Driving an Electric Vehicle (EV) is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint. But Australia currently has a problem with a lack of charging infrastructure.
Most people rely on public chargers in places like shopping centres. That means you need to head to the shops anytime you want to top up your batteries.
If you want to get more from your EV, the best thing you can do is install a charger at home! Home EV charging is affordable and simple. Your charger can be installed by a licensed electrician almost anywhere on your property.
In this article, we’ll discuss where to install an EV charger in your home, and the restrictions surrounding EV charging in apartment buildings.
Installing an EV Charger in Your Home
EV chargers are usually installed in your garage, carport, driveway or near to where you park your car overnight. There are no restrictions on where the charger can be placed – it just needs to be in a spot that’s convenient for you.
Your EV charger only needs an electrical connection. An electrician can use the existing wiring in your walls or ceiling, or we can run new cables to the installation point.
You also don’t need a locked garage to install an EV charger. They can be placed on an exterior wall or installed on an outdoor post close to where your car is located.
Can EV Chargers Be Installed Outside?
EV chargers can be installed outside. That’s useful if your home doesn’t have a garage or if you’re installing a charger in an exposed location.
The charging port on your car, the charging cable and the EV charger itself all contain watertight seals. For example, the Oculare LTE Plus is IP66 rated. This means the charger won’t be affected by weather and that it’s safe to charge your vehicle outside, even if it’s raining.
If you don’t want to install a dedicated EV charger, you can install a weatherproof power point outside your home. These provide a trickle charge that can be used to top up your battery slowly.
EV Charger Installation in Apartment Buildings
Living in an apartment building with a shared garage limits your options for EV charging. Shared garages are managed by the body corporate. While you may own the parking space, you’ll need the body corporate’s permission to install an EV charger in the garage.
This creates a challenge. Most apartment buildings have been built with petrol and diesel cars in mind. They lack the electrical infrastructure required to support a large number of EV chargers. Because of this, many body corporates are placing limits on how many private chargers residents can install.
We deal with two main scenarios when installing EV chargers in apartment buildings:
- If the body corporate allows you to install a charger, you can opt for Level 1, Level 2 or Level 2.5 charging. We can configure the charger to comply with any limits your body corporate has placed on charging speeds.
- If the body corporate won’t allow you to install a charger, we may need to discuss creating a charging station for the building. We can work with your body corporate to deliver a limited number of EV chargers that are available to anyone living in the building.
Talk to our team if your body corporate needs additional information about installing EV chargers.
Martel Electrical can Design an EV Charger Installation for Your Home!
The demand for EV chargers is growing quickly. If you don’t want to head to the local shops to charge your batteries, we can install an EV charger in your home, townhouse or apartment building.
Martel Electrical is a licensed electrician providing EV charger installation across Brisbane. We can install an EV charger you’ve already purchased (including Tesla chargers), or recommend a product from one of our trusted suppliers.
We design EV charging installations to suit your property. Our team will assess your existing wiring and discuss your charging needs. That helps us choose the perfect charger for your home and vehicle.
Contact us to find out whether your home is ready for EV charging!