Rabbi confirms EVs can be charged on Shabbat

A growing number of Jewish families are choosing electric vehicles, according to the Jewish Climate Network (JCN), which is launching a push to encourage further take-up across the community.

Petrol price spikes and cost-of-living pressures are driving more electric vehicles onto the streets of Bondi, Bentleigh and beyond, according to the network, which says increasing EV ownership is central to its mission of accelerating the transition to a zero-emissions world.

The campaign has highlighted a question of particular interest to observant families: whether an EV can be charged over Shabbat.

St Kilda Shule’s Rabbi Yaakov Glasman said it could, provided the vehicle was plugged in beforehand.

“Halachah permits us to charge an EV on Shabbat, as long as it has been plugged in before the start of Shabbat. This enables us to take advantage of low electricity costs during the day. Or free if you have solar,” he said.

“While electricity recharges your car, Shabbat recharges your soul.”

JCN has identified a mix of community households willing to share their EV experiences, both the easy and the challenging, to encourage others to make their next car electric.

They include a Carnegie family with an adult child, whose car even has a “Shabbat setting”.

JCN chief executive Joel Lazar said EVs had become a practical choice for families.

“Just a few years ago, electric vehicles were out of reach for most families. Today, the market is flooded with affordable electric vehicles from most brands,” he said. “No longer is it the case that electric vehicles are just for the climate-conscious, they are a smart economic decision for Jewish families.”

Lazar said EVs were one of several efficient electric technologies, alongside heat pumps and induction cooktops, that could save households up to $4200 a year.

The campaign comes as EV sales reach record levels nationally.

According to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, 15,839 battery electric vehicles were sold in March, representing 14.6 per cent of total vehicle sales and the highest share of the Australian market to date.