Charging time is one of the first questions people ask before an electric vehicle charging installation in Perth.
The answer depends on three things: the charger's power output, your car's onboard charger, and the size of the battery you're filling. Home and public charging solve different problems, and knowing the difference helps you plan around both.
Charging at home
A standard household power point (10A) can charge an EV, but slowly. Overnight, it typically adds around 15-20km of range per hour. That's fine for a car that sits in the driveway most nights, but it's not built for daily high-mileage use.
A dedicated home EV charger changes that. A 7kW Level 2 unit, the most common choice among EV chargers in Perth, adds roughly 40km of range per hour. For most daily commutes, that means a car parked at 6pm is back to a full charge well before morning. A full charge from near-empty on a 7kW charger generally takes six to eight hours, depending on battery size.
Home charging works because it matches how people actually use their cars: parked overnight, charging while nobody needs to wait around. It's also the cheapest way to charge, since it runs on standard residential electricity rates rather than a per-kWh public tariff.
Charging in public
Public charging exists for a different job: topping up during the day, on a road trip, or when home charging isn't an option. Public networks split into two types.
AC public chargers run at similar speeds to home units, usually 7-22kW. They suit shopping centres, workplaces, and destinations where a car sits for a few hours anyway.
DC fast chargers are built for speed. Depending on the charger and the vehicle's maximum charging rate, a DC fast charger can take a battery from 20% to 80% in 20 to 40 minutes. Charging slows noticeably past 80%, which is why most fast-charging stops are timed to that range rather than a full charge.
This is also where a commercial EV charger install matters for businesses. A café, shopping centre, or fleet depot installing DC fast chargers is offering a genuinely different service than a workplace installing AC units for staff who'll be parked all day. The right choice depends on how long vehicles are expected to stay.
Which one do you actually need?
For most drivers, home charging covers 80-90% of charging needs. Public fast charging fills the gap for longer trips or unplanned top-ups. Businesses installing chargers for customers or fleets need to think about dwell time first: AC for long stays, DC for fast turnover.
Charger speed also depends on your vehicle. Not every EV can accept the maximum output of a fast charger, so the car's own charging limit sets the real ceiling, not just the charger's rating.
Getting the setup right the first time, at home or on a commercial site, comes down to matching the charger to how the space is actually used. EVCS Electric Vehicle Charging Solutions works with homeowners, apartment buildings, and commercial sites across Perth to design and install a charging setup that fits daily use rather than a generic default.
If you're not sure which charger fits your situation, get in touch for a free quote and a straight answer on what's worth installing.