Where to charge your electric car in Sydney, NSW
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Charging is one of the major holdbacks for many Australians when it comes to choosing an electric vehicle. The ideal situation is to install a home charger, but if that’s not an option, there are quite a few stations available in Sydney and Greater Sydney. Public charging stations for EVs are like petrol stations for ICE vehicles. When you learn where to find them, it starts to reduce any range anxiety you may have when it comes with making the switch. While Australia is still in its infancy stage of EV infrastructure, NSW is leading the way with 715 charging stations stations available in 2023. Now is the time to make the switch, especially if you’re a rideshare or delivery driver. An EV can be a more practical option, with long-term benefits and savings, especially as fuel prices continue to rise.
What type of public chargers are available in Sydney?
The first thing to know is that EVs can be charged using either Alternating Current (AC) or Direct Current (DC) electricity. Rechargeable EV batteries can only store DC electricity, so they need an onboard charger to convert AC to DC. EV chargers come in 3 different types:
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
| Standard, 240V wall socket. Typically used in homes. Requires a special cable, usually comes with the car. | A dedicated AC EV charger at up to 22kW. Typically installed in apartment complexes, workplaces, shopping centres, hotels etc. | A dedicated DC EV charger at power levels from 25kW to 350kW. Usually installed in commercial premises and roadside locations. |
| Can add between 10 – 20 km of range per hour when plugged in. Not recommended if you’re in a hurry, as it can’t completely charge a car overnight. | Can add 40 to 100 km of range per hour of charging, depending on your vehicle. Can provide enough power for daily use with a one-hour charge or deliver a full recharge overnight. | This method will add up to 150 km of range per hour plugged in at the lower end. This method can fully recharge some electric vehicles at the upper end in 10 to 15 minutes. |
| Average cost: $0.15 – $0.30 per kWh | Average cost: between $0.20 – $0.25 per kWh | Average cost: between $0.30-$0.60 per kWh |
Where can I charge my car in Sydney?
Network charging stations
Across Sydney and Greater Sydney, there are around 190 Level 2 and 3 public electric car charging stations, with more being installed. According to EVSE, here are the top 3 largest electric car charging station networks currently operating:
ChargePoint – AC Charging stations found in many Westfield shopping centres. These charging stations are the older style Type 1 (J1772) stations and will require you to download the phone app and if you have a EV built after 2018 an adapter cable to utilise.
EO charging network – situated across North Sydney Council, Northern Beaches, Baulkham Hills and the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. You need to use your own charging cable. You can download their “EOAPP”, for easier use.
Chargefox – To use, simply download their, find the EV charger on the app, open the port and then begin charging. Costs vary depending on locations.
Some public chargers are free, and several companies supply a certain amount of electricity for free. For example, NRMA members and non-members can use their fast chargers for free, at least for now. Jolt, on the other hand, offers 7kWh free each day, which supplies approximately 45km of driving range. That’s more than the 36.4 km, which is the average daily Australian commute.
Learn more about how much it costs to charge your EV in Australia
Non network charging stations
PlugShare shares locations and information for charging stations across Sydney and Australia, so you can easily find the most convenient one near you. Check here the Australia charging locations. Whether you’re ready to make a small investment into a home charging station or you’d rather use the public stations available, you won’t be left empty either way.
Need charging options in Canberra or Brisbane? Check our blogs to discover the EV charging stations in Canberra and EV charging stations in Queensland.
About Splend
Splend makes car ownership easier, more affordable and more accessible for rideshare drivers by building everything they need to earn more, pay less and stress less into one affordable weekly payment. It’s smooth driving, with no surprises and the lowest total ownership cost you’ll find – which is how car ownership for rideshare drivers should be. For more information about Splend, make an appointment and drop by to your local Splend Hub, email us, or say hello on 1800 775 363.