EV Home Chargers in New Zealand

Is it worth getting a home charger for your EV in NZ?

There are better ways to charge than using the cable included with the vehicle.

Wall-mounted charging points offer the best solution for charging an EV at home. In a typical single-phase house, they will provide around 50 km of range per hour.

Some chargers take advantage of solar panels, load balancing, and offer extensive reporting or app-based control. They are the best option for workplace charging or apartments.

How much does it cost to install an EV charger?

Chargers are typically priced by the unit and require you to pay an electrician to install them.

The costs can mount up (expect to pay $800-$1200 depending on your setup). Typically, the further the charger is from your switchboard, the higher the cost.

Some charger providers offer installation as a package deal (which removes the hassle and uncertainty around total cost).

NOTE: A lower-priced unit + install could be more expensive than the cost of an installation package for a superior product.

Common chargers in New Zealand

Evnex: Link
We.EV – Teltonika EVC16: Link
Tesla – Gen 3 wall connector: Link
Wallbox – Pulsar Plus: Link, Link
Smart EV: Link
Velocity: Link

Why get a smarter charger?

Smart chargers can communicate with the grid, phone apps, or home management systems. They can adjust EV charging automatically to match changes in electricity costs or the owner's remote commands.

The charger may integrate with the power supplier, taking advantage of the lowest wholesale price.
During peak load periods, power suppliers could throttle charging (and potentially offer financial incentives to do so).

According to EECA, smart charging could reduce peak winter demand by 1.9GW by 2030 (compared to non-smart charging).

Tethered or untethered (socketed) charger?

A tethered charger already has the cable attached.
Untethered has a socket only - you must supply your own cable.

Why would I get a charger without a cable?

There's a few situations:

New Zealand EVs have two kinds of AC charging sockets. So, installing an untethered charger can future proof you (if you currently have a Leaf, for example) - you need only change the cable - not get a whole new charger installed.
You may already have a cable (or intend to get one).
Some public chargers (AC) are socketed - you must supply your own cable.

What kind of charging socket does my EV have?

All Nissan Leafs (and some PHEVs like Mitsubishi Outlander) have Type 1, and everything else has Type 2.

CCS and CHAdeMO are for public DC chargers only.

While some of the chargers listed offer a Type 1 cable, most Japanese import Leafs charge at 3.3 kW (unlike NZ new Leafs that can charge at 6.6 kW).

If installing a charger for a Leaf, consider opting for a socket only (i.e. no tethered cable). If you move to a Type 2 car, you need only get a different cable.

What is OCPP?

OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol) is an open communication standard that enables interoperability between EV charging stations and central management systems for monitoring, billing, and remote control.

This is how you can use an app to monitor and control the charge point. Note that not all chargers allow their charging points to be accessed by other systems (see this explanation from Evnex).

What is solar matching?

Solar matching adjusts your charging speed to match solar generation.

Some chargers allow a threshold (e.g., when more than 1.5 kW is generated, the charger starts). This leads to significant savings and avoids any grid power altogether.

What is home overload protection?

The charger will monitor the household load and adjust charging accordingly.

EV charging is the single biggest power draw in your house.

My EV is capable of charging faster

Many EVs can charge at 11 kW (with a handful charging up to 22 kW).

This requires 3-phase power at the property, and the charger installed must be capable of using 3-phase power. Upgrading to a 3-phase can incur significant installation costs.

Can you set a charging limit (like 80%) on a home charger?

AC chargers do not know the car's state of charge. It's the car's software that can stop charging at a predefined limit.

Most EVs have this setting in the dashboard (with a few notable exceptions, such as a 2016+ Nissan Leafs). However, as chargers get smarter, communicating with the car becomes possible.

Buyer Beware

It's not advisable to buy a charger from online stores overseas:

The Consumer Guarantees Act may not cover it.
You won't get after-sales support.
Where do you go if something breaks?
If it is substandard and causes an electrical fault, your insurer will not be happy.

Residual Current Devices

What does an RCD do?

An RCD, or Residual Current Device, is a safety tool used in electrical systems. It constantly checks to ensure the same amount of electricity that goes into an appliance (like a toaster) comes back out.

If the RCD notices a problem, it quickly stops the electricity.