Public EV charging prices in Australia: what to check before plugging in

A short checklist for comparing public charging session costs.

Public charging is commonly priced in cents per kWh, but operators and sites can differ. Some sites also apply an idle fee when a vehicle remains connected after charging has stopped.

Before charging, check the displayed energy rate, any time-based or idle fee, your vehicle's required charge and your likely charging speed. Enter the energy rate into the calculator rather than relying on a home-tariff estimate.

Public charging is valuable for trips and convenience, but it should remain a separate editable part of the annual charging mix.

Planning note: This guide is general information. Use the calculators with your own vehicle, charging and cost inputs before making a decision.