How Much and How Long to Charge My Polestar 2?

In a continuation of my diary, this week I’m in a Polestar 2.

Yesterday, I told you all about the misery of trying to find a charger that was fast, and that worked.

The Chargefox Ultra Fast NRMA units are 350kw and would do a top up to 80% in mere jiffs, but it  transpires that the Zetland units have been out of order for months, and for such vital infrastructure that is shabby in the extreme.

The 50kw Chargefox was in use, and there was someone waiting. This is turning in to a curse as EVs become the norm, and highlights an urgent reconsideration of government policy.

I closed yesterday’s episode with the fact that there is an Audi 50kw unit 100 metres away, with its parking spots clearly labelled, “e-Tron”, and that I’d nip back later for a top up.

I duly did this to prepare for a fun day on the road. 70% to 90% took around 20 minutes, for $6.05. the 20% top up means that a full charge is around $30 at this public charger price. There is a rider on this, and that is that every fast and ultra-fast charger will go as fast as it can, to 80%. From then on the rate is limited in order to preserve the battery life. A trickle charge overnight would set you with 100% ready for a road trip.

Obviously I could have walked home the few blocks, to leave the car for a couple of hours to reach 100%, but I sat in the car for 20 minutes, watching PLEX streaming videos from my home TV server. I viewed it on my phone with sound through the Harmon Kardon.

NOTE TO SELF: Don’t rest the phone against the infotainment screen if the Charging Menu is open. It is at just the right height to reach the “Unlock Cable: button which also stops the charging.

This Week: 2022 Ford Puma ST Line V Review

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ABOVE: Audi Centre- Sydney, 50Kww charging, Polestar 2, Bright Light Polestar Charging Port

We make a lot of charging because those without access to home charging rely on public outlets. Home charging can be done off-peak, costing 18c a Kwh. Home charging from a normal outlet is about 3km per hour, and a wall charger from Calibre Connect up to 22kw will give you 120km per hours. A 7kw unit gives you 40km per hour. You’d be able to fully charge overnight for 18c per Kwh instead of the public charging at 40c per Kwh.

Most of you won’t be doing this at 11.30 PM as I did, but even at this time, a hapless Model 3 owner arrived to find me just plugging in.

One final point is the super-bright LED lamp on the charging port. It is meant to clearly show the way when getting the plug into the socket, but as the picture shows, it is so blinding that you have to cover it with one hand with the huge plug in the other.

More Chargers please!

What we needs is a bank of chargers of at least 50kw available at every shopping centre, and more scattered throughout the burbs. There, I’ve said it.

The Polestar represented told GayCarBoys that New South Wales is now the most progressive state for EV support. That is something I thought I would never hear.

Chargefox was contacted for comment, but did not respond.

Other GayCarBoys EV Stories:

Written by Alan Zurvas

Alan Zurvas is the founder and editor of Gay Car Boys, Australia's leading LGBTQI+ automotive publication. Before launching GCB in 2008, Alan's automotive writing was published in SameSame.com.au and the Star Observer. With over 16 years of hands-on car reviewing experience, Alan brings an honest, irreverent voice to every review — championing value and innovation over brand loyalty.

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