Guides
Home charging vs public charging
When each one makes sense, what a home install really costs, and what to do if you can't charge at home.
If you can charge at home, do
Side by side
What each one is actually like
- When it happens
- At homeWhile you sleep. You are not present for it.
- Out and aboutIn a gap you already had — a shop, a meal, a coffee.
- How long you wait
- At homeNothing. You plug in and walk away.
- Out and aboutMinutes, not hours. Long enough to do the thing you stopped for.
- What it takes to set up
- At homeAn electrician, a permit, and somewhere to park that is yours.
- Out and aboutNothing. Turn up.
- What it costs to run
- At homeYour household electricity rate — usually the cheapest option there is.
- Out and aboutMore per mile than home, less than petrol for most drivers.
- How often you think about it
- At homeAlmost never, after the first fortnight.
- Out and aboutOnce or twice a week, and it becomes routine fast.
- Who it suits
- At homeAnyone with a driveway, garage or an assigned space they can wire.
- Out and aboutRenters, street parkers, flat dwellers, and anyone doing a long day.
Charging where you sleep
Charging out and about
Home charging is cheaper per mile, and the car is full every morning without you thinking about it. For most owners with a driveway or garage, a Level 2 home charger removes charging from daily life almost entirely.
What a home install actually involves
A Level 2 charger needs a 240V circuit, which usually means an electrician and possibly panel work. Costs vary widely by property. Get more than one quote, and check for utility rebates before you book — California utilities frequently offer them.
If you can't charge at home
Renting, street parking, or a building without EV provision is a very common situation and entirely workable. The pattern that works is a fast top-up folded into something you already do weekly rather than a long slow charge you have to plan a day around. That is exactly what a ten-minute full-service stop is for.
The honest comparison
Public fast charging costs more per mile than home charging — that is true of every network, ours included. What you are buying is time and convenience. Whether that trade is worth it depends on how much of your charging it represents.
Ready to try full-service charging?
Pull up, stay in your car, and let our team handle the rest — no app needed.