We have answered the questions that come up most in enquiries about installing a EV charger.
Call us on 0497 871 973 if your question is not covered here, and we can answer it directly.
Pricing and What’s Included
How much does it cost to install an EV charger at home?
Most home EV charger installations in Bankstown cost between $1,500 and up to $4,000. A straightforward 7kW install on a home with a modern switchboard and a short cable run sits at the lower end. A job that needs a switchboard upgrade or a longer cable run will cost more, and we confirm the exact figure with a fixed quote before any work is booked in.
What’s included in the installation price?
Every quote we provide in Bankstown is all-inclusive. It covers the charger, cabling and hardware, the switchboard connection, and the compliance certificate issued at the end of the job. If anything is excluded, we tell you upfront rather than adding it as a surprise later.
Will I be charged extra once the job is underway?
A low quote that leaves out items such as the compliance certificate or switchboard labour is the usual source of hidden costs in this trade. Our Bankstown quotes list every item included, so there is nothing to add later. What you see is what you pay.
Do I need to pay for a switchboard upgrade separately?
Whether a switchboard upgrade is needed depends on the age and condition of your switchboard. In Bankstown, we check this during the site assessment and, if an upgrade is required, quote it as its own item so you know exactly what you are paying for and why.
Do you offer fixed-price quotes or is it estimate-only?
You will know the full cost of your Bankstown installation before we pick up a tool. We do not start work until you have approved a fixed, written quote covering the entire scope, including any switchboard work.
What affects the final price of my installation?
Cable distance, switchboard age, and mounting location all play a part in the final price for a Bankstown home. A short, simple run to an accessible garage wall will cost less than a longer run through brick or roof space.
Can I get a quote without an in-person site visit?
A site visit is not always necessary for a Bankstown quote. Send us photos of your switchboard and parking area, and we can usually put together an accurate, fixed quote without needing to attend in person first.
Does the price differ between a house and an apartment/unit installation?
Apartment installs in Bankstown tend to cost more than a freestanding house of the same charger size, mainly because of longer cable runs to shared switchboards and, in some buildings, the need for sub-metering.
Is there an extra charge for strata approval on apartment installs?
Body corporate approval itself is not something we charge for in Bankstown. Where it applies, we can provide the documentation your committee needs to support the application, and the installation price stays based on the physical scope of work.
Will getting body corporate sign off increase my installation price?
Strata approval is a timing consideration more than a cost one for Bankstown apartment and unit owners. Our installation quote is based on the electrical work required, and we support the approval process where needed at no extra charge.
Charger Types and Compatibility
How do I know if my home has single-phase or three-phase power?
You can check the top of your switchboard in Bankstown. 1 main switch means single-phase, 3 switches means three-phase. If you are not sure what you are looking at, send us a photo and we will confirm it for you before recommending a charger.
Will my existing switchboard be able to handle an EV charger?
Whether your Bankstown switchboard needs upgrading comes down to its age and available capacity. Homes built more recently, or those already renovated, often have room for a new dedicated circuit. Older switchboards may need an upgrade to safely support a charger, and we confirm this before quoting.
Is there a risk of tripping my power by adding an EV charger?
No, not when it is installed correctly. Every Bankstown installation includes an assessment of your home’s total electrical capacity, and the charger is put on its own dedicated circuit with the right safety protection. This means it runs alongside your other appliances without overloading the system.
My home still has ceramic fuses. Can I still get an EV charger installed?
Older Bankstown homes with ceramic fuse boards generally need a switchboard upgrade before a charger can be installed safely. We flag this at the assessment stage and include it in your fixed quote, so there are no surprises once work begins.
Why does an EV charger need its own circuit?
An EV charger should not share a circuit with other household appliances. In Bankstown, we install a dedicated circuit for every charger, sized correctly for the load, which keeps charging reliable and meets AS/NZS 3000 requirements.
What’s involved in upgrading my home to three-phase power?
Yes, and we can include this in the installation scope if you want a 22kW charger in Bankstown. It involves your network provider connecting additional wiring at the street, followed by a switchboard upgrade at the property, so it adds to both cost and lead time.
Do I need a safety switch (RCD) installed with my charger?
A dedicated RCD is required on the charger’s circuit for safety and compliance in Bankstown. If your existing switchboard does not have room for one, this is usually part of what a switchboard upgrade addresses.
Does distance from the switchboard limit where I can put my charger?
A charger in a shed or granny flat in Bankstown usually needs a cable run from the main switchboard to the new location, and sometimes its own sub-board depending on distance and existing wiring. We assess this on-site before quoting.
Can a charger still be added if my switchboard has no room left?
We factor in your existing solar system when assessing switchboard capacity for a Bankstown installation. In most cases both can run from the same board, though older or smaller boards may need extra room made available.
Your Home’s Electrical Setup
Does a home charger work with all EV brands and models?
All new EVs sold in Bankstown use a Type 2 connector as standard, which is what most home chargers supply. Tesla vehicles sold from 2024 onwards also use Type 2, and older Tesla models can use a readily available adapter. We confirm compatibility as part of the site assessment before recommending any hardware.
Should I get a 7kW or a 22kW charger for my home?
A 22kW charger charges roughly 3 times faster than a 7kW unit, but only if your Bankstown home has three-phase power and your EV supports that input rate. For most daily driving distances, a 7kW charger topped up overnight is more than enough.
My EV came with a cable. Do I need a charger with a built-in cable too?
Chargers with a built-in cable are the more convenient option for most Bankstown homes, since the cable is always attached and ready to use. A charger with a socket lets you use whichever compatible cable you already own.
Do plug-in hybrids use the same home charger as full electric cars?
A standard home charger installed in Bankstown works with most plug-in hybrids, since they use the same Type 2 connector as full EVs. We confirm your specific model’s compatibility during the assessment, the same as we would for any EV.
What does a smart charger do that a standard charger does not?
Whether a smart charger is worth it in Bankstown depends on your electricity plan. If you are on a time-of-use tariff or have solar, the scheduling and monitoring features usually pay for the price difference within a couple of years.
Is Type 2 the standard connector for home charging in Australia?
Home chargers in Bankstown use the Type 2 connector as standard, which matches the charging port on virtually every current EV model sold in Australia. Older or imported vehicles are the main exception, and we check these individually.
Do older EV models need a different type of home charger?
Older or imported EVs sometimes use a different charging port to the Type 2 standard now used across Bankstown and the rest of Australia. Tell us the make, model, and year when you enquire, and we will confirm compatibility before recommending hardware.
Do older EV models need a different type of home charger?
Charger size should match both your car’s onboard charger and your home’s electrical supply. In Bankstown, we look at both before recommending 7kW, 11kW, or 22kW, since installing beyond what your car or home can use adds cost without adding benefit.
How the Installation Works
Do you install a range of EV charger brands or just one?
We do not push one particular brand on every Bankstown job. Tesla, Zappi, Wallbox, and Ocular are all options we regularly install, and we recommend based on your car, budget, and whether smart features or solar integration matter to you.
I already bought an EV charger online. Can you fit it?
We are happy to install a customer-supplied EV charger in Bankstown. We recommend checking with us first that the model is suitable for your home’s power supply, since not every unit sold online is a good fit for every property.
Which EV charger brand do you recommend?
Rather than recommend one brand for every Bankstown customer, we match the EV charger to your needs. If solar integration or off-peak scheduling matters to you, that narrows the choice. If you just want a reliable, no-fuss EV charger, a simpler model may suit better.
Is a Tesla Wall Connector only for Tesla vehicles?
A Tesla Wall Connector is a solid option for Bankstown homes regardless of what EV brand you drive, provided your car uses a Type 2 connector, which covers the vast majority of EVs sold new in Australia.
How do Zappi, Wallbox, and Ocular compare for home charging?
The main differences between these brands come down to solar integration, app usability, and price. If solar charging is a priority for your Bankstown home, that can be the deciding factor. If not, price and warranty terms may matter more, and we can walk through both.
Do you have official partnerships with any EV charger manufacturers?
EV charger warranties differ from brand to brand, so we confirm the specific terms for whichever model you choose for your Bankstown home. Our workmanship warranty on the installation itself is separate and applies regardless of EV charger brand.
Are budget charger brands as reliable as the bigger names?
We can generally source and install other compliant charger brands for Bankstown customers on request, beyond the range we usually stock. We would check the specific model meets Australian standards before booking the install.
Solar and Smart Charging
Will my EV charger automatically use my solar power first?
A Bankstown charger can draw from your solar system automatically if it has load management set up. This reads your solar export in real time and adjusts the charging rate, which we configure during installation so it works correctly from day one.
Is it worth paying extra for a smart EV charger?
The main difference is control. A smart charger installed in Bankstown lets you schedule charging, monitor usage, and in many cases prioritise solar generation through an app. A standard charger has none of these features, it simply charges on plug in.
How do I make sure my EV only charges on cheap overnight electricity?
Yes, if you have a smart charger. You set a charging window in the app, for example 11pm to 6am, so your Bankstown home’s charger only draws power during your retailer’s cheaper rate period. We set this up as part of the handover.
What is load management, and do I need it if I have solar?
Not every smart charger includes load management as standard, so it is worth confirming this specifically if solar charging is the goal for your Bankstown home. Without it, the charger draws a fixed amount regardless of your solar output.
Do I need a home battery to charge my EV from solar?
You can charge from solar without a battery, provided your charging happens during daylight hours when your Bankstown panels are generating. A battery becomes useful if you want to shift that solar charging to the evening instead.
What happens if my Wi-Fi drops out while my smart charger is running?
Weather naturally affects solar generation in Bankstown, so charging speed from solar alone will vary day to day. A charger with load management handles this automatically, topping up from the grid whenever solar output drops.
Installing in an Apartment or Unit
How many hours should I set aside for the installation?
A typical Bankstown installation takes half a day or less for a standard 7kW charger with an accessible switchboard. If a switchboard upgrade is part of the scope, expect a longer day, which we outline clearly in your quote.
What do I need to be present for on installation day?
Access is required for the full installation, so someone needs to be home in Bankstown, but a partner, family member, or housemate can stand in. The end of day handover is worth attending if possible, since that covers how to use the charger.
Do I need to prepare for a power outage on installation day?
Yes, there is a short period where your Bankstown switchboard needs to be isolated to connect the new circuit, usually 30 to 60 minutes for a standard install. If a switchboard upgrade is included, this window will be longer, and we let you know at the start of the day.
Why do I need a site assessment before booking installation?
During the assessment, we look at your switchboard, confirm whether any upgrade is needed, and measure the likely cable run for your Bankstown property. This is what allows us to give you a fixed price rather than a rough estimate.
What happens at the end of the installation (handover)?
Disruption is generally limited to the short power isolation and the immediate work area for a Bankstown installation. We aim to leave the site as tidy as we found it once the job is complete.
Can the installation be rescheduled if the weather is bad?
Where safety is a concern, particularly for outdoor work, we may need to move a Bankstown installation to another day. We keep in contact in the lead up to your appointment if weather looks like it could be an issue.
Warranty and Ongoing Maintenance
Is the installation itself covered by a warranty?
We back all our Bankstown installations with a workmanship warranty. It covers the quality of the electrical work itself, including the wiring, mounting, and switchboard connection, and is separate from the charger manufacturer’s warranty.
What does the warranty cover?
The workmanship warranty on a Bankstown installation covers the quality of our electrical work, including the circuit, wiring, and mounting. Faults with the charger hardware itself are handled through the manufacturer’s warranty rather than ours.
Is the charger unit covered by a manufacturer’s warranty?
The charger hardware comes with its own manufacturer’s warranty, generally ranging from 2 to 5 years. This is different to the workmanship warranty we provide on the Bankstown installation itself, and we explain both clearly before you commit.
Can a new homeowner rely on my charger’s workmanship warranty?
Most smart chargers we install in Bankstown update automatically via the manufacturer’s app. These updates are generally minor and aimed at reliability, though we are happy to help if you notice any change in behaviour after one.
What would void the installation warranty?
A Bankstown workmanship warranty applies to the installation itself, not the owner, so it carries over to whoever owns the property next. Keep the documentation handy in case it is needed down the track.
Charger Brands and Models
Is strata approval required before installing an EV charger in an apartment?
If you own an apartment or unit in Bankstown, body corporate sign off is typically required before we can install a charger, especially where common property or shared wiring is involved. We support this process with documentation where needed.
What documentation do I need to submit for strata approval?
A typical Bankstown body corporate application includes details of where the charger will be mounted, how the cable will run, and confirmation the installation meets Australian wiring standards. We provide this information as part of our standard process.
Can a body corporate refuse to approve an EV charger installation?
Rejections happen occasionally, usually over concerns about shared infrastructure capacity or precedent for other owners. For Bankstown applications, we can revise the proposal to address specific objections, which often resolves the issue on resubmission.
How much lead time should I allow for body corporate approval?
Sub-metering fits a separate meter to your car space so your EV charging is billed to you rather than the building’s shared supply. Many Bankstown strata buildings require this as a condition of approval, and we can include it in the installation scope.
Who pays for upkeep of shared switchboard or wiring used for EV charging?
No, rules vary significantly between buildings in Bankstown, even within the same suburb. Some committees have a straightforward approval process, others require more detailed applications, and by laws differ from one building to the next.
