Wallbox as a charging station for electric cars: Why it’s worth it and what you should pay attention to

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EElectric cars drive locally emission-free and fill up with electricity from the socket. But: those who refresh the battery at the household socket have to be patient. The charging process often takes hours and is therefore recommended overnight.

A wallbox can therefore be a good alternative. Nine questions and answers.

1. Who is a wallbox suitable for?

Wallboxes make sense for owners of plug-in hybrid vehicles and e-cars who have a garage or private parking space with a power connection.

“With a wallbox, an e-car owner increases operating comfort. He gets into a fully charged car every morning, ”says Christian Förster, e-mobility expert at Tüv Nord.

2. What are the advantages of a wallbox?

Wallboxes accelerate the charging process enormously. For comparison: with, for example, 2.7 kilowatt hours (kWh) and a regulated 10 amps, it takes more than ten hours to fill a 30 kWh battery.

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“They are specially designed for high continuous currents,” says Matthias Vogt about the wall boxes. Vogt is an expert in charging infrastructure at the ADAC technology center in Landsberg am Lech. In addition to the vehicle, modern systems also communicate with the network operator. For example, it should be possible to avoid charging load peaks if there is a threat of overloading the power grid.

In addition, charging via a wallbox is safer than using a household socket, according to Tüv.

3. Why can charging from a socket be dangerous?

The long charging time puts a permanent load on the domestic power grid. “A high current flows for a long time through an electrical system that is not designed for this,” explains Oliver Fuchs, owner of an e-mobility specialist company in Siegburg near Bonn. Overloading could lead to a short circuit or even a fire.

4. What power should a wallbox have?

Experts recommend an 11 kW system that can charge the battery with three phases. “Wallboxes with 11 kilowatts of charging capacity charge most batteries completely overnight,” says Fuchs. And 3 kW is usually enough to top up the daily electricity requirements of an e-car overnight.

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Customers can also opt for 22 kW boxes, but they are more expensive and the battery wears out faster due to the higher charging speed. Wallboxes with 3.6 kW are also available.

5. Does every wallbox fit every e-car?

Basically yes. Prospective buyers should, however, pay attention to which on-board charger is available in the car. “Depending on the vehicle, the battery only charges over one phase,” says TÜV expert Förster – which extends the charging process. More modern e-cars therefore integrate two- or three-phase on-board chargers.

The plug types are now unproblematic, the clutter has largely been resolved: In Europe, wallboxes are equipped with a type 2 plug as standard, also known as Mennekes plugs.

6. What does a wallbox cost?

Around 400 euros have to be invested for simple devices, but you can also spend up to around 2500 euros. Added to this are the costs for installation by a specialist electrical company: if you only have the charging station connected to an existing three-phase connection, you have to add a few hundred euros.

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“Complex purchase decision”

If a house connection has to be completely re-laid, several thousand euros can come together for the installation alone. However, charging points can be subsidized by the state with 900 euros each.

7. What should you watch out for when buying a wallbox?

Before buying, interested parties should clarify how much charging power the wallbox should have, where it will be installed and whether installation is even possible. The choice of the right wallbox depends on the individual case and the wishes, so some models can be controlled via smartphone app.

Charging points up to 11 kW only require registration and not approval, says Matthias Vogt – which reduces the bureaucratic effort.

8. Where should a wallbox be installed?

Preferably in the garage or the carport. If it is installed outside, the wallbox should be protected from wind and weather and not be exposed to direct sunlight. “Under certain circumstances, this can reduce the charging capacity in very hot weather,” explains ADAC technician Vogt.

Also important: With the charging cable of the box you should be able to easily reach the charging socket on the car. And you should plan for time: according to engineer Fuchs, preparation and installation can take several months.

9. Can everyone simply install a wallbox?

Private individuals and companies can have a wallbox installed on their own property. In the case of joint ownership, the consent of the other co-owners is required.

According to the Residential Property Act (WEG), owners of a residential complex can demand that they build a charging station for their electric vehicles, even against the will of the co-owners (Section 20, Paragraph 2 of the WEG). Tenants can also have a charging station installed with the landlord’s consent.

Electric charging station for the home

Small charging stations for e-cars can be installed inconspicuously in the carport or garage

Source: dpa-tmn / Andrea Warnecke

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