The EV arrives next month. The wall charger takes planning now.
A wall-mounted charger is a dedicated circuit, a switchboard check and a certified install, in that order. Installed prices are published by several Wellington installers, and the real cost driver is the distance from your switchboard to the garage wall, which on Wellington's hillside sections is rarely short.
Is this your stream?
A wall charger charges several times faster than a 3-pin plug and puts the load on its own circuit. Get the switchboard assessed, pick a smart charger with load balancing, and get it installed before delivery day.
Old fuse boards often cannot take a 7.4kW sustained load. If your board is ceramic-fuse era, budget the switchboard upgrade ($1,500–$4,000 on Weka Electrical's published guide) alongside the charger, not as a surprise.
What it costs in Wellington
Published package price
PERL Electrical publishes an Evnex supply-and-install offer from $2,199 incl GST (7.4kW with 5m cable), from $2,399 with an 8m cable, and from $2,499 for a 22kW unit. Fixed packages remove quote uncertainty.
The install labour guide
evdb.nz puts the electrician's install cost at $700–$1,200 on top of the charger unit, noting the further the charger sits from the switchboard, the higher the cost. Wellington's hillside cable runs push toward the top.
The all-in Wellington range
Weka Electrical's published guide puts Wellington EV charger installation at $1,200–$3,500 depending on electrical setup, charger type and installation complexity. Simple garage-next-to-board jobs sit low; long runs and board work sit high.
Wellington providers, compared
Six installers that do EV chargers in Wellington, grouped by what they are best at. Hover a row for the detail that matters.
Common mistakes
Buying the charger before checking the switchboard: a 7.4kW charger is a sustained heavy load, and old fuse boards often lack the capacity or a spare way. Get the board assessed first; an upgrade runs $1,500–$4,000 in Wellington on Weka Electrical's published guide.
Underestimating the cable run: evdb.nz puts a wall-mounted charger install at $700–$1,200 and notes the further the charger is from the switchboard, the higher the cost. On Wellington's hillside sections, measure the route before you assume the cheap end.
Assuming a 3-pin plug is a long-term plan: evdb.nz prices portable 3-pin charging cables at $300–$450 delivering roughly 6–16km of range per hour. Fine as a stopgap, slow and load-heavy as a permanent solution.
Ordering a three-phase charger for a single-phase home: most NZ homes are single-phase, supporting up to 7.4kW per evdb.nz, while 22kW needs three-phase and a specialist install. Check your supply before you buy the unit.
Skipping load management: smart chargers with load balancing (Evnex and Thundergrid both offer it, as Sustainability Trust notes) protect the board when the oven, heat pump and charger run together. Dumb chargers on marginal boards trip circuits.
Forgetting the paperwork: EV charger installation involves new fixed wiring, so it is prescribed electrical work needing a licensed electrician and a Certificate of Compliance. Keep it for your insurer and your resale file.
FAQ
How much does EV charger installation cost in Wellington?
Weka Electrical's published guide puts Wellington installs at $1,200–$3,500 depending on your electrical setup, charger type and complexity. PERL Electrical publishes a fixed Evnex supply-and-install offer from $2,199 incl GST. evdb.nz puts the install labour alone at $700–$1,200, rising with distance from the switchboard.
Do I need a switchboard upgrade first?
Maybe. A 7.4kW charger is a sustained heavy load needing its own circuit. Old fuse boards often lack capacity, and a Wellington upgrade runs $1,500–$4,000 on Weka Electrical's published guide. Get the board assessed before ordering the charger.
Which charger should I buy?
Check your supply first: most NZ homes are single-phase (up to 7.4kW); 22kW needs three-phase. Smart chargers with load balancing and solar diversion (Evnex, Thundergrid, Zappi are all installed in Wellington) protect marginal boards. Tethered units include the cable; socketed units need one at $200–$250 per evdb.nz.
Can I just use a 3-pin plug instead?
As a stopgap, yes: evdb.nz prices portable 3-pin cables at $300–$450 giving roughly 6–16km of range per hour with no electrical work needed. As a permanent solution it is slow and keeps a heavy sustained load on a general circuit, which is what wall chargers exist to fix.
Does the install come with certification?
Yes. EV charger installation involves new fixed wiring, so it is prescribed electrical work in NZ. The licensed electrician must issue a Certificate of Compliance, and any high-risk elements get inspected. Keep the certificate with your house documents.
Check the switchboard first, then pick the charger. PERL Electrical publishes a fixed Evnex install from $2,199 incl GST; Weka Electrical's guide puts Wellington installs at $1,200–$3,500; evdb.nz puts install labour at $700–$1,200 rising with cable-run distance. Choose a smart charger with load balancing, confirm single or three-phase before buying, and keep the Certificate of Compliance.