Your Complete Guide to Home EV Charging in New Zealand (2025 Edition)
Why Install a Wall-Box at Home?
Running an EV on household power costs about NZ $4.50 per 100 km (18 kWh × $0.25/kWh). A comparable petrol car still burns roughly NZ $16 for the same distance even at today’s Auckland self-service price of NZ $2.15 – 2.01 per litre. July 2025’s brief price war shows petrol can dip, but electricity remains about three-times cheaper per kilometre and never involves queueing.
Snapshot of New Zealand’s EV Fleet — Mid-2025
| Rank | Model | H1 2025 Registrations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tesla Model Y | 636 |
| 2 | Polestar 2 | 384 |
| 3 | BYD Atto 3 | 309 |
| 4 | Tesla Model 3 | 180 |
| 5 | BYD Dolphin | 154 |
New Zealand now counts more than 81 000 registered battery-electric cars. Roughly 67 % use the Type 2 CCS connector, the rest CHAdeMO. Affordable used imports—an MG ZS EV for around NZ $24 000, for instance—are swelling those numbers and lifting home-charger demand.
Three Ways to Charge at Home
| Option | Power | 60 kWh Charge Time | Hardware Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mode 2 (10 A plug) | 2.4 kW | ≈ 25 h | Included with vehicle |
| Mode 3 Wall-Box | 7.4 kW / 22 kW | ≈ 9 h / 3 h | NZ $900 – 1 999 |
| DC Home Unit | 25 kW | ≈ 2.5 h | NZ $9 000 + |
A 7 kW smart wall-box covers overnight charging for most households while meeting upcoming smart-charging rules.
What It Really Costs
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Wall-box unit | NZ $900 | NZ $2 000 |
| Basic install (≤ 3 m cable) | NZ $500 | NZ $1 000 |
| Complex install (> 15 m, switchboard upgrade) | NZ $1 500 | NZ $2 500 |
| Typical total | NZ $1 400 – 3 500 |
Real-world example: an Evnex E2 Core installed in Christchurch cost NZ $2 800 (unit NZ $1 499 + labour NZ $1 301).
Regulations in Plain English
- SNZ PAS 6011 : 2023 — residential best-practice guide.
- AS/NZS 3000 : 2025 — requires a Type B RCD and dedicated breaker.
- WorkSafe NZ — installation must be done by a Registered Electrician (EWRB).
- MBIE smart-charging consultation may prohibit non-smart chargers from late 2025, so choose Wi-Fi/OCPP now.
Five Criteria for Picking the Right Wall-Box
- Power rating — 7 kW fits most Kiwi homes; 22 kW needs three-phase.
- Smart features — Wi-Fi, OCPP 1.6, solar load-balancing.
- Warranty — aim for at least three years parts & labour.
- Cable length — 5 m for a garage, 7 m for driveway parking.
- Local service — stock and support based in New Zealand.
Quick Pay-Back Calculator
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Example: 14 000 km/year, 18 kWh/100 km, NZ $0.25/kWh and NZ $2.60/L saves about NZ $1 960 a year. A NZ $2 800 install pays for itself in roughly 17 months.
Step-by-Step Install Process
- Check spare capacity and phase.
- Pick a location within cable reach, 0.8 – 1.2 m above ground.
- Request at least two quotes from EWRB electricians.
- Install and receive a Certificate of Verification.
- Connect the app and schedule night-rate charging.
Top Wall-Box Models for 2025
| Model | Power | Smart | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evnex E2 Core | 7.4 kW | Wi-Fi / OCPP | NZ $1 499 |
| Tesla Wall Connector Gen 3 | 11 kW | Wi-Fi | NZ $975 |
| Wallbox Pulsar Plus | 22 kW | Bluetooth / Wi-Fi | NZ $1 699 |
