In short: EV charger installation cost in Perth comes down to four things: the charger you choose, whether your home is single phase or three phase, how far the cable has to run from the switchboard to where you park, and whether the switchboard can take a new high-load circuit. Sort those four out and the quote is straightforward. Most installs take 4 to 8 hours.
EV charger installation cost is the question we get asked before almost anything else about EVs, and the real answer is "it depends on your house," so here's what it depends on.
The four things that set the price
1. The charger itself. A 7 kW single phase wall charger suits most homes and adds around 40 km of range per hour of charging. A 22 kW charger needs three phase and charges roughly three times faster, but most EVs can't take the full 22 kW on AC anyway. Bring-your-own charger is fine, but check it's approved for use in Australia and that the installer is happy to fit it.
2. Single phase or three phase. Most Perth homes are single phase, which handles a 7 kW charger comfortably if the switchboard is in good shape. Three phase is needed for 22 kW, or if you're planning a big air conditioner and a charger together. Upgrading to three phase is a separate job that involves Western Power, and it's worth deciding on before the charger goes in. We've explained when it's worth it in do you need a switchboard upgrade for solar, a battery or an EV charger.
3. The cable run. The charger needs its own heavy cable from the switchboard on a dedicated circuit. A switchboard on the garage wall is the cheap version. A switchboard at the front of the house with the car parked at the back, on a double-storey home with a rendered wall, is the expensive version.
4. The switchboard. If the board is modern with spare space and safety switches, the charger circuit just gets added. If it's an old board with no room or no RCD protection, it has to be upgraded first. That's the single thing most likely to double the cost of an EV charger install, and it's why we check it at the quote rather than on the day.
What EV charger installation costs in Perth
- Install only, you supply the 7 kW single phase charger: from $1,045 inc GST.
- Supply and install a 7 kW single phase charger: $2,420 inc GST.
- Supply and install a 22 kW three phase charger on an existing three phase supply: from $3,025 inc GST.
- A long cable run or difficult access adds to the "from" figures above, which is why we look at the run before quoting.
- Switchboard upgrade if required: single phase switchboards start from $1,760 inc GST and three phase from $2,090 inc GST. See our switchboard upgrade cost guide.
We quote a fixed price before we start, after seeing the switchboard and the run. No surprises when the job's done.
What a proper install includes
- A dedicated circuit with its own breaker and RCD protection at the switchboard.
- Cable sized for the charger's full load, running continuously for hours, not just the peak.
- The charger mounted and wired, then tested under load.
- Any notification to Western Power that the connection requires.
- An Electrical Safety Certificate for the work.
Charging from a standard power point with the cable that came in the boot works in a pinch, but it's slow, and running 10 amps through a regular outlet for eight hours a night is not something an old circuit was built for.
How long it takes
A straightforward install on a single phase home takes between 4 and 8 hours depending on the charger and the length of the cable run. If a switchboard upgrade is needed, that adds a separate visit, and we'd usually do the board first and run the charger circuit at the same time so the second visit is short.
Solar and smart charging
If you've got solar, a smart charger can be set to charge mainly from the panels during the day, which is the cheapest electricity you'll ever put in the car. It needs a compatible charger and a current sensor at the switchboard, so mention it at the quote stage rather than after.
Nexus Electrical Co | EV Charger Installation Perth
Nexus Electrical Co is a licensed and insured electrician Perth homeowners have trusted for 6000+ jobs, based in Balcatta. See our EV Charger Installation Perth service page. Fixed price before we start, lifetime workmanship warranty, 100+ Google 5-star reviews. Call (08) 9245 1362.
