Electric vehicle owners in Queensland have received a big boost, with new regulations allowing faster home charging without the need for additional network management equipment. Effective from October 1 2026, the changes remove previous restrictions that limited some single-phase home EV chargers to just 20 amps, equivalent to 4.6kW of charging power.

Under the new rules, Queensland households can now install a 32-amp single-phase charger operating at up to 7.4kW without requiring a network management device, which has brought the state into line with the rest of the country.

Previously, homeowners wanting to charge above 20 amps were required to install equipment allowing electricity companies to remotely manage charging during periods of high demand. Owners could accept the lower charging speed to avoid the additional equipment, although that would obviously mean longer recharging times.

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According to EV charging equipment manufacturer Evnex, removing these restrictions allows compatible home chargers to deliver 60 per cent more power, potentially adding up to 50 kilometres of driving range per hour, depending on the vehicle.

The announcement follows another recent development that could help Queensland EV owners reduce their running costs.

As previously reported by WhichCar by Wheels, the Federal Government’s Solar Sharer Offer, which was introduced in July, provides eligible households with three hours of free electricity each day, allowing for significant savings when charging an electric vehicle at home.

In South East Queensland, the free electricity period runs from 11am to 2pm, although households must have a smart meter and opt into an eligible electricity plan to participate. Modelling from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis suggests households with one EV could save up to $800 annually with the offer, while those with two electric vehicles could save as much as $1900.

This means that, combined with the removal of charging restrictions, the changes represent a big improvement for Queensland EV owners, as home charging will be now faster and potentially cheaper.