One of the most exciting things about getting a new electric car is the anticipation of its delivery – like experiencing several Christmases bundled into one.
After you’ve finalised the payment and sorted the insurance, there’s much to look forward to, including potential benefits such as improved vehicle safety and greater performance.1
Not everybody’s aware that an electric vehicle (EV) can accelerate more rapidly than its combustion equivalent – even if it’s an entry-level model. A low centre of gravity also gives new EV cars excellent handling.1
About 100,000 EVs are expected to be sold in Australia in 2024.2 If one of them is going to be sitting in your garage, you might be wondering, how do I prepare for an electric vehicle at my place? From home charging to the apps you might need, here are six tips to consider before picking it up.
1. Set up EV charging apps ahead of time
If you plan on using public recharging infrastructure – and even if you don’t – you might consider installing apps on your phone for the main charging providers.
In Australia, the largest networks include those owned by Tesla, Chargefox, Evie, AmpCharge (Ampol) and bp pulse.3 If you set up accounts now, future you – who may be standing in the rain by a roadside charging station – will thank you.
2. Start thinking in terms of distance, not time
As you consider incorporating your new electric car into your everyday life, you might want to think about how far you drive every day. Once you do this, any anxiety about recharging and electric range might just disappear.
“Most people don’t actually know how far they drive every week,” says Dr Chris Jones, President at the Australian Electric Vehicle Association.
“It ends up being a whole lot less than we think, simply because we spend a lot of time in traffic not moving very far. We humans think of time – we don’t think of distance. Once people realise they’re not actually travelling that far each week, charging isn’t going to be the big deal they thought it was, and they could probably go a week or two without charging the car.”
Electric SUVs, such as the Tesla Model Y – Australia’s best-selling EV in 2023,4 can have a range up to 533km.5 Driving just 50km per day, you could theoretically go without recharging for 10 days.
3. Install a home electric car charging point
Many EV owners find that charging at home remains an easy and convenient way to keep their EV topped up. If you have rooftop solar and can charge during the day – or overnight off home battery storage – it can be cost-effective.
If you’ll be recharging your EV at home, you might want to consult a qualified electrician to make sure your house has the capacity to support charging equipment. They’ll check your switchboard capacity and maximum electrical demand.6
Depending on how often – and how far – you drive your new EV, you may not even need a purpose-built charger installed. Provided one is accessible and convenient, a 240-volt outlet may be enough for overnight charging if you drive fewer than 150km a day.7
“Ask yourself, is (the EV charger) pretty much the only thing on that circuit?” says Jones.
“Because even at eight amps, which is well within the spec of a power point, you’re going to be charging for eight to 10 hours at a time. You want to make sure that the wiring is in good condition.”
Jones also advises that there’s no need to go overboard on the cost. “There are some very sophisticated glorified power points out there,” he says. “That’s pretty much all that an EVSE (electric vehicle supply equipment) is. You probably don’t need to spend more than about $800 on something that’s going to do the job.”
Whatever you decide, it makes sense to get multiple quotes for your EV charger and its installation. Pairing a home solar set-up with daytime EV charging is also worth weighing up.
“Some people have described (charging an EV with home solar) as the cheat code for life,” says Jones. “It can effectively be very, very low-cost motoring.”
With EV sales growing, preparing your home for EV recharging may also increase its value. In terms of insurance, you might want to check with your insurer regarding coverage for a home charger – at Youi, home EV chargers fall under some home insurance policies, but not car insurance.8
4. Keep these must-have items in your EV
Once you’ve organised electric car insurance and picked up your vehicle, it’s a good idea to carry a Type 2 charging cable and portable 240-volt charger in the car. Some EV charging points require that you bring your own cable.9
Fortunately, most new EVs come with these but if yours is second hand or imported, you might have to source them separately while taking care to check compatibility with your car before handing over any cash.
5. Try to charge the car in the middle of the day
Charging your EV between 9am and 5pm, if possible, yields several benefits.10 It allows you to take advantage of when clean, low-cost renewable energy is at its peak – including from thousands of rooftop solar systems.
If you have a home solar system, it makes sense to plug your EV in while the sun is shining – unless you’ve installed home battery storage, which allows you to access your stored power at any time. If you drive to work, it might be worth trying to organise workplace EV charging while your car is parked all day – an option that’s more attractive if your employer can pick up the tab (just remember to ask first).
If you can’t charge during the day, the next best option is overnight from 9pm to 9am. While you’ll be using less renewable energy to recharge your car, you may benefit from cost-effective off-peak electricity rates.11 It also avoids the 5pm to 9pm evening peak, putting less demand on the electricity grid.
Join the growing EV community
It’s easy to feel good when driving a new EV, given you’re doing your bit to reduce vehicle carbon emissions. A battery electric car sold in 2023, after all, will emit roughly half as much carbon dioxide over its entire lifetime compared to equivalent combustion vehicles.12
Prepare to meet plenty of like-minded, helpful people at public EV recharging stations. There are also a number of groups for EV owners, such as the Australian Electric Vehicle Association, or Facebook groups such as Electric Cars Australia.
Wherever your EV journey takes you, if you’re thinking about electric car insurance that’s a bit more you-shaped, consider starting a quote with Youi.
1 Source: ACT Government – Driving into the future – a guide to electric vehicles
2 Source: Electric Vehicle Council – Australia on track to break annual electric vehicle sales milestone, August 2024
3 Source: Drive – Australia’s major electric-car charging companies listed, December 2022
4 Source: Drive – Tesla Model Y was Australia’s best-selling car among private buyers in 2023, January 2024
5 Source: Tesla – Model Y SUV
6 Source: Vic Government, Energy, Environment and Climate Action – Electric vehicle ready buildings, July 2024
7 Source: Qld Government – Benefits of zero emission electric vehicles, January 2022
8 See the Home & Contents PDS for full details.
9 Drive – Driving an EV? You need to carry these items with you, May 2022
10 Source: WA Government – Benefits of daytime charging, October 2024
11 Source: Vic Government, Solar Victoria – Getting your home EV-ready, January 2024
12 Source: International Energy Agency – Global EV Outlook 2024
