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EV charger chooser
There are only a few real decisions in a home charger: how fast, tethered or untethered, and smart or basic. Answer a few questions and we’ll narrow it down — then confirm the detail with a local Registered Electrician.
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Which home charger is right for you?
Answer a few questions about your driving, your power supply and how you want to charge. We’ll suggest a charging speed, connector type and whether a smart charger is worth it — a starting point to confirm with a Registered Electrician.
- Find out whether your home is single- or three-phase — an electrician can tell at the switchboard. It’s the main factor in how fast you can charge.
- A Registered Electrician will check your switchboard capacity. Dynamic load management can avoid an expensive switchboard upgrade.
- See the running-cost calculator for what an off-peak plan actually saves you each year.
Picked a charger? See what it costs to run each year →
A guide only, not electrical advice. Charging speed depends on your switchboard and your EV’s onboard charger — a Registered Electrician confirms what your home can safely support.
How we choose
Speed. A 7kW single-phase charger adds roughly 40km of range an hour — a full overnight charge for almost any driver. Going faster needs three-phase power (uncommon in NZ homes) and an EV whose onboard charger can accept it; most cap at 7–11kW AC. See 7kW vs 22kW for the full picture.
Connector. Tethered means the cable is attached for plug-and-go convenience; untethered is a socket that’s tidier and future-proof across vehicles.
Smart features. If you’ll charge on an off-peak plan or have solar, a smart charger pays for itself by shifting charging to the cheap window — see what that saves in the running-cost calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a 22kW charger at home?
Almost never. A 22kW charger requires three-phase power, which most NZ homes don’t have, and most EVs’ onboard AC charger caps at 7–11kW — so the extra capacity is usually wasted. A 7kW single-phase charger adds about 40km of range an hour, which fully charges almost any EV overnight.
Tethered or untethered — which is better?
Tethered (a cable permanently attached) is most convenient for a single EV: pull up and plug in. Untethered (a socket you plug your own cable into) keeps the unit tidier and is more future-proof if you change cars or charge different vehicles. Both install the same way.
Is a smart charger worth it?
If you want to charge on a cheaper off-peak or EV power plan, or you have solar, yes — a smart charger schedules charging into the cheap window and can match charging to surplus solar. Off-peak scheduling is the single biggest lever on your running cost. If neither applies, a basic charger is fine, but smart usually costs only a little more and future-proofs you.
Is this a quote or electrical advice?
No — it’s a guide to narrow your options before you talk to an installer. Your actual charging speed depends on your switchboard capacity and your EV’s onboard charger, which a Registered Electrician confirms on site.