Look at where you could regularly charge
Home is the most common place to charge, but a workday, walk, gym session, sport or shopping visit can also help. The stop does not need to be part of your routine today; it needs to be a practical change you would keep using.
A small routine change can make charging fit
You do not have to keep every stop exactly as it is today. For example, you might use a different park for your daily walk because it has a compatible fast charger, choose a gym with charging, or move a weekly shop to a centre where the car can charge while you are inside.
The test is whether the change improves your week rather than creating a recurring chore. Check the extra driving and time, charging price, parking or idle fees, connector compatibility, typical availability and a backup. Try the new stop at the time you would normally visit before relying on it. The public-charging guide explains how to check access, connectors, payment and recent charger reports.
A 300 km week with three slow overnight sessions
18 kWh per 100 km is this guide’s planning figure for a mid-size EV — it includes small losses between the socket and the battery. Driving 300 km needs about 54 kWh. Three ten-hour overnight sessions at a standard power point (1.8 kW) can add the same 54 kWh. A compatible 15 amp setup at 3.3 kW would add 54 kWh in about 16.4 connected hours, leaving more room for a missed or shortened session.
This routine only just covers the week. Missing one ten-hour session removes 18 kWh—about 100 km of replacement driving. A dependable routine should handle a normal disruption without immediately requiring a separate charging trip.
What can become part of your routine?
| Charging opportunity | What makes it useful | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Home | Home charging can usually run for many hours, so even slow charging may cover substantial driving. | A licensed electrician confirms the socket, wiring or installed charger is suitable. |
| Work | One or two long workdays may replace a full week’s driving. | Employee access, price, time limits, sharing rules and whether the charger is usually available. |
| Regular or adjusted destination | Sport, shopping, a library, gym or a different park for a regular walk can provide useful top-ups. | Extra travel and time, actual charging speed, cable requirements, parking restrictions, price and reliability. |
| Public fast charger | A charger near an activity can add substantial energy during a shorter stop. It can also provide a backup or support long journeys. | Whether the stop is pleasant and repeatable, plus connector compatibility, availability, idle fees and a reachable backup. |
Three checks for a workable routine
Does it cover your weekly driving?
Your regular sessions add enough energy to cover a typical week's driving.
Is there enough spare capacity?
Missing one session or driving farther than usual shouldn't leave you short.
Can you rely on the charger?
Access, compatibility, opening hours and charger reliability must work in real life, not just in the calculation.
What could change the answer?
- An uneven driving week: a weekly total can hide consecutive long days. Make sure the car can reach the next charging opportunity without running short.
- The vehicle: its efficiency, battery size and maximum compatible AC or DC charging rate affect how much flexibility the routine provides.
- Shared charging: workplace, apartment and public chargers may be occupied, restricted or unavailable.
- A rental or strata building: landlord, owners corporation or building-manager approval may be required before charging equipment is installed.
- Weather, speed and loads: cold conditions, sustained high speeds, towing and heavy loads can increase energy use.
Use the result as a shortlist test
If the routine fits with a comfortable buffer, confirm it in person — including any new park, gym, shop or other stop you plan to use. If it only just fits, look for a backup option. If it leaves a recurring gap, try one realistic adjustment before assuming you need a charging-only trip. Count any extra driving, waiting and cost honestly; a small change may be easy to keep, while a weekly chore may not be. The calculator estimates energy balance only, not charger availability or electrical suitability.
Common routine-charging questions
Can workplace charging replace home charging?
It can if access is dependable and the time connected replaces enough of your driving. Ask about eligibility, pricing, time limits, charger sharing and what happens if the workplace arrangement changes.
Can I change my routine to use a public fast charger?
Yes. A small change can be practical if it pairs charging with something useful or enjoyable, such as walking at a different park, going to the gym or doing the weekly shop. Test the stop at the time you would use it and confirm price, parking rules, compatibility, typical availability and a backup. If the change becomes a repeated detour and wait solely to charge, count it as a charging trip rather than convenient routine charging.
Is it bad to charge an EV every night?
Regular overnight charging is normal, but there is no universal daily percentage for every battery. Follow the current owner-manual or in-car guidance for the exact model and software; some cars recommend a lower everyday limit while others recommend reaching 100% regularly. Running costs matter too: see what regular charging could cost you.
Why does the calculator remove a whole session?
Real weeks are untidy. A missed session is a simple stress test for illness, leave, an occupied charger or a change of plans. It is not a prediction of charger reliability.
Assumptions and sources
ChooseEV calculation: weekly driving × 18 kWh/100 km from the plug. Charging opportunity is sessions per week × connected hours per session × selected kW. The calculator does not model battery capacity, day-by-day state of charge, tapering, site availability or the car’s charging limit. The default 1.8 kW power-point rate is a conservative editorial planning value; Australian Government guidance states that a standard power point supplies up to 2.4 kW.
Sources:
- Australian Government: How to charge your electric vehicle — home and public charging, availability, compatibility and charging-speed considerations.
- Australian Government: Electric vehicle charging equipment — charging levels, typical locations and factors that limit charging speed.
- Australian Government: Installing a personal EV charger for strata building residents — approvals, building readiness and shared-building considerations.
Sources and examples reviewed 13 July 2026.