EV Charging

If you are considering installing an EV charger at your home, business or in your community, there are many options available depending on the location. You will need to research your options and contact a licensed electrical contractor to quote for the work.

All electrical work inside a customer's property must be carried out by a licenced electrical contractor who can advise if a connection application is required to be submitted to Ausgrid for approval. 

Introduction to EV charging

EV Chargers come in a range of charging sizes (or speeds) to suit the individual customer’s needs. Depending on the type and nature of the installation, you may be required to notify Ausgrid before installing so that we can assess the impact it may have on the grid and advise you of any network upgrades that may be required.

There are several levels of EV chargers that are differentiated by how quickly they can recharge the vehicle.

*calculations are based on a 20kWh/100km vehicle energy usage

For more information on electric vehicle charging visit Transport NSW website - 'Electric Vehicles'.

Vehicle to Grid (V2G)

Vehicle to Grid (V2G) is an overarching term for technology that can enable electricity to be exported from the battery of an electric vehicle (EV) to a home, building or the electricity network. Only a small number of EV models and EV Chargers are V2G-capable in Australia. This is expected to increase as the technology becomes more advanced from around 2025.

As this remains an emerging technology, the availability of V2G-capable vehicles and V2G-capable EV Supply Equipment (EVSE) remains low. Where new V2G-capable EVSE products become available, they will need to be compatible with your EV and must be compliant with the Australian Standards and Ausgrid’s Connection Standards.

We advise to check with your EV charger supplier to find out if their product meets the Australian Standards.

EV charging locations

Check the Electric Vehicle Council EV charger map for proposed and existing EV charging sites.

Installing an EV charger for your home or business

Consider the following before installing EV charging:

• Do your research and get multiple quotes from different parties. 
• Your chosen EV charger installer or provider should have the necessary accreditation to install EV charging.
• Check that your current electricity supply will be sufficient. Your EV installer will check your home’s electrics for its capacity to deliver the fastest possible charging time. They will advise you on your charging options and the work required. As your electrical wiring may require an upgrade as part of the installation, they may also organise any electrical work required.
• If your home is over 20 years old and has not been rewired, you may need to upgrade your existing meter to ensure usage information is captured accurately for billing. Your electricity retailer is responsible for any changes to your metering or electricity retail tariff. Read more about metering on the AEMC’s website.  
• If you are considering installing an EV charger in an apartment or multi-tenanted property, find out more about strata and apartment considerations on the Energy NSW website 'Making your strata building EV Ready'.

Apply to connect an EV charger

To apply to connect an EV charger, visit ‘Apply for a Connection’ and choose the application that meets your requirements. We recommend that your electrical contractor complete the connection application form on your behalf.

What is Ausgrid’s role in the installation of electric vehicle charging?

When a connection application is submitted, Ausgrid considers the impact of any additional load and generation on the distribution network. The Service and Installation Rules of NSW require Ausgrid to approve any load increases prior to connection.

Information for stratas considering EV charging

From October 2023, changes made to the National Construction Code (NCC) will require new apartment buildings to ensure the provision of base infrastructure for EV charging, including future cabling needs and control-point installation at the time of construction.

For existing apartment buildings, apartment owners and strata schemes should consider their high-level EV charging needs in consultation with all residents and the strata committee. The NSW government has provided information and advice to support the residential strata building community. This outlines stakeholder responsibilities, recommended steps to start planning for EV charging needs and an overview of the different types of solutions which will need to consider the various needs and circumstances of the building and residents. More information can be found on the Energy NSW website.

You will need to engage an electrical contractor to recommend the most suitable options for your building and residents needs. If required, they can submit a preliminary enquiry to Ausgrid to determine the connection capacity for the building.

Information for commercial businesses considering EV charging

It is the building owners responsibility to manage the installation of EV charging. Commercial building owners should consider:

• The tenants' charging requirements (short day charging, vs. overnight) and how many chargers will be required for this purpose
• How tenants will pay for charging
• Will demand for EV charging increase in future
• If fast charging is required, what works are needed

EV fleet incentive

Grants are available for for eligible NSW organisations to support the transition to EV fleets and smart charging infrastructure conversion. Find out more.

Electric vehicle fast charging grants

Grants are also available for installation of chargers at commercial businesses in regional NSW. Read more about NSW Government’s regional business EV charger incentives.

More information

Energy NSW provides information on considerations for commercial buildings looking to install EV charging facilities. Refer to the Energy NSW Commercial Building Factsheet.

Partnership opportunities

Ausgrid is partnering with commercial operators to provide ‘close to home’ EV charging by utilising our substations and poles. Read more about our partnerships.