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Savvy looks at the feasibility of charging electric vehicles at home and whether the Australian electricity grid will be able to accommodate more EVs on the road, by examining the latest data from the Electric Vehicle Council of Australia, and the CSIRO.
- Most Australian EV drivers self-managing charging at home, to take advantage of off-peak electricity times
- Expected impact of EV charging at peak demand will top out at about 250W per EV under the ‘convenience model’
- Norway, with 20% EVs vs ICE on roads, shows negligible increase in peak demand during peak times
- CSIRO models on the ‘current trajectory' of EV take-up shows parity in short-range EVs vs ICE price by 2030
Did you know that for every 300 vehicles on the road, that one is electric? It doesn’t seem like a lot, but the rate will accelerate as time goes on. Other countries are seeing major upswings in EV uptake, which means a lot of people are doing their EV charging at home.
With that fact in mind, some may be asking if a majority of people charged their cars at once, would it put unnecessary strain on the electricity grid?
Is the electricity grid ready for the EV revolution?
Is the Australian electricity grid ready for EV home charging?
There is an unfounded assumption that the demand on the electricity grid by many users charging their EVs at the same time will place the system under pressure.
According to case studies compiled by the Electric Vehicle Council, the expected impact of EV charging at times of peak demand will top out at about 250W per EV under the ‘convenience model.' This ‘convenience model' assumes there are no tariffs controlling or incentivising when to charge – drivers will simply charge when it’s most convenient.
This is half as much as a small, refrigerated air conditioner (500w) and a quarter of some higher-end desktop computers, assuming 80%+ efficiency (700-1000W). With computers being used during the day by people who work from home, this represents a significant cost over EVs.
Also note, The University of Queensland undertook a study of 239 Tesla vehicles over a six-month period, showing the impact per EV at peak times is within the 150-300W range.
Typically, one kW of charge adds one kilometre of range to an EV every ten minutes. Put simply, a 10kW charger will give a vehicle 60 km of range after charging for an hour. At present, most home chargers are limited to 4.8-7.6kW (20A-32A @ 240V, single phase, depending on location – see below.)
Detailed modelling by the CSIRO says that 250W per EV is about a fifth of the impact forecast under the convenience model. However, the convenience model does not line up with real-world behaviour, as most drivers would charge their vehicles at a charging station during the day (as they’re on the road) and at home at nighttime.
The University of Melbourne predicts that 250W per EV is one eighth of the impact forecast under the convenience model. This assumes 80% of drivers will use the 7kW chargers at home, with a typical 2kW excess on the grid during peak times on weekdays.
Most drivers are willing to avoid peak time charging, as it costs less. The EVC and Tesla Owner’s Club of Australia ran a survey in 2022 and showed a majority of Tesla owners charged during the nightly off-peak of 12am-2am, and the middle of the day (10am-2pm) when solar production is at its best.
When do experts think EVs will catch up with ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) vehicles?
Although Australian electric vehicles (EVs) sales lag behind the rest of the world (1.6% compared with a global average of 4.6%) the CSIRO is forecast modelling that won’t last forever. In fact, if we follow the “current trajectory” of EV uptake, incentivisation, and charging station development, short-range EVs will reach price parity with similarly classed Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles.
Public EV charging stations in Australia
As of January 2022, there are only about 3,000 public EV charging points in Australia. This comprises AC “trickle” charging (much like home charging at the moment), with 291 rapid (above 50kW) charging stations and 1,580 regular (below 50kW) charging stations available around the country. About 700 more fast and “ultra-rapid” stations (300kW+) are planned for development within the next five years.
Bill Tsouvalas, automotive finance expert;
Australians are moving to electric vehicles with ever-increasing enthusiasm, which has been borne out in the number of people seeking green car loans. As we’re seeing, this is raising concern over whether the existing electricity grid will be able to handle the increased demand for charging EVs at home.
For now, it seems that it will be ok, as people are inclined to charge overnight and at off-peak times to save money. Whether or not it becomes a real problem when EV ownership expands to double digits, is another story.
Top tips for charging your car at home
- If you are charging your car at home, it makes more financial sense to charge during off-peak periods. South Australia Power Networks have introduced an “EV Ready” off-peak tariff on the same low rate as off-peak hot water, with their ‘solar sponge’ tariff establishing a ‘super off-peak’ period during the middle of the day.
- Some electricity retailers are also offering “super off-peak” rates between the hours of 12am-4am, provided their household has a smart meter installed. Some EV manufacturers allow you to schedule charging to take advantage of these off-peak rates, such as the Tesla ‘Scheduled Departure’ feature.
- Though an additional investment, installing solar panels onto your home would also reduce the cost of charging your vehicle – and the cost of using appliances and other electricity around the home.
- However, there are some issues to overcome first: Home charging stations are mostly limited to 20A single phase charging – which means a 12-hour charging cycle to get up to 300 km of range. Some service and installation rules allow for 32A charging, which reduces the cycle to 8 hours. Standardising these rules would make charging faster and more accessible during these “super off-peak” times.
- Of course, taking advantage of public chargers at low or no cost is always preferable to charging it yourself. Many shopping centres and office complexes not only offer free public charging while you shop or work, but a parking spot close to the entrance!
For more information, contact Adrian Edlington from Savvy – [email protected]
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