The Real Cost of Charging Your EV in Canberra: Home vs Public Chargers

The Real Cost of EV Charging in Canberra (And Why You’re Probably Doing It Wrong)

Alright, buckle up because I’m about to save you a heap of cash.

Last week I’m installing a charger in Kaleen and the customer asks me “mate, am I actually gonna save money with this thing or is it all just greenwashing?”

Fair question. So I pulled out my phone and we did the maths right there in his garage.

What I showed him made his jaw drop. And not in a bad way.

Let’s Talk Home Charging First

So you rock up home after work.

Plug in the car. Go inside. Relax. Watch the footy. Go to bed.

While you’re sleeping peacefully, your car’s filling up with electricity overnight.

ActewAGL’s current rates:

1. Off-peak (10pm-7am): 19.14c per kWh
2. Peak times: 31.35c per kWh

Most EVs? About 60kWh battery.

Quick maths: 60 x $0.1914 = $11.48

Eleven bucks fifty. For 400km of range.

That’s 2.8 cents per k.

My brother-in-law’s still filling up his Ranger at the Caltex in Phillip. He’s paying 15 cents per k. Wonders why he’s always broke.

Public Chargers Are Expensive

Now here’s where it gets interesting.

You know those chargers at Canberra Centre? The ones that look all futuristic?

Yeah, they’re significantly more expensive than home charging.

Was there last Tuesday and watched someone plug in their MG. Started chatting. He was genuinely surprised when I told him what he was paying.

Evie Networks (Canberra Centre, Belco Mall):

• – 50kW charger: 45c per kWh
• – Ultra-rapid: 65c per kWh

Chargefox (that big one at Majura):

• – Standard: 45c per kWh
• – Ultra-rapid: 60c per kWh

Tesla Superchargers:

• – Peak: 67c per kWh
• – Off-peak: 52c per kWh

Same 60kWh charge? You’re looking at $27-40.

Instead of $11.48 at home.

That’s a significant difference.

Real Customer Story

Three weeks back, I installed a Zappi charger for this gentleman in Macgregor. Trevor. Top bloke. Accountant, so he loves his numbers.

Trevor’s got a white Model 3. Does about 300km a week. Mostly commuting to Civic and back, bit of weekend driving.

Before I installed his charger, he was using the Chargefox at Belco. Twice a week. Like clockwork.

We worked it out:

• – Public charging: $35 a week
• – Home charging (off-peak): $8.60 a week

He’s saving $26.40 EVERY WEEK.

That’s $1,373 a year.

The charger install? Paid for itself in 18 months. Everything after that is pure savings.

(Trevor doesn’t spend those savings. He invests them. Smart accountant.)

Solar Changes Everything

OK so here’s where it gets really interesting.

You got panels on your roof? You’re sitting on a goldmine, mate.

Middle of the day, your panels are cranking out power. You’re at work. House is using minimal electricity.

Normally that power goes back to the grid for a measly 8 cents.

But with a smart charger? Different story.

Got a customer in Watson. Retired gentleman. Graham. Absolute character. Keeps bees in his backyard (different story).

Graham works his EV charging like a military operation:

• Parks up at 10am
• Zappi charger detects the solar production
• Diverts everything to the car
• By 2pm, full battery
• Cost: $0.00

Zero. Nada. Nothing.

Graham reckons he hasn’t paid for fuel since March. Shows me his app every time I’m there for other electrical work. Proud as punch.

“Nathan,” he says, “it’s like having your own petrol station on the roof.”

Can’t argue with that logic.

The Hidden Costs Nobody Mentions

Here’s something that’ll surprise you.

Idle fees.

Yeah, that’s a thing.

Tesla Supercharger? Leave your car there after it’s done charging? $1 per minute.

PER MINUTE.

Saw a post on the Canberra Notice Board Facebook page. Someone copped a $73 fee. Went into Myer, lost track of time.

Seventy-three dollars.

For parking.

At your own charger at home? Park there till Christmas. Nobody cares. It’s your driveway.

Time Is Money (And Sanity)

Let me paint you another picture.

Home charging:

• Get home (0 seconds)
• Plug in (5 seconds)
• Go inside (5 seconds)
• Done

Public charging:

• Drive to charger (10 minutes)
• Wait for previous user to finish (15 minutes)
• Plug in, tap card, mess around with app (3 minutes)
• Sit in car scrolling social media (30 minutes)
• Drive home (10 minutes)

That’s over an hour. Of your life. Gone.

Do that twice a week? You’ve wasted 100+ hours a year sitting in car parks.

How to Optimise Your EV Charging

Right, practical stuff:

1. Timer is your best friend
Every EV has one. Use it. Set to start at 10:01pm.

2. ActewAGL’s EV plan
Ring them up. Takes 5 minutes. Saves you even more overnight.

3. Don’t charge to 100% every day
Your battery will last longer at 80%. Save 100% for when you’re driving to the coast.

4. Get a smart charger
Yeah I install them. This isn’t a sales pitch. But seriously, they pay for themselves.

Had a customer in Florey last month. Didn’t want to spend the extra $400 on a smart charger. Went with the basic one.

Called me back yesterday. Wants to upgrade.

She did the maths.

What I Tell My Customers

Look, I’m going to be straight with you.

Public chargers are brilliant for emergencies. Road trips. When you forget to plug in at home.

But for every day?

You’re literally burning money.

The numbers:

• Home (off-peak): 2.8c per km
• Home (with solar): Essentially free
• Public charger: 8-10c per km
• Petrol: 12-15c per km (and rising)

Over a year, average driver:

• Saves $700+ vs public charging
• Saves $1,500+ vs petrol
• Saves your sanity vs sitting in car parks

Want to Stop Wasting Money?

I’ve installed chargers in pretty much every suburb from Gungahlin to Tuggeranong.

Know what works. Know what’s rubbish. Know which solutions deliver the best value.

The ACT government’s got interest-free loans available. Means you can get a charger installed tomorrow, pay it off over years, and STILL be ahead financially.

It’s a no-brainer.

Ring us on 040 150 0541. Or don’t. Keep paying 65 cents per kWh at Canberra Centre.

Your call.

But when you’re sitting there watching the cents tick over like a poker machine, remember this article.

And remember Trevor. Sitting at home. Car charging for $8.60 while he sleeps.

Smart guy.