Before you buy a home charger, one question matters more than the brand: what can your home's electrical supply actually deliver? The answer decides whether a 7kW charger is simple, whether a faster one is possible at all, and whether the switchboard needs work first. We've kept this post to what Powercor publishes, as read on 18 October 2026, and linked our full EV charger installation guide for everything else.
What Powercor says about the options
Powercor's electric vehicle page describes three ways to charge at home, plus public fast charging:
| Option | What Powercor says |
|---|---|
| Ordinary power point | Adds 10 to 15 km of range for every hour |
| 7kW wall charger | Single-phase. Typically adds 30 to 40 km of range for every hour of charge time |
| 22kW home charger | Needs three-phase power, so it isn't suitable for all customers |
| Public DC fast chargers | Vary from 50 to 350kW |
The difference between single-phase and three-phase is the supply coming into your home. Ask an electrician to confirm which supply your home has.
Do the overnight sum first
Take eight hours on the charger overnight. That is simple arithmetic on Powercor's numbers, not a promise about any particular car:
- Ordinary power point: roughly 80 to 120 km
- 7kW single-phase wall charger: roughly 240 to 320 km
If your daily driving sits comfortably inside that, a 22kW charger buys you speed you may never use, and the three-phase supply it needs may not be worth chasing. If you do big days regularly, or share a charger between cars, that's when the faster options are worth discussing.
Why the switchboard comes into it
Powercor's own planning report says the rise in electric vehicles is increasingly causing a charging demand that could influence the maximum demand it has to plan for. For your home, the switchboard and supply need to be checked against the charger you want. Our EV ready assessment is built for that: it looks at your electrical system, your load capacity and whether upgrades such as the switchboard or mains are needed. If the answer is yes, read about switchboard upgrade costs before you get quotes.
Getting the work done properly
Energy Safe Victoria says you must engage a registered electrical contractor for installation work. When the job is finished, ask for your Certificate of Electrical Safety. ESV explains the certificates, including who must provide them and when.
What to ask your electrician
Ask what applies to your address, including any network connection requirements for the charger you want.
If you're in the Wyndham area, our local pages cover Hoppers Crossing, Werribee, Tarneit and Wyndham Vale. For the service itself, see EV charger installation or call 1300 797 267.
Frequently asked questions
Can I charge an EV from an ordinary power point?
Powercor says charging from an ordinary power outlet adds 10 to 15 kilometres of range for every hour. That's slow, but it works for light daily driving.
Is a 7kW home charger single-phase?
Yes. Powercor describes a 7kW wall charger as single-phase, typically adding 30 to 40 kilometres of range for every hour of charge time.
Do I need three-phase power for a home charger?
For a 22kW home charger, yes. Powercor says it needs three-phase power and isn't suitable for all customers. A 7kW charger doesn't.