Can Australia Support 10-Minute Charging Electric Cars?

The charging infrastructure that drives demand for EVs in Australia is developing rapidly. Thanks to this development, the dream of many Australians to get their car charged within 10 minutes is moving towards reality. But is it truly possible for Australia to be able to support that level of fast infrastructure for charging electric cars? Keep reading as we dive deep into exploring the current EV charging scenario, how fast the current systems are and whether the changes in driving habits fit fast charging or not.

Understanding EV Charging in Australia

The first question that anyone asks before purchasing or considering buying an EV is often, “How do I get the car charged?” If you get yourself an electric vehicle, you will find that it takes minutes or hours, unlike petrol refuelling, which is rapid. The time taken by a car to get recharged also depends on the charger type, its size and Soc or state of charge.

Charging Times by Charger Type

There are three recognised charging levels in Australia:

Level 1: Household Power Point (AC)

1. Power output: ~2.4kW (10A outlet)
2. 0-100% charge (60 kWh): ~25 hours
3. 20-80% top-up: ~15 hours

Level 1 is slow but accessible. It suits light daily driving and overnight charging.

Level 2 – Dedicated Wall Charger (AC)

7kW single-phase charger:

1. 0-100%: ~9 hours
2. 20-80%: ~5 hours

22kW three-phase charger (where supported):

1. 0-100%: ~3 hours
2. 20-80%: ~1.75 hours

However, not all cars take full advantage of 22kW chargers, as a lot of EVs present in Australia max out at 7kW or 11kW AC.

Level 3 – DC Public Fast Charger

1. Power output: 25-350 kW
2. 0-100%: ~15-60 minutes
3. 20-80%: ~10-40 minutes

This is where 10-minute charging becomes relevant. High-powered DC chargers can add substantial range quickly, particularly between 20% and 80%, before charging slows above 80%.

Is a 10-Minute Charge Realistically Possible?

EVs have the capacity to charge over a long distance with 350kW rapid EV charging systems. However, it can only happen when the conditions are favourable. As the battery begins to charge to full capacity, the speed of charging begins to slow down.

When you use a DC charger, it can juice up the battery adequately so that you can cover a distance of 225-350 km. This means you can do a 10-minute charging electric cars and that will be sufficient for most daily errands, but it will not charge the battery completely.

In a real-world scenario, a quick 10-minute electric car charging time can fill your battery from 20 per cent to 80 per cent. This guarantees that lithium-ion batteries offer the best performance.

Real-World Charging Habits in Australia

The key question isn’t just infrastructure capability; it’s whether Australians actually need 10-minute charging.
The average Australian drives 38 km per day. For a 60 kWh EV using roughly 150 Wh per kilometre (about 6.6 km per kWh), that daily distance requires around 6 kWh of energy.

A 7kW wall charger can restore that in under an hour. Even a standard 10A outlet can replenish that overnight. This changes the equation. If most drivers can fully recover daily usage at home, public ultra-fast charging becomes more about long trips than daily necessities.

Overnight Charging: Is It Already Enough?

For most households, yes.

Range added per hour:

1. 10A outlet: ~16km/hour (~130km overnight)
2. 7kW charger: ~46km/hour (~370km overnight)
3. 11kW charger: ~73km/hour (~580km overnight)

Normal overnight charging can get you enough range for typical daily use. The pressure for 10-minute charging increases mainly in:

1. Multi-EV households
2. High daily-distance drivers
3. Apartment dwellers without home charging
4. Regional long-distance travellers

Home vs Public Charging

The best thing about home charging is the convenience. You can plug in overnight or use the power stored in your rooftop solar systems. On the other hand, DC public EV charging stations give you the benefit of speed. You can get 300-400 km of power in just an hour of charging, but it costs two or three times more than charging at home.

It has been observed that the primary reason why a public charger was used is that the driver was travelling a very long distance. It was also observed that Australians don’t wait for their battery to drain completely but charge it whenever they park, be it at home or in shopping centres.

What Affects Charging Speed?

Let us find out what the factors are that affect the speed at which your battery gets recharged.

1. State of charge (SoC)
2. Onboard charge limits
3. Temperature
4. Battery chemistry

So while infrastructure may advertise 350 kW speeds, vehicles may not always accept that full rate.

Solar Charging: A Unique Australian Advantage

No other country in the world has a higher rate of rooftop solar adoption than Australia. This has a huge influence on the country’s charging scenario.

Solar is used for charging EVs a lot across the country. Below, we have shared the average charging potential from solar, assuming that there is approximately 60% spare capacity.

Thanks to the scorching Australian sun, drivers get more daily range due to solar energy generation. This helps in reducing the usage of ultra-fast EV charging Australia stations, reducing strain on the local grid systems.

Is It Possible For Australia To Scale 10-Minute Charging?

To support a broader fast-charging infrastructure, the country would need:

1. Extensive 350kW DC charger deployment
2. Significant grid upgrades
3. High-capacity connections at charging sites
4. Demand management during peak hours
5. Apartment Living and Urban Density

About 70% of Australians live in detached homes, meaning most have driveway or garage access suitable for home charging.

The real infrastructure challenge lies in:

1. Apartment complexes
2. Inner-city residents
3. On-street parking households

In these cases, a public fast EV charging network Australia becomes more critical.

Charging Model Comparisons

Looking at the best-selling fast charging EVs Australia in 2025:

1. Tesla Model 3 RWD (57.5 kWh)
2. Tesla Model Y Long Range (~75 kWh)
3. BYD Seal (~61-82 kWh)
4. Kia EV5 (~88 kWh)
5. MG S5 (~49 kWh)

On a 7kW wall charger, most of these add 20-80% in 4-7.5 hours.
On DC fast chargers, 20-80% can take between 10 and 40 minutes.

This means that while full 10-minute charging is not universal, substantial range additions in short sessions are increasingly possible.

Do Australians Actually Need 10-Minute Charging?

1. For daily commuting: No.
2. For road trips: Yes, occasionally.
3. For multi-car households: Possibly.
4. For apartment residents: More likely.

Australia’s vast geography makes fast highway charging important. However, for the majority of suburban households, overnight charging already exceeds daily needs.

The Economic Question

Home charging can cost significantly less than public fast charging and, in some cases, close to zero when powered by rooftop solar.
That financial advantage reduces dependence on ultra-fast public infrastructure. The transition may look less like petrol station replacement and more like distributed, home-based energy refuelling.

The Future Outlook

10-minute charging is technically achievable with high-powered DC infrastructure. However, Australia’s charging ecosystem appears likely to remain hybrid:

1. Home AC charging for daily needs
2. Solar charging integration
3. DC fast charging for travel corridors

The EV fast charging stations Australia will not replace home charging but complement it.

Conclusion

It is definitely possible for Australia to support 10-minute charging. However, it should be noted that the speed of charging electric cars does not define the future of the whole segment. A lot of respected auto care shops in Adelaide and the rest of Australia suggest that ultra-fast charging will be critical only for long-distance travel. For a driver who travels 40 km a day, the existing infrastructure is enough, as most houses are capable of overnight home charging and solar integration.

FAQs 40 km

Can Australia Support Ultra-Fast EV Charging?

Yes, and this is particularly possible along major highways and urban centres. This is because these places have high-capacity grid connections. But making ultra-fast electric vehicle charging infrastructure Australia available throughout Australia will require huge investment and responsible load management.

Is Australia Ready For 10-Minute Ev Charging?

With high-power EV chargers like 350kW DC chargers already in place in important locations, Australia is partially ready. But the development of this infrastructure all over the country needs grid upgrades and wider charge deployment.

Challenges Of Fast Ev Charging In Australia?

High installation costs combined with grid capacity limitations and delivering power supply during peak hours pose a big threat to the future of electric vehicles Australia. Battery charging curves and limitations also affect ultra-fast charging across all EVs.

Impact Of Fast Charging On The Power Grid In Australia?

Local distribution networks experience a huge strain as these stations draw huge amounts of electricity. Grid disruption can only be minimised through smart load balancing and energy storage, along with the integration of renewable sources of energy. It will also give rise to a need for skilled car battery service technicians.