Start with parking, not plugs on a map
Home is the most common place, but a regular workday, weekly sport or a shopping visit can also count — as long as the charger is there when you need it.
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.
It fits, but exactly. Missing one ten-hour session removes 18 kWh—about 100 km of replacement driving. A dependable routine should survive a normal disruption without immediately forcing a special charging trip.
What counts as an existing routine?
| Parking opportunity | What makes it useful | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Home | The car is usually parked 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 destination | Sport, shopping, a library or another repeated visit can provide useful top-ups. | Actual charging speed, compatible cable or plug, parking restrictions and reliability. |
| Public fast charger | Useful as a backup or for long journeys because it adds energy quickly. | Whether reaching it and waiting there would become a new errand rather than part of an existing routine. |
Three questions before calling it a fit
Does it keep up?
Your regular sessions add enough energy to cover a typical week's driving.
Can it bend?
Missing one session or driving farther than usual shouldn't leave you short.
Can you rely on it?
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 — check the specific car, charger location and access rules before buying. If it only just fits, look for a backup option. If it leaves a recurring gap, count that extra trip honestly: it may still be fine, but it is part of the ownership experience. The calculator estimates energy balance only, not charger availability or electrical suitability.
Common routine-charging questions
Do I need to plug in every night?
No. Most EVs have enough range to cover several days of typical driving. The simplest habit is to plug in whenever you get home — just like a phone — but you don't need to do it nightly if the battery is still well charged. The calculator lets you test fewer sessions per week to see if it still keeps up.
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.
Should public fast charging count as an existing routine?
Only if it genuinely overlaps with something you already do. A charger beside a weekly activity may fit; a weekly detour and wait created solely to charge is a new errand.
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.