Three-Phase for EV Charging: Is 22kW Worth It?

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Thinking about a fast 22kW home charger? The honest question isn't whether 22kW is better — it's whether it's worth it for you. And that hinges on three-phase power. Is a 22kW EV charger worth it? For most homes, a 7kW single-phase charger is plenty. A 22kW charger needs a three-phase supply and only pays off in specific situations — or when you're upgrading to three-phase anyway. Here's how to tell which camp you're in.

👉 See our three-phase EV charger installation service →

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The short answer: usually no — unless…

For the overwhelming majority of homes, a 7kW single-phase charger fully recharges an EV overnight with room to spare, and it installs without any supply upgrade. A 22kW charger is three times faster on paper, but it needs three-phase power and often more speed than your car or your driving actually requires. It's genuinely worth it in a handful of cases — which we'll get to — but for most people, 22kW is paying for headroom you won't use. For the full side-by-side, see our 7kW vs 22kW comparison.

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22kW means three-phase

This is the key constraint. A 22kW charger only runs on a three-phase supply. Most Sydney homes are single-phase, so choosing 22kW usually means committing to a single-phase to three-phase upgrade first — a bigger project with its own cost and lead time. If you do go this route, our three-phase EV charger installation service covers it end to end. First, it's worth confirming three-phase is even available at your property.

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The catch: your car's charging limit

Even with 22kW on the wall, your EV might not accept it. Many popular models cap AC (home) charging at 7.4kW or 11kW, so a 22kW charger would only ever deliver what the car allows — meaning you'd have paid for a three-phase upgrade and a bigger charger to get 11kW. Always check your vehicle's onboard AC charger rating before deciding; it's the detail that most often makes 22kW not worth it.

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When 22kW three-phase genuinely pays off

It's the right call when at least one of these is true:

• Very high daily distances — you routinely drive far enough that overnight 7kW charging can't keep up.
• A dual-EV household — two cars sharing one charger benefit from the extra speed.
• Short charging windows — you can only plug in for a couple of hours, not overnight.
• You're upgrading to three-phase anyway — for a big ducted aircon, a workshop or future-proofing — in which case adding 22kW EV charging is a small extra step.

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The smart play: if you're going three-phase anyway

This is the scenario where 22kW quietly becomes worth it. If you're already planning a three-phase upgrade for other reasons — a large ducted air conditioner, multiple big loads, or headroom for the future — then the expensive part (the supply upgrade) is already happening. Adding a three-phase EV charger on top is a comparatively small incremental cost, and you get genuinely fast charging as a bonus. If three-phase isn't on the cards, a 7kW charger is almost always the smarter spend.

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What about running costs?

Charger size affects speed, not the price of the energy — a kilowatt-hour costs the same either way. What actually moves your running cost is your tariff and charging on off-peak power. The numbers are broken down in our EV charging costs and off-peak guide, and if you're curious how charge times compare across charger sizes, see how long it takes to charge at home.

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How High Demand Electrical helps

As a Level 2 ASP electrical contractor (Licence No. 397193C), we'll tell you honestly whether 22kW is worth it for your car and driving, or whether 7kW is the smarter choice — and if three-phase is the right move, we handle the three-phase EV charger installation and any switchboard or supply work as one job.

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