Which EV Charger Is Right for My Home?

I get asked this question every week. You've just picked up a new BYD, Tesla, or Hyundai — or you're about to — and you want a charger on the wall at home. You've done some Googling, you're confused by all the options, and you just want some advice on what to choose.

Here's how I think about it for the five chargers we install across Melbourne.

If you drive a Tesla — get the Tesla Wall Connector Gen 3

It's made for your car, integrates with the Tesla app, and at $1,999 installed it's the best-value premium charger in our range. The 7-metre cable is the longest of any charger we install — which matters more than people realise, especially if your car parks on the far side of the driveway. Charges at up to 22kW on three-phase or 7.4kW on single-phase, and the glass-front design looks the part on a brick wall.

Owning a Tesla and not getting the Tesla Wall Connector is a bit like buying an iPhone and using a third-party charger. It works fine — but you miss out on the integration that makes the experience genuinely seamless.

If you have solar panels — get the Zappi v2.1 or the Evnex E2 Plus

The Zappi is the one solar enthusiasts go for. It has three charging modes — Fast, Eco, and Eco+ — and the Eco+ setting only charges your car when your panels are producing surplus power. Literally charges for free when the sun is out. The multiphase model automatically configures to single-phase or three-phase from the same unit, so you don't need to specify when ordering. From $2,799 installed.

The Evnex E2 Plus does solar diversion too, costs less, and is purpose-engineered (not rebadged) by a New Zealand company that's now expanding into Australia. Built-in load management is included as standard, and the 4-year manufacturer warranty is industry-leading. From $2,199 installed.

Both connect via a CT clamp at your switchboard and work with every solar inverter brand on the market — SolarEdge, Fronius, Sungrow, GoodWe, Enphase. No special inverter required.

Have a Tesla Powerwall too? The wiring approach changes — the charger needs to sit outside your battery's backup zone so it doesn't drain the Powerwall during outages. We've written a full guide on this: Tesla Powerwall and EV Charger: How to Add Both Without Draining Your Battery.

Worth knowing: Victoria's Midday Power Saver from October 2026 makes time-of-use scheduling more important than ever. More on that here.

For every other EV — the Autel MaxiCharger

If you drive a BYD, Hyundai, Kia, MG, Polestar, BMW, Mercedes, or anything else that isn't a Tesla and you don't have solar, the Autel MaxiCharger is the right call. 7.4kW single-phase, app control, smart scheduling, and OCPP 1.6 for future smart-home integration. Type A RCD with DC 6mA detection is built in — no extra hardware required. From $1,899 installed.

It's also the fastest to dispatch. The Autel typically leaves the warehouse within one to two business days, which means we can usually get you installed faster than any other charger in our range — useful if you've just collected a new EV and the dealer charging cable isn't cutting it.

The Evnex E2 Plus also fits this brief if you'd prefer the longer 4-year warranty and don't mind paying $300 more for it.

Got three-phase power and want the premium option?

If you've got three-phase coming into the house, you have access to faster charging speeds — up to 22kW on the right charger. The Wallbox Pulsar Max is the flagship pick here. Refined from feedback on over a million Pulsar units sold worldwide, it's engineered for Australian conditions with an IP55 weather rating, IK10 impact protection, and an operating range of -25°C to 50°C. Smaller than a toaster, with the polished myWallbox app, voice control via Alexa and Google Assistant, and full OCPP 1.6 integration. From $2,599 installed.

If you're already getting the Tesla Wall Connector for a Tesla, you don't need the Wallbox — the Tesla unit also delivers 22kW on three-phase. But for any non-Tesla EV in a three-phase home, the Pulsar Max is hard to beat.

The one question I always ask first

Before recommending any charger, I ask one question: do you have single-phase or three-phase power?

The easiest way to check is to open your meter box outside. One main switch means single-phase. Three switches or three sets of fuses means three-phase. Single-phase is the vast majority of Melbourne homes and gives you 7.4kW of charging speed — which adds around 40 to 50km of range per hour. That's plenty for overnight charging on any daily commute.

If you have three-phase, you've got the option of stepping up to 22kW chargers — useful if you do high daily kilometres or want to top up quickly between trips during the day.

Already own a charger?

No problem — we install customer-supplied chargers subject to them meeting Australian safety standards and RCM certification. Send us the brand and model and we'll confirm compatibility before booking.

Not sure which one is right for you?

Call me directly on 0419 119 988. I give free advice with no obligation. I'd rather spend five minutes on the phone helping you choose the right charger than have you second-guessing it for a week.

Or get a fixed-price quote within 24 hours — tell us your EV, your home setup, and whether you have solar, and we'll come back with a recommendation and a price.

Steven

Founder, ChargEV