Not sure which EV CHarger is right for your CAR?
Solahart Wollongong makes it easy set up your home or business for EV charging.
Get in touch today, we look forward to helping.
It’s a big decision to invest in green energy, especially if that investment is your vehicle. You want the same reliable and trustworthy performance from your electric vehicle as the petrol car you drove in the past, only without the climbing cost of fossil fuels and reliance on carbon-heavy emissions. We can help.
At Solahart, we are Australia’s solar energy experts. With guaranteed performance of every product we sell, we are dedicated to keeping you on the road with your electric vehicle by providing superior car charging ability that incorporates your solar energy use, or gives you access to cheaper rates for your power supply.
In Australia, more people are turning to solar energy and electric vehicles (EV) for better economy and a reduced environmental impact. By keeping ahead of technology you gain more authority and control over energy consumption in your home, putting you in the driver’s seat for your power bills and your carbon footprint.
Charging your car at home or the office is a bit of a daunting idea for some people: there is some confusion on how that change will look in terms of your overall energy use, the time it takes to reach full capacity when charging and the ability for your home to handle power to everything at once. It’s well worth looking at your charging options closely so you know how to get the most from your car battery and overall performance.
If you have an EV, or are looking into buying one, you don’t have to settle for the charging ability that comes from the factory, you can plug your electric car in without making sacrifices to your power bill or home energy supply. Solahart in Wollongong, NSW, can provide a dedicated power circuit to the vehicle charger, giving you significantly faster-charging capacity without impacting the electrical supply to the rest of your home. That gives you the ability to get out on the road faster and makes better use of your electricity or solar supply.
Already have an EV charger and need it installed? We can help.
We regularly install electric vehicle chargers as an installation only – at homes and businesses across the Illawarra.
Every electric vehicle (EV) comes with a standard 10A plug, which is compatible with any normal power point in Australia, so you can plug your car in as needed, just like a lamp or toaster.
The charging speed will vary depending on the make and model EV you select, with some manufacturers providing faster chargers as standard, and others making them an optional extra. Regardless of what option you go with, the car can only charge at a limited speed because it’s sharing power with other parts of your home.
With Solahart’s skills and expertise, we can install a dedicated power circuit, giving your car a one-to-one line of electricity for the sole purpose of charging your vehicle. This allows EV owners to charge their cars at a much faster rate than the standard plug-in, increasing the viability and convenience of owning an EV.
The benefits of having a direct power supply to your EV:
Superior charge time
Use off-peak rates
Use your home’s solar power
More flexibility to drive your car when you need it
Apart from charging your car faster, a dedicated power circuit also enables you to charge your EV on “off-peak” power. When using a non-standard plug and socket arrangement like the one Solahart installs, it is possible to get a lower rate on the electricity you use, rather than the standard “peak” electricity rate for the wall socket power supply.
For those with rooftop solar power on their home, the dedicated power circuit installation will give you the ability to charge your car for free before exporting the rest of your excess solar power back to the grid, so you save money not just on fuel, but also continue to pay off your solar investment faster.
At Solahart we provide the whole service. We’re dedicated to staying ahead of the technology to give you the very best of modern technology as it emerges in the growing market for clean, green, smarter living.
We start by thoroughly investigating your needs and what will work for your home or work setup, taking into account your current solar power system if available, or what your options are if you are looking to install solar panels to get the best benefits out of your electric vehicle ownership.
We verify the make and model of your vehicle to see what the factory capacity is for battery life and charging power and look at where you park your vehicle to find the best location to install your dedicated charge point for hassle-free charging.
Our qualified quality service installs the right connection for your vehicle with a strong and sturdy wall mount for your dedicated power circuit, taking your charge time from as long as 30 hours, down to just four or even two.
Before we leave your property we fully test everything to make sure it’s performing exactly as planned to give you the power needed to get your car on the road when required, not when it’s ready.
Solahart can install dedicated power circuit supply units to Tesla, Hyundai and Nissan electric cars for faster charging and better ability to charge your car from your rooftop solar energy supply.
● Tesla EV Charger Installation
● Hyundai EV Charger Installation
● Nissan EV Charger Installation
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about battery storage. If you have a question that is not answered below or would like further information, please get in touch with us today. We’re more than happy to provide helpful information about all things solar.
There are a lot of factors that influence how much time it will take to charge your electric vehicle, including:
Generally speaking, re-charging an electric vehicle from a basic 2.4kW home power outlet can take more than a full day. If you change that to a 22kW fast charger, the battery can be fully charged in four to seven hours. The less time you spend charging the battery, the less drive distance you can expect before your next top-up.
For heavy-duty users, there are also high-powered DC ultra-rapid chargers. These are the charging stations you’ll see for public use, they look like petrol bowsers and are sometimes solar powered as well. They have the capacity to charge your car battery to 80 per cent capacity in 30 minutes or less. 80 per cent is the safest level to top up to to avoid overcharging the battery and reducing battery life.
If we put it in a nutshell:
To get an idea of just how much variation there is with battery capacity and power output, here are some examples of electric vehicles available in Australia:
There are three main types of charging portals EV owners can choose from.
Wall sockets: This is the standard everyday power supply in your home. Your car is simply plugged into any available power point. These take far longer to charge your car than any other option.
Dedicated power supply boxes: These are the best way to top your car battery up as needed as power is supplied directly to your car without having to share power to the rest of your home. You can have a dedicated car charging unit installed in your private garage or at your workplace to reduce charge times.
Fast chargers: Typically found at public charging stations, fast chargers resemble petrol bowsers and provide a much faster rate of charge, topping up your car in under an hour. They are a great option for when you are out and about or on a long-distance trip.
It’s possible for any homeowner to have a dedicated EV charger in their private garage or at home, however, you will need a professional to do your installation.
Start by talking to an industry professional. Solahart has industry experience in car charger installation and knows how to get the right connection matched to your specific car type. You can feel safe knowing the installation we carry out will comply with AS/NZ3000 wiring regulations.
Talk with us about your EV charging needs, your typical car usage and parking as well as any solar power system you currently have in place so we can get an accurate quote that gives you the access and convenience you’re looking for.
Your quote will include making sure your wall mount is in the right location for ease of use and product testing.
From there you can book your work order and pack away your extension cord. Your work and equipment will come with a warranty so be sure to file your receipts so you can easily refer to them later if needed.
Most electric vehicles will get you from A to B time and time again without having to stop and charge. City dwellers won’t need to go far to reach their destination, be it work, the school run or shopping with standard city commutes coming in under 30 kilometres. That means the 200-400 kilometre driving range of affordable EVs (priced under $60,000) will be able to do days, or even a week before a top-up recharge.
Those who buy the more expensive EV models will get up to 600kms of running power on a fully charged battery, which will see them through even longer before the next power-up.
Installing a basic Plug and Play charger usually takes 2 to 4 hours, depending on the charger’s location and accessibility to the main switchboard or sub-board.
To provide an accurate quote and prevent any issues during installation, we recommend scheduling a site visit or filling out a questionnaire.
Smart EV charging units are fully equipped with modern technology and accessibility functions. This makes them easy to use and allows you to track all your EV charging needs through an integrated mobile application.
Our Smart charging units are easy to operate – simply plug them in and let them charge your vehicle. Smart charging units are also capable of using solar power at home. It does this by load balancing between your solar system energy & grid energy. Moreover, Smart EV charging units support all Type 2 electric vehicle models.
The ideal location for your car charger depends on your parking habits. Consider where you most often park, whether you reverse in or drive forward, and the current location of your power outlet. We can help you choose the best spot and recommend any necessary accessories or positioning.
Installing an EV charger may sound complex, but they work just like any other electrical appliance.
Chargers must be installed by a qualified electrician and the process is relatively simple:
1. Assess your home’s wiring. EV chargers are capable of drawing lots of power. Your electrician needs to assess your home’s wiring and switchboard to make sure it’s up to the task. You may need electrical upgrades if your home is older or if you want to install multiple EV chargers, or obtain fast chargers.
2. Choose an EV charger. Your electrician can help you select an EV charger that suits your home, budget and charging needs.
3. Run wiring. Once your switchboard and power supply has been upgraded, the installation begins by running the necessary wiring. This can be one of the most time-consuming parts of the process, especially if you live in an apartment building.
4. Connect the EV charger. With the wiring in place, your electrician can mount and connect the EV charger.
5. Set up and configure the charger. Finally, your electrician will set up, configure and test the charger to make sure it’s working properly.
We recommend speaking to an electrician before purchasing an EV charger. Not all types of EV chargers are suitable for all homes or vehicles. Some switchboards are more difficult to ‘reach’ than others, some chargers require specific cabling, or phases in your property.
Working with our team to select a charger ensures you’re spending your money in the right place.
Solahart Wollongong makes it easy set up your home or business for EV charging.
Get in touch today, we look forward to helping.
BASTION GREEN PTY LTD (ABN 44 642 354 210), trading as Solahart Illawarra, operates the Solahart dealership in the region covering from Stanwell Tops to Kiama, Jamberoo, and Macquarie Pass. NSW Contractor Licence No. 371534C, Electrician Licence No. 250600C, Plumber Licence No. 374065C.
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At Solahart, we’re proud to be leading Australia’s solar charge. Helping smart Aussies make a real difference to the planet, reducing their reliance on the grid, cutting their energy bills, and connecting them to their smart energy future.
Since 1953, we’ve been the trusted name in Australian solar, installing over a million solar hot water systems in over 70 countries, and over 700,000 solar power panels in Australia.
