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The wallbox is the filling station for your home. There are a few points to consider when purchasing . note
Who be E-car regularly charging at home, you should consider purchasing one Wallbox think. Even if there is currently no funding, installation does not have to be expensive. The advantages, however, are impressive.
Can't I just charge at the household socket?
In principle, this is entirely possible, provided that the house installation is reasonably modern and professionally done. The best thing to do is to let an electrician look at it. In the worst case, unsuitable cables and sockets can overheat and cause a fire. But a wallbox is not only advantageous in terms of security. It charges the e-car much faster than a household socket. While the latter pumps a maximum of 2,3 kilowatts per hour into the battery, the wallbox creates between 3,7 and 22 kilowatts, depending on the model and connection.
That multiplies the loading speed. In addition, the charging losses when refueling at the pits are often significantly lower than in other refueling modes. In the long run, the purchase will pay for itself.
What charging power do I need?
Wallboxes are available in different performance levels. The higher the kW value, the faster the battery is full. An output of 11 kW has established itself as the standard. Most house lines provide this, and at the same time no approval from the network operator is required. That's what you need if you want to put a 22 kW wallbox into operation. The effort and the additional costs are usually not worth it, if you have an e-car with a large battery, drive a lot and want to fill up overnight, you will be well served with such a faster model.
However, not all e-cars can do something with such high charging capacities. Even 11 kW does not charge every model. In such cases, an even weaker box may be an alternative. However, the price advantages are usually not great.
How quickly is the battery filled with the different charging capacities?
For the e-car bestseller Renault Zoe 40 with a 41 kWh battery (from 29.990 euros), the manufacturer states for a 100 percent charge: 25 hours on a 2,3 kW household socket, 15 hours on a 3,7 -kW wallbox, 4:30 hours on an 11 kW charging station and 2:40 hours on a 22 kW charging station. As a rule of thumb: For the duration of a full charge, you divide the net battery capacity of your vehicle by the available charging power.
Does the wallbox have to be permanently installed on the wall?
In addition to permanently installed boxes, there are also some mobile chargers such as Juice Booster, NRG Kick or the Go-e Charger. They are particularly interesting for e-car drivers with several places of residence or contact points. The boxes plus cables can be carried in the trunk and, thanks to various adapters, can be connected to almost any power source on site. Also of interest in areas with poor public infrastructure. Another application scenario: If you have only rented your parking space and want to do without the installation of a fixed box, you have similar advantages with a mobile device - but without drilling holes and trouble with the landlord
The charging power depends primarily on the local conditions; in principle, up to 22 kW are also possible here. In terms of price, the mobile boxes are in a similar range to fixed devices.
What does intelligent mean?
The wallbox funding that is currently no longer available was only available for intelligent devices. This makes sense, because these adapt performance and charging times to the network load at the location. Because they need an online interface, they are a few hundred euros more expensive than "normal" ones. For the same reason, installation is usually a bit more expensive. However, this is the only way to integrate it into a smart home network or to bill the electricity consumption in the company car (then make sure that the wallbox is in compliance with calibration law).
Do I need a DC wallbox?
Most boxes for private use work with alternating current (AC). As a rule, a charging power of more than 22 kW is not possible. And the vehicles cannot tolerate higher AC power either. The direct current wallbox (DC) bypasses the problem by charging the battery directly, bypassing the on-board charger. Usual outputs are around 50 kW, which closes the gap to public DC fast chargers. However, such devices cost several thousand euros, which means that buying them in the private sector is usually not worthwhile.
Possible exception: You need large amounts of power to travel regularly and quickly. Or the on-board charger of the e-car is so small that it can only fill up with 11 to 5 kW even on an 6 kW wallbox. The DC wallbox would then increase the charging speed almost tenfold.
Who will assemble the box for me?
The wallbox must be installed by a qualified specialist. He registers the wallbox with the network operator, and a separate circuit is required that has a residual current device (FI switch). An installer who specializes in electromobility checks the existing connections and, depending on the age of the building, the electrical system, provides a non-binding cost estimate and recommends suitable wall boxes.
Interested parties can find a specialist, for example, via the electrical guild at elektrohandwerk.de/fachbetriebssuche (check the box next to "E-mobility" in the filter). Alternatively, you can book an all-round service with advice, wallbox purchase, installation and electricity tariff through electricity providers. Charging solution providers such as themobilityhouse.de offer a comprehensive overview of various wallboxes for purchase and also provide installation services. The vehicle manufacturers also often offer help with the acquisition of suitable charging technology.
Should I use a wallbox with a fixed cable?
A charging cable (type 2) permanently connected to the wallbox should be the most sensible option for most users. Also because the vehicle's own cable for the public charging station stays in the trunk and cannot be forgotten. If you choose a wallbox without a permanently installed charging cable, you can also use adapters to refuel older models that require a type 1 plug. Most e-cars in Europe nowadays use the type 2 standard.
What does it cost me?
In terms of price, the offers differ considerably. The price difference often depends on the charging power; top models with 22 kW are usually more expensive than those with less charging power. There are also differences, especially in the design and equipment, such as cable length as well as convenience and additional functions of the operating system. Simple devices without “intelligence” are available at prices between 600 euros and 1.000 euros. The same applies with a small plus for mobile wallboxes.
Those who choose the 22 kW top models are more likely to be in the range of 1.000 to 1.500 euros. In addition, there may be installation costs. Cables and pipes are comparatively cheap, so that greater distances between the power supply and the garage are not a general problem. What costs a lot of money are working hours, earthworks and drilling, as well as any additional electrical equipment that may be required.
Can I also install a wallbox in an apartment building?
Since last year, tenants and owners have a legal right to private charging facilities in underground garages. You have to pay for the installation yourself.
