Australia, New Zealand

EV charger compliance in Australia and New Zealand

An EV charger sold in Australia needs electrical safety testing to IEC 61851-1, EMC and radio testing, RCM marking and supplier registration, a certified Type 2 socket or connector, and installation instructions. South Australia also requires OCPP-based demand response and model registration, and New Zealand is adding smart charging rules.

Last reviewed 27 October 2026 · A planning guide, not legal or certification advice.

Check your exact product

Roadblock lists every step that applies to what you’re launching, for each market, in order.

Try: “A 22 kW three-phase home EV charger with Wi-Fi and OCPP, sold in Australia and New Zealand”

Safety and EMC

AC chargers are tested to IEC 61851-1, including heat and fire and temperature rise at the full current rating, and EMC to IEC 61851-21-2. DC chargers add IEC 61851-23 and -24. One accredited report is your evidence of safety in every market. Use a certified Type 2 socket or connector (IEC 62196-2) rather than testing your own; it’s the cheaper route.

RCM, registration and installation

Register as a Responsible Supplier, sign the declaration against your EMC and radio reports and apply the RCM. Hard-wired chargers must be installed to the wiring rules, so supply instructions covering the circuit, protection devices and isolation.

South Australia demand response

South Australia only allows registered charger models that accept a remote stop and 40–60% charge limiting, normally through OCPP 1.6 edition 2 or later. You submit Form A to the Technical Regulator, and installers in SA can only fit registered models. SA accepts a self-declaration of OCPP support, or certificates that cover Smart Charging and Remote Trigger.

Billing and New Zealand

If you bill per kWh, the meter must meet the NMI general certificate for legal-for-trade metering. In New Zealand, from 13 November 2026 the Electricity (Safety) Regulations newly cover EV supply equipment with updated cited standards, and smart charging functionality and labelling rules for chargers over 2.4 kW are being finalised.

Steps, time and cost

Planning ranges from Roadblock’s register (A$, excluding your own staff time). Which steps apply depends on the product; run an analysis for yours.

StepMarketTypical timeTypical cost
Electrical safety testingAll markets4–12 wkA$4,000–40,000
EMC testingAU / NZ / EU2–4 wkA$3,000–18,000
Radio and RF exposure testingAU / NZ2–4 wkA$3,000–10,000
Type 2 connector or socket complianceAU / NZ / EU3–6 wkA$3,000–10,000
Register as a Responsible Supplier on the national databaseAU1–2 wkA$300–1,000
Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity and RCM markingAU1 wkA$0–1,000
Installer documentationAll markets2–3 wkA$1,000–3,000
Add OCPP smart charging supportAU · SA6–12 wkA$5,000–30,000
Register the model with SA’s Technical RegulatorAU · SA2–6 wkNo fee
OCPP conformance certificationINTL4–8 wkA$15,000–35,000
Legal-for-trade energy meteringAU3–6 wkA$5,000–15,000
Smart device cyber security and Statement of ComplianceAU4–8 wkA$2,000–20,000
NZ radio and EMC supplier complianceNZ1–2 wkA$0–1,000
NZ Electricity (Safety) Amendment Regulations 2025NZ1–3 wkA$0–1,000
NZ smart charger functionality and labelNZ2–4 wkA$0–5,000

Questions

What standard do EV chargers need to meet in Australia?

IEC 61851-1 for AC charger safety (plus -23 and -24 for DC), IEC 61851-21-2 for EMC, IEC 62196-2 for the Type 2 interface, and the ACMA radio standards if it has Wi-Fi or cellular. It must be RCM marked by a registered Responsible Supplier.

Do EV chargers need OCPP in Australia?

In South Australia, yes in practice: registered models must accept a remote stop and 40–60% charge limiting, normally through OCPP 1.6 edition 2 or later.

How long does EV charger certification take?

Typically 3 to 6 months from design freeze, driven by safety testing. OCPP implementation, if needed, should run during development.

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