Electric vehicles are on the rise as New Zealanders become more environmentally conscious and the availability of EV cars increases. The country has 340 public chargers for electric vehicles, but as more Kiwis make the switch, having an EV charger at home is a practical necessity.

Properties with EV charging as a feature are becoming increasingly popular, especially among renters and homebuyers. I was talking with a real estate agent the other day who said it was one of the first things both renters and homebuyers ask, “Is there an EV charger?”

Charging at home is not only more convenient but also cheaper than using public stations. The cost of public charging stations can vary depending on the type and the electricity rate but can be up to several dollars per hour. When the vehicle is charged at home, you’ll only notice a few dollars added to the power bill.

What’s in it for homeowners?

Competitive advantage Having an EV charger sets your property apart from others and appeals to environmentally conscious renters and EV owners, providing the convenience of home charging. By installing an EV charger, you can attract tenants who value sustainability and want to reduce their carbon footprint.

Increased rental value Yes, that’s right. It could be a valid reason to bump the rent up a bit. You’ll typically spend around $2,000 – $2,500 for the installation, so by adding an extra $50 to the rent, you’ve already covered the cost in a year and even generated additional income over time.

Futureproofing In July 2023, the increase of electrical vehicles registered accounted for 55% of the market, 45% being petrol or diesel. This is huge considering three and a half years ago, we were sitting at 90% of petrol and diesel cars. This number will continue to rise, especially with the price of petrol. Installing an EV charger in your home is future-proofing your property in the market for years.

But what charger should you install?

Most chargers now supplied to New Zealand come as Type 2 but there are still Type 1 units available:

• Type 1 Charging – is the dominant variation in Asian, Japanese and American markets.
• Type 2 Charging – is the dominant variation in Europe.
• Adaptors are available for each type of unit if required.

What is the installation process?

1. Electrical assessment We will come to the home and assess the electrical system to determine if it can handle the extra load of an EV charger. We will look into the main electrical panel, existing circuits and available capacity to ensure the installation is as safe as possible. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
2. Charger selection After the assessment, you can choose what charger you want, your preferred colour and any other features you’d like. It’s important to consider the installation requirements of the charger, including the type of outlet or circuit it needs.
3. Upgrading electrical switchboard Sometimes, you might need to upgrade your electrical switchboard. That’s because the EV charger needs more power, so we might need to add a new thing called an RCBO (Residual Current Circuit Breaker with Overcurrent Protection), make the switchboard bigger, or put in a special new sub-board just for the charger.
4. Wiring and installation We will handle all the necessary wiring from the switchboard to wherever you want the charger installed. To prevent the switchboard from overloading, we can install a power sensor that’ll detect your house load and reduce the output of the charger. We will mount the charger and hook It up to your electrical system.
5. Testing and safety checks Once everything is complete, we will test it and ensure everything works correctly, followed by specialised safety checks.
6. Commissioning After installation is complete and certified, we spend time with you to upload the required app to your device or choice, log you in, commission the EV charger and help you set your preferences. Plus, we can load up different profiles for each user required, set up lock-out times, notifications, and help guide you through the system to ensure you have a full understanding of the unit and the software.

Installing an EV Charger at your home is a smart move. If you have any questions regarding this topic or are interested in getting an EV charger, get in touch with us at NoShock.