For the new Australian electric vehicle (EV) owner, the world of charging can feel like a crash course in electrical engineering. You’ve mastered the difference between CCS2 and CHAdeMO, and you know your Type 2 from your Type 1. But there is one critical technical detail lurking in your car’s spec sheet that can make the difference between waking up to a full battery or a disappointing 50% charge: Is your onboard charger single-phase or three-phase?
At EV Evolution, as the premier digital platform for Australian EV owners and enthusiasts, we believe in empowering you with the technical knowledge to make the right infrastructure choices. Before you spend thousands upgrading your home switchboard or buying the wrong wallbox, here is everything you need to know about the “phase” dilemma.
The “Hidden” Charger: It’s Inside Your Car
The biggest misconception in home charging is that the box on your wall is the “charger.” In reality, that wallbox is just a fancy extension cord with safety features (formally called EVSE). The actual charger—the device that converts your home’s AC electricity into the DC energy stored in your battery—is built inside your car. This is the Onboard Charger (OBC).
This OBC is the ultimate bottleneck. You can install the most powerful, industrial-grade wallbox in your garage, but if your car’s OBC can’t accept that speed, it’s wasted potential.
In Australia, OBCs generally come in two flavours:
- Single-Phase OBC (Standard): Typically caps charging at 7kW (approx. 32 Amps).
- Three-Phase OBC (Premium): Typically allows charging at 11kW, and rarely up to 22kW.
Australian Grid 101: Single vs. Three-Phase
To understand why this matters, we need to look at your house.
- Single-Phase Power: This is the standard setup for most Australian homes. It has two wires (one live, one neutral) and typically runs at 230V-240V. The maximum charging speed you can easily achieve here is 7kW (32 Amps).
- Three-Phase Power: This is more common in larger modern homes, commercial buildings, or properties with heavy machinery (like ducted A/C or pool heaters). It has four wires (three live, one neutral) and delivers 400V-415V. This allows for faster charging speeds of 11kW or 22kW.
The “Trap”: Why 11kW Isn’t Always Faster Than 7kW
Here is the critical piece of advice for enthusiasts. Many buyers assume that an “11kW” charger is objectively better than a “7kW” charger. This is a dangerous assumption if your car is single-phase.
An 11kW three-phase charger achieves its speed by combining three separate phases of 16 Amps each (3 x 16A x 230V ≈ 11kW).
If you plug a single-phase car (like a BYD Atto 3 or MG ZS EV) into this 11kW charger, the car can only physically connect to one of those phases. Because that specific charger is limited to 16 Amps per phase, your car will only receive roughly 3.6kW of power—half the speed of a standard “slower” 7kW single-phase charger!
The Golden Rule:
- If your car is single-phase, buy a 7kW single-phase charger (or a 22kW three-phase charger, which uses 32A per phase). Avoid 11kW chargers.
- If your car is three-phase (like a Tesla Model 3/Y), an 11kW charger is the sweet spot.
Which Cars Are Which?
Knowing your specs is vital. Here is a quick cheat sheet for common models on Australian roads (always check your specific owner’s manual):
Typical Single-Phase EVs (Max ~7kW AC):
- BYD Atto 3: A classic example. Despite its high-tech interior, its AC charging is limited to 7kW single-phase.
- MG ZS EV (Pre-2022 & Excite): Many budget-friendly EVs cut costs here.
- Nissan LEAF: The steadfast commuter.
- Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV: Hybrids almost exclusively use single-phase.
Typical Three-Phase EVs (Max ~11kW AC):
- Tesla Model 3 & Model Y: The segment leaders set the standard with 11kW three-phase OBCs.
- Polestar 2 / Volvo XC40 Recharge: European brands favour three-phase.
- Hyundai Ioniq 5 / Kia EV6: Supporting faster AC charging to match their 800V DC architectures.
Do You Need to Upgrade Your Home?
We often get asked by the EV Evolution community: “Should I spend $3,000+ to upgrade my house to three-phase power?”
For 90% of Australian drivers, the answer is no.
A standard 7kW single-phase charger adds roughly 40km to 50km of range per hour. If you plug in at 7 PM and unplug at 7 AM, you have added nearly 500km of range—more than enough to fill almost any EV battery from 0% to 100%. Unless you are driving huge distances daily and have a very short turnaround time at home, single-phase charging is perfectly adequate.
However, if you are building a new home or undertaking a major renovation, installing three-phase power is a smart future-proofing move. It balances your home’s electrical load better and prepares you for future EVs that might utilize 22kW charging or Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technologies more effectively.
Join the Evolution
Navigating the technical nuances of EV ownership doesn’t have to be a solo journey. EV Evolution is here to serve as your co-pilot. As Australia’s premier digital platform for electric vehicle owners, we provide the community and insights you need to get the most out of your electric journey.
Need specific advice for your setup?
Stop guessing and start chatting. We encourage you to try out our AI-powered intelligent chatbot right here on the EV Evolution platform. whether you need to confirm if your next car is single or three-phase, find the best public chargers on your route, or get the latest scoop on upcoming models landing in Australia, our AI is ready to assist you 24/7.
About EV Evolution
EV Evolution is the leading online platform dedicated to Australian electric vehicle owners and enthusiasts. We foster a vibrant community, delivering essential EV news and insights, and enhancing user engagement through our innovative, AI-powered chatbot for dynamic discussions. Our mission is to empower Australian electric vehicle owners and enthusiasts by fostering a vibrant, AI-driven online community that connects, informs, and advances the nation’s electric vehicle landscape.
