A renovation is the best moment to add an EV charger. The walls are already open, the electrician is already on site, and the cost of running a cable or upgrading your switchboard drops a long way when it is bundled into bigger work. Whether you own an electric car now or expect to in the next few years, building the charging point in during the reno saves you a second call-out and a second round of mess later.
Around 80% of EV charging in Australia happens at home (source: Electric Vehicle Council), so a fixed home charger is one of the highest-value upgrades you can build into a renovation. Below are practical ideas for folding EV charging into a garage, carport, driveway or whole-home renovation across Sydney, plus the things your licensed electrician needs to plan around.
Why a Renovation Is the Right Time
A renovation is the cheapest and cleanest time to install an EV charger, because the walls are already open and the electrician is already on site. Adding it later means chasing cables through finished walls, lifting new paving, or surface-mounting conduit that spoils the look of fresh work. The main reasons to bring it forward:
- Open walls and trenches: Cable runs that would normally be visible can be buried in the wall cavity, slab or a trench you are already digging for drainage or landscaping.
- One switchboard visit: If your renovation already needs a switchboard upgrade, adding the EV circuit at the same time costs far less than a separate job.
- Future-proofing: Even if you do not own an EV yet, running a conduit and leaving capacity in the board now means a quick, cheap install when you do.
- Tidy finish: The charger sits flush and the cabling stays hidden, which matters for resale and for the everyday look of your garage or carport.
Garage Renovation Ideas
The garage is the most common home for a charger, and a reno gives you room to do it properly rather than bolting a unit to the nearest stud.
- Position the charger where the car parks: Mount it on the wall closest to your vehicle's charge port, so the cable reaches without stretching across the bay. Most EVs have the port at the front or rear quarter, so confirm which car lives there before the wall is closed up.
- Recess the cabling: With the wall open, run the cable inside the cavity from the switchboard to the charger. No surface conduit, no clutter.
- Add a cable holster or hook: A simple wall hook or holster keeps the lead off the floor, which cuts wear and trip hazards. Plan the spot while you are choosing where the charger goes.
- Light the bay: A motion-sensor LED above the charger makes plugging in at night easy. It is a small add-on while the electrician is already wiring the space.
- Leave room for a second unit: Two-car households often end up with two EVs. Leaving spare conduit and board capacity now avoids tearing the wall open again.
Carport and Driveway Ideas
Not every home has a garage. A carport or open driveway works just as well, and a reno is the time to get the groundwork right.
- Pedestal mount: Where there is no wall to fix to, a freestanding pedestal puts the charger right beside the parking spot. Set the footing while the slab or paving is being poured.
- Trench the cable under new paving: If you are relaying a driveway, lay the charger conduit in the same trench. Doing it after the paving is down means cutting it up again.
- Choose a weather-rated unit: Outdoor chargers need an IP54 rating or higher to handle Sydney rain and sun. Pick one built for the outdoors and mount it at least 0.8 metres off the ground.
- Plan for shade and shelter: A small roof or the carport itself extends the life of the unit and makes charging in wet weather more pleasant.
Switchboard and Capacity Upgrades
A 7 kW charger is a serious load, and many older Sydney homes have a switchboard that cannot take it without an upgrade. A renovation is the natural time to sort this out.
- Get a load assessment: Your electrician checks whether your board and supply can carry the charger alongside everything else. If the reno adds a new kitchen, air conditioning or a pool, that all counts toward the total.
- Upgrade once, not twice: If the renovation already calls for board work, fold the EV circuit in at the same time. A separate switchboard upgrade later is a far bigger job on its own.
- Dedicated circuit and safety switch: The charger gets its own circuit with an RCBO, kept separate from your other appliances. This is a wiring-rules requirement, not an optional extra.
- Three-phase consideration: If you are doing major work and want the fastest possible charging, ask whether a three-phase supply makes sense. It opens the door to 11 to 22 kW units, though most homes are well served by single-phase 7 kW.
Smart and Solar Integration
If your renovation includes solar panels or a battery, plan the charger to work with them. The savings over the life of the car are significant.
- Solar-aware chargers: Units like the Zappi can prioritise excess solar and adjust charging speed to match what your panels are generating. Wiring it in alongside a new solar install is far simpler than retrofitting later.
- Off-peak scheduling: Most smart chargers let you set charging for overnight off-peak hours, when electricity can be close to half the daytime rate. DM Electrical configures time-of-use schedules for Ausgrid and Endeavour Energy customers.
- Wi-Fi coverage: Smart features rely on a signal reaching the charger. If your garage or carport sits at the edge of your network, plan for a booster or hard-wired point while the walls are open.
- Load sharing: Households heading toward two EVs can fit a load-sharing charger that splits power between vehicles without overloading the supply.
What to Decide Before the Reno Starts
A quick checklist to run through with your electrician before work begins, so nothing gets closed up too early:
- Where will the car park, and which side is the charge port?
- Tethered unit with a fixed cable, or untethered for a tidier look and flexibility?
- Does the switchboard need upgrading, and can the EV circuit ride along with it?
- Are solar panels or a battery part of the project now or later?
- Is a second EV likely, and should you leave capacity for it?
- Indoor garage or outdoor mount, and is the unit rated for the location?
Settling these early keeps the install clean and avoids change-of-mind costs once the trades have moved on.
Compliance and Safety
In Australia, a fixed EV charger must be installed by a licensed electrician and meet the AS/NZS 3000 Wiring Rules. The charger runs on its own dedicated circuit with an RCBO safety switch, and outdoor units need an IP54 rating or higher, mounted at least 0.8 metres off the ground.
You should receive a Certificate of Compliance when the job is done. Hold onto it for insurance and for any future sale of the property. DM Electrical follows AS/NZS 3000 and the manufacturer's requirements on every install, and bundling the work into a renovation keeps the cable run and board work shared with the rest of the job.
Plan It With DM Electrical
If a renovation is on the cards, talk to DM Electrical before the walls close up. The team will assess your switchboard, plan the cable run, and recommend a charger that suits your car, your supply and your budget. Doing it now is cheaper, cleaner and ready for whatever your EV future looks like. Request a quote and DM Electrical will design a safe, compliant setup around your build.
FAQs
Q: Should I install the EV charger during my renovation or wait?
A: During, in almost every case. Open walls, shared cable runs and a single switchboard visit make it cheaper and tidier than a standalone job later.
Q: What if I do not own an EV yet?
A: Run a conduit and leave capacity in the switchboard now. When you buy the car, the final install is quick and far less disruptive.
Q: Will my old switchboard handle a charger?
A: Many older Sydney boards need an upgrade to carry a 7 kW load. A load assessment confirms it, and a reno is the ideal time to do the upgrade.
Q: Can the charger work with my new solar panels?
A: Yes. A solar-aware charger can use your excess generation, and wiring it in alongside a fresh solar install is much simpler than retrofitting.