Help us improve PlaceNest

May we use optional analytics, with PlaceNest's own cookies, to understand how visitors use PlaceNest? You can change your choice anytime. Privacy details

EV charging and household electrification

Household electrification means replacing gas or other fuels with efficient electric appliances: heat pumps for hot water, reverse-cycle air conditioning for heating and cooling, induction cooking, and an electric vehicle charged at home.

Each change shifts more of your energy use onto electricity, which changes how much solar, battery capacity and supply capacity you may need, and when you use power. This page explains how to think about them together.

What limits home EV charging speedElectricity flows from the home supply, which is single-phase or three-phase, to the wall charger, which has its own kW rating, to the car's on-board charger, which converts AC to DC and has a maximum AC rate, and then into the car's battery. The actual charging rate is the lowest of the supply, the wall charger and the on-board charger.Home supplySingle- or three-phaseWall chargerRated kW (AC)On-board chargerCar's max AC rateCar batteryStores kWh (DC)Charging rate = the lowest of supply, wall charger and on-board chargerA higher-rated wall charger cannot exceed the car's on-board charger limit.Three-phase ratings need a three-phase supply and a car that accepts three-phase AC.

The main electric upgrades

Each upgrade has its own trade-offs. A licensed electrician (and, for gas disconnection, a licensed gasfitter) must do the installation work.

When things run matters

Loads that can run at flexible times — hot water, pool pumps, EV charging, pre-heating or pre-cooling — can be moved into solar hours or an off-peak window. That usually makes better use of solar and reduces costs on time-of-use plans.

Loads that cannot move, such as evening cooking and winter evening heating, are what a battery or the grid has to supply.

Supply and switchboard capacity

Adding several electric appliances can raise the highest power your home draws at once. Some homes need switchboard work or a supply upgrade, while others can manage with load management that slows EV charging when other appliances are running.

Ask an electrician to check your switchboard and supply before you plan several upgrades, and plan them as a whole rather than one at a time.

EV charging at home

Many drivers charge from a standard power point or a dedicated wall charger. The charging rate is the lowest of the charger rating, your supply and the car's on-board charger, so a high-rated charger does not always charge faster.

Solar-aware chargers can follow spare solar; off-peak charging can suit cars that are home overnight. The EV charging guide covers this in detail.

Incentives and planning

Some governments offer rebates or loans for electric appliances. Check current programs on official sources and the incentives page — eligibility and dates change.

There is no single right order. Many households start with the appliance that is due for replacement, or the one that uses the most energy, and plan solar, battery and supply needs around the full set.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need solar to electrify?

No. Electric appliances work on grid electricity. Solar can supply part of their daytime use, especially loads you can shift into daylight hours.

Will electrifying increase my electricity bill?

It usually increases electricity use, while reducing or removing other fuel costs. The overall effect depends on your appliances, usage, plan and fuel prices.

Do I need three-phase power?

Most homes electrify on single-phase supply. Whether yours needs an upgrade depends on the total load; an electrician can check.

Learn about each option

Sources and review

Draft — pending human review

Not yet reviewed by a person. Programs, products and rules change — check the official source before you decide.

General information only. PlaceNest's energy guides, and any estimates or incentive lists, are general information and estimates — not personalised financial advice, and not a quote. Programs, prices and rules change: check the official sources, and get written quotes from accredited installers before you decide.

PlaceNest guides are general information, not financial advice. Whether solar, a battery or an EV charger pays off depends on your home, usage and prices.

Any incentive or finance details PlaceNest shows come from a reviewed list, each with its official source and the date it was checked; eligibility is decided by each program. See how incentives work and paying for an upgrade.