Start with the numbers
| Charger | Supply needed | Range added per hour (approx.) | Overnight (8 hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7kW | Single phase, 32A circuit | 40 to 50 km | 320 to 400 km |
| 11kW | Three phase, 16A per phase | 60 to 75 km | Full from empty |
| 22kW | Three phase, 32A per phase | Up to 130 km (car permitting) | Full in 3 to 4 hrs |
Most EVs on Australian roads cannot accept more than 7 to 11kW from a home AC charger anyway. A 22kW wall box charging an 11kW-limited car delivers 11kW. Check your car's onboard charger rating before paying for capacity it cannot use.
What matters more than phases: headroom
The real question is whether your existing supply has room for another 32A continuous load. A charger runs for hours at full draw. If your home already has ducted air, an electric hot water system, a pool pump and an induction cooktop on a single-phase 63A or 80A supply, adding 32A can push the main switch or the consumer mains past what they were sized for.
That is a load assessment, and it is the first thing we do. Sometimes the answer is a smarter charger with dynamic load management, which throttles itself when the house is busy. Sometimes it is bigger consumer mains. Occasionally it is three-phase.
When three-phase is the right answer
- Two EVs charging at the same time, regularly
- A car that genuinely accepts 22kW and you need fast top-ups
- A workshop, granny flat or large shed on the same supply
- You are already planning a big solar and battery system
- The existing single-phase mains are undersized and need replacing anyway, so the extra cost of going three-phase is marginal
What a three-phase upgrade involves
New three-phase consumer mains from the street, a switchboard that can take three phases, a three-phase smart meter, and rebalancing your circuits across the phases. It is Level 2 work with an Ausgrid notification, a planned outage of a few hours, and a CCEW at the end. From about $4,800 on the Central Coast, more if the switchboard is old. See metering and three-phase upgrades.
The Level 2 angle most installers miss
A lot of EV charger installers are general electricians. If your job needs new mains or a meter change, they have to bring in a Level 2, which means a second trade, a second visit and a second invoice. Because Anaconda is a Level 2 ASP, we quote the charger and any supply work together. Details on the EV charger page.
