Home EV Charging vs Public Charging
Both have a role, but home charging is how most EV drivers charge day to day.
Home EV charging and public charging are designed for different situations, and most EV owners use a combination of both.
Home charging is typically used for everyday driving. You plug in where you live, usually overnight, and the car charges automatically while you are not using it. This makes home charging predictable, convenient, and usually the lowest-cost way to charge an EV.
Public charging is mainly used when travelling longer distances or when home charging is not available. Public chargers are often faster, but they are also more expensive and may require waiting for availability. They are designed for top-ups rather than daily use.
The biggest difference for most drivers is routine. With home charging, you start each day with a charged car without planning around charging stops. With public charging, you need to factor in location, availability, and charging time.
Cost is another key difference. Home charging, especially when combined with night-rate electricity, is usually much cheaper per kilometre than public charging. Public fast chargers trade higher cost for speed and convenience on the road.
For most EV owners, the two approaches work together. Home charging handles regular daily use, while public charging fills the gaps on longer journeys. One does not replace the other.
If home charging is available, it becomes the primary way an EV is charged. Public charging then becomes an occasional backup rather than the main method.