The e VITARA Charging Test: Home, Work or Public Charger?
If you’re considering your first electric car, there’s probably one question you want answered before anything else: where am I actually going to charge it?
For drivers in Dublin, the answer could be at home overnight, at work during the day or at a public charger while you’re out and about.
With the Suzuki e VITARA, all three are realistic options. But which one makes the most sense for everyday driving in Ireland?
We’ve broken down the e VITARA charging experience to see how home, workplace and public charging compare.
Suzuki e VITARA Charging: The Key Numbers
The all-electric Suzuki e VITARA is available with 49kWh and 61kWh battery options, with an official WLTP electric range across the range of approximately 344km to 426km, depending on version.
For charging, Suzuki quotes:
- DC rapid charging: approximately 45 minutes from 10–80% using a minimum 70kW rapid charger
- 61kWh battery on 11kW AC: approximately 5 hours 30 minutes from 10–100%
- 61kWh battery on 7kW AC: approximately 9 hours from 10–100%
- 49kWh battery on 11kW AC: approximately 4 hours 30 minutes from 10–100%
- 49kWh battery on 7kW AC: approximately 6 hours 30 minutes from 10–100%
Actual electric car charging times will vary. Battery temperature, state of charge, charger performance and even the Irish weather can influence what you see in the real world.
For most owners, though, you won't regularly arrive home with 10% and need to charge all the way to 100%. Day-to-day EV ownership is much more about topping up while the car would otherwise be parked.
The e VITARA supports flexible AC and DC charging configurations, using a Type 2 socket for AC charging and a CCS2 connector for DC fast charging.
Test 1: Home EV Charging
For many Irish drivers, home EV charging is likely to be the simplest everyday solution.
A domestic home charger can deliver enough power to make overnight charging practical for most commuters.
That fits the e VITARA particularly well.
Come home from work in South Dublin, plug the car in on the driveway and it can charge while you're having dinner and sleeping.
Instead of making a separate trip to a filling station, charging becomes something happening in the background.
How Long Does an e VITARA Take to Charge at Home?
Using a common 7kW AC home charger, Suzuki estimates that the 49kWh e VITARA can go from 10% to 100% in around 6 hours 30 minutes.
The larger 61kWh battery takes around 9 hours over the same 10–100% window.
That makes overnight charging an obvious fit for many commuters.
If you're driving from Terenure into Dublin city centre, across to Sandyford or around the M50 each day, you're unlikely to use the entire battery before getting home.
Plug in when required and you can start the following morning with plenty of range available.
Is a Home EV Charger Worth It in Ireland?
If you have a driveway or suitable private parking, it's certainly worth investigating.
Home charging is typically the most convenient and cost-effective option for drivers who can install a dedicated charger.
Home chargers can charge up to 3 times faster than standard plugs and are specifically designed for high wattage charging.
In Ireland, you can receive a home charger grant of up to €300 from SEAI toward the purchase and installation of a home charger.
Installation work must be carried out by qualified electricians registered with Safe Electric.
The charger is usually mounted near the fuse board or meter point reference number (MPRN) location, with a switch and isolator for safety.
Charging flexibility allows the e VITARA to schedule up to 15 individual timer-charging sessions, enabling you to charge your EV during reduced rates at night for cost savings.
Charging at home can save you up to 38% on costs compared to public charging.
Home charging costs around €17.38 for a full charge, making it the cheapest way to power your EV.
Home Charger Installation
Installation typically takes a few hours and involves running a cable from the fuse board or meter to the charger.
Qualified electricians ensure the installation is safe, tidy, and compliant with regulations.
Costs vary depending on the complexity of the installation, but the grant helps make it more cost effective, covering about 20% of typical installation costs.
Grants also support installation in apartments and multi-unit dwellings.
You must apply for the grant before installation work begins, and you have six months to complete installation after receiving the grant offer.
Test 2: Charging the e VITARA at Work
Workplace charging could be even more convenient if your employer has EV charging points.
Why?
Because your car may already spend seven or eight hours sitting in the same car park.
Rather than making time specifically for charging, you arrive at work, plug in and get on with your day.
An 11kW AC charger can take the 49kWh e VITARA from 10–100% in approximately 4 hours 30 minutes, according to Suzuki.
The 61kWh version takes around 5 hours 30 minutes.
That means a working day can provide plenty of time for a substantial charge.
Workplace Charging Makes Sense for Dublin Commuters
Think about a typical commute from South Dublin to Sandyford, Citywest, Dublin Airport or another major employment centre.
If charging is available at your destination, the car can recover energy while you're working rather than adding another stop to your journey.
For drivers without private off-street parking at home, workplace charging can be particularly useful.
We often see people assume that not having a home charger automatically rules out an EV. It doesn't.
What matters is your overall charging routine.
If reliable charging is available at work, near home or at places where you already spend time, electric car ownership can still fit naturally into your week.
Test 3: Public EV Chargers in Ireland
Public charging comes into its own on longer trips and when you need a quicker top-up.
Ireland has over 2,500 public EV charging points, including standard AC chargers typically charging at 22kW and fast DC chargers found at motorway service stations.
The e VITARA supports DC rapid charging, with Suzuki quoting approximately 45 minutes from 10% to 80% when using a minimum 70kW DC rapid charger under suitable conditions.
That's a very different use case from overnight charging.
Rather than filling the battery completely, you can stop for coffee, take a break and add enough energy to continue your journey.
High-power chargers can provide 100km range in just 6 minutes, making them ideal for quick top-ups on the go.
When Would You Use Public EV Charging?
Imagine you're leaving Dublin for Galway, Cork or Donegal.
Instead of starting the journey and wondering where you'll find electricity, you can plan a rapid-charging stop along your route.
Public chargers are also useful when you've had an unusually busy week, forgotten to charge at home or simply need additional range before another journey.
Ireland's charging infrastructure includes AC destination chargers as well as faster DC charging points.
It's still sensible to check charger locations, availability, pricing and operator requirements before a longer journey.
Public AC chargers cost approximately €0.52 per kWh, fast DC chargers cost about €0.57 per kWh for non-members, and high-power chargers average €0.59 per kWh for pay-as-you-go users.
Home vs Work vs Public Charging: Which Is Best?
There isn't one charging method that every e VITARA owner needs to use exclusively.
For many Dublin drivers, the most practical setup will be a combination.
Home charging is ideal for convenient overnight top-ups and regular commuting.
Workplace charging makes excellent use of the hours when your car would be parked anyway, particularly if home charging isn't available.
Public rapid charging becomes valuable on longer journeys or whenever you need to add substantial range relatively quickly.
The trick is to stop thinking about EV charging like filling a petrol tank.
You don't necessarily wait until the battery is nearly empty.
Instead, you charge when the opportunity fits naturally into your day.
What About Charging in Irish Weather?
Cold and wet mornings aren't exactly unusual in Dublin.
Battery and ambient temperatures can affect charging performance and real-world driving range, so you shouldn't expect laboratory figures to be reproduced perfectly throughout the year.
Charging time can vary depending on ambient temperature, battery temperature, battery condition and state of charge.
The same applies to range.
Motorway speeds, heating, driving style, passengers and luggage can all change how much energy the car uses.
That's why we'd always recommend thinking about your actual driving rather than focusing on a single headline range figure.
Is the Suzuki e VITARA Practical for Irish Roads?
Charging is only part of the equation.
An EV still needs to work as a car.
The e VITARA brings the familiar compact SUV approach of the Vitara into an electric package, with selectable driving modes, modern driver-assistance technology and a flexible interior.
For Irish drivers who already know the Suzuki Vitara, Swift or S-Cross, the e VITARA also offers a route into fully electric motoring without jumping into an oversized EV.
There are 2WD versions as well as an ALLGRIP-e four-wheel-drive model for buyers who want additional traction and capability.
Around Dublin, its compact SUV dimensions suit urban and suburban driving.
Head beyond the city and the available battery range and rapid-charging capability make longer journeys practical with sensible planning.
New e VITARA or a Used Car?
Going electric won't be the right answer for absolutely every driver.
Your annual mileage, access to charging, budget and typical journeys all matter.
Some customers may find a new e VITARA suits them perfectly.
Others might decide that a Vitara, Swift or S-Cross — new or from carefully selected premium used stock — is a better match for how they drive today.
That's why it's worth comparing the complete ownership picture rather than choosing solely by fuel type.
Consider purchase price, finance repayments, trade-in value, electricity or fuel costs, servicing and how long you plan to keep the vehicle.
If you're changing from an older petrol, diesel or hybrid car, getting a trade-in valuation can also make the cost of upgrading clearer.
At Gerry Caffrey Motors, you can compare new Suzuki models with premium used stock, explore finance options and discuss the value of your current car as a trade-in.
EV Grants, VRT and Irish Buying Costs
Government incentives can affect the final price of a new electric vehicle in Ireland.
VRT treatment, EV grants and other supports can change over time, so it's worth checking the latest Revenue and SEAI rules when you're ready to buy.
The same principle applies to NCT planning when you're comparing new and used vehicles.
The age and registration history of the individual car determine its NCT requirements, so factor that into your overall ownership costs when considering used stock or a trade-in.
Ireland aims for 950,000 EVs on the road by 2030, reflecting the country's commitment to a greener future.
There are two main types of electric vehicles: Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), which rely solely on electric power, and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs), which combine electric and petrol power.
PHEVs typically allow for 40 to 90 km of electric-only driving, offering flexibility for drivers transitioning from internal combustion engine vehicles.
So, How Would We Charge an e VITARA?
For a typical South Dublin driver with a driveway, home charging would probably do most of the heavy lifting.
Plug in overnight when needed, leave home with useful range each morning and use public rapid chargers when heading further afield.
If home charging isn't available but you have reliable workplace charging, the calculation changes.
Your office car park could effectively become your regular charging station.
And if you're frequently travelling long distances around Ireland, the public charging network becomes a bigger part of the ownership experience.
The best test isn't simply asking, “How long does an EV take to charge?”
It's asking, “Where is my car normally parked long enough to charge?”
Once you answer that, EV charging in Ireland can start to look considerably simpler.
**Thinking about upgrading to a Suzuki? Visit Gerry Caffrey Motors in Terenure, Dublin 6W, to take a closer look at the Suzuki e VITARA, discuss finance and trade-in options, and see whether electric motoring suits the way you actually drive.