Frequently asked questions.
A list of questions and answers to common questions about electric vehicles (EV's) and chargers.
Frequently asked questions about electric vehicles (EVs)
Public EV charging stations provide great options for topping up during the day at your destination, or when you are on a long journey.
Find a charging station on the Electric Vehicle Council's charger map or read more about getting Out and about in an electric vehicle.
A vehicle with bi-directional charging capability – also known as vehicle-to-grid (V2G) or vehicle-to-home (V2H) charging – can not only take power from the grid to charge the EV battery, it can also supply power back to the grid, or power a home by using energy from the EV battery.
Effectively it enables your electric vehicle to act as a home battery, storing energy that can be used to power your home or sold to the grid.
Sites like the Electric Vehicle Council or built-in car navigation systems can direct you to the nearest charging location, and also show if the station is available to use. They can also provide information on cost and what connectors are available.
In the same way as your conventional car can be damaged when it runs to empty and run out of fuel, it can damage an electric vehicle if your car runs out of charge. Running completely out of power is known as 'deep discharging' and can lead to battery deterioration, which will reduce its performance and ability to hold charge. If you have less than 10-20% charge left, it is always best to recharge, rather than letting it discharge completely.
Frequently asked questions about EV chargers
Costs will vary depending on the type of charger installed and your specific needs. The best starting point for getting a quote is to contact a licensed electrician. They can assess your specific needs, explain the next steps, and submit your connection application on your behalf through SmartApply.
Find more information on installing an electric vehicle charger.
Yes, your electrician will charge for the work they do, including any of our charges. Find more information about the fees by reading SA Power Networks Connections and Ancillary Network Services.
Your licensed installer needs to be aware of standards and regulations for installation of an EV charger. They can read more on our Solar and Other Generators page.
Chargers larger than 20A single phase or 25A 3-phase will require an exemption from SA Power Networks. Your electrician can obtain this using SmartApply.
Yes there are several ways you can use the energy from your solar system to charge your electric vehicle, each with increasing complexity:
- Simple time window optimisation (e.g. charge during peak solar hours)
- Installing an EV charger that monitors your connection point to the grid and rather than exporting solar, it diverts and charges your vehicle (solar diverter)
- Connecting your solar system and EV charger to sync and optimise charging using a Home Energy Management System (HEMS)
Depending on the type of charger you are installing, your current electricity connection could be suitable. It is best to engage an electrician for an assessment.
Contact a registered electrician or your local electric vehicle dealer.
State and federal government subsides may be available. To find out what is currently on offer, read the Subsidies and Tariffs page.
All our technical standards and regulations can be found on our Industry page.
The SA Government website and industry bodies like NECA and the Clean Energy Council are good resources.