FREE CHARGING | CHECKED 24 OCTOBER 2026

Free EV charging and what the stop costs

Complimentary charging can have a $0 energy price. At a paid alternative of 30c/kWh, receiving 7 kWh saves $2.10 before parking, travel and other fees.

The places below have a council or host source that explicitly describes complimentary charging. Check the bay signs before connecting. A host can change access rules, introduce fees or take equipment out of service. This selection gives you named examples to verify for your trip.

How much does an hour save?

Use the energy actually delivered during your visit. One hour at an assumed average 7 kW supplies 7 kWh. At a paid comparison rate of 30c/kWh, its value is $2.10. Two hours at the same average supplies 14 kWh, worth $4.20. A lower vehicle AC limit, shared supply or reduced charging power lowers the amount received.

A trip made solely to collect that energy has its own cost. If the extra driving uses 3 kWh valued at 30c, it costs 90c in electricity. Add a $3 parking charge and the one-hour example costs more than simply charging at home. If you were already visiting the library or shopping centre, the extra driving cost may be zero. Keep the comparison tied to your actual plans.

The advertised connector maximum is an upper limit. An AC stop also depends on the car's onboard charger and the site's available supply. Use the charging-time calculator with a session average to estimate the energy gained while parked. Check the vehicle's charge level before leaving rather than assuming the whole parking period ran at maximum power.

JOLT's daily energy allowance includes fee conditions

JOLT's current Australian page advertises 7 kWh of free energy daily and says a service fee applies per session. Its plan page lists a $0 subscription Daily option with that service fee. Confirm the amount shown for your station and account before connecting.

The same page lists Flex at $14.99 a month with a connection-fee waiver and additional charging discounts. The subscription changes the calculation. Divide your expected monthly visits into the subscription, compare the avoided fees, then include any paid energy. A free-energy allowance on its own does not confirm the final session total.

Check access and parking separately

Public council charging and private customer charging have different access conditions. A shopping-centre bay may require a customer visit, follow centre opening hours or sit within a paid carpark. A hotel charger may be reserved for guests. A dealer charger may be available only by arrangement. Use a host's current permission and signage before treating any of these as a public charging stop.

Glen Eira's council source names the three listed locations and describes posted time limits of two to four hours. Westfield Booragoon's parking page identifies complimentary charging bays near its Fresh Food Marketplace entry. Neither source supplies every connector and power detail needed to predict your session, so the table does not assign a charging speed.

Keep a paid alternative nearby

A free bay can be occupied, unavailable or too slow for the time you have. For a trip with a required arrival charge, identify a paid alternative and allow enough remaining range to reach it. Check the operator's current availability and connector compatibility. The saving from a small free top-up should not decide a stop that leaves you short of energy.

Older lists can also preserve a station's launch offer after charging has become paid. Follow the current host or operator page rather than relying on the word free in an old directory entry. If the payment screen shows a tariff, use that rate in your budget. Save the receipt so the next comparison uses the actual billed energy and total.

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