some people prefer everything listed on their phone,” Trounson says. 

How much does on-road charging cost?

ChargeNet estimates the average rapid or hyper-rapid charging session to cost between $5 and $15. With the Genesis EVerywhere plan, customers can charge their EV at ChargeNet stations at their home rates, saving up to 70%^ on fees. They can also pay for their ChargeNet sessions via their Genesis Energy bill.

How do I plan for a long trip?

Before taking a long trip, Trounson recommends doing a test run at a nearby public charging station first.

“It’s like being taken to a petrol station by your parents when you first learn to drive. Someone explains to you how to lift the nozzle, and where the tank is. It’s not that hard, you’ve just got to learn how to use it.” 

You’ll also want to pre-plan your charging stops and ChargeNet has an in-app map of their locations. Once on the road, Trounson says the rule-of-thumb is to charge to 80% and then move on. Anymore, it costs you extra time and money for little benefit as the delivery of electricity tapers off dramatically.

“Imagine you’re trying to fill a bucket with a firehose without spilling anything. You can be gung-ho until an inch from the top, and then you have to be very careful. It’s the same principle.” 

Any charging etiquette to be aware of?

It’s mostly basic courtesy, says Trounson. The biggest faux pas is probably unplugging someone’s car before it’s done charging, or pressing the emergency stop button in the absence of an emergency.

“All EVs can use public chargers, but you have to observe the parking limits. Don’t use a charging area just to park because it’s easier. Monitor your charging session and return to your car when it’s done – you don’t want to be the one holding up a space someone needs.

“We just try and get people to understand that you have to be polite, and there’s a queuing system if necessary. But that only usually comes into play during peak times like Christmas.”