Why a wallbox?
Household sockets are not suitable for charging e-cars because they are not designed for long charging under heavy loads. There is a risk of overheating and even fire. The safe alternative is a wallbox, a charging station usually mounted on the wall. It enables the vehicle to be charged quickly and safely.
Safety first
Wallbox installations must guarantee a minimum of safety for charging. Make sure the charging station has a circuit breaker, which prevents overloading of the charging cable and an integrated RCD, which protects against fault currents. These minimum requirements should be standard for products approved in Europe. If your wallbox is installed outdoors, make sure it is weatherproof.
Basics
A permanently attached charging cable increases convenience. Equipment that is not required should be avoided. Competent customer service should be available in the event of a malfunction. And not to forget: in addition to the costs of a wallbox, there are also installation and connection costs.
Optimal performance
Wallbox and e-car must match. The on-board charger integrated in the e-car is decisive. Depending on the manufacturer and model, the on-board chargers are either single-phase, two- or even three-phase. Although a three-phase wall box is no advantage if the car can only accommodate single-phase current due to the on-board charger, it might be a suitable choice. It costs only slightly more and is sustainable, should the next electric car use multiple power phases. The type 2 plug has been the standard in Europe for a number of years.
Plug and charge
In addition to the uncontrolled wallbox, which easily and safely provides the necessary charging power, there are some that can be controlled via the Internet, Bluetooth or WLAN and enable an extended range of functions.
Intelligent box
These intelligent wallboxes usually have an integrated electricity meter, which means that charging statistics are available. The amperage can also be changed, the charging times programmed and shifted to favorable tariff times. Load management optimizes the power supply when several vehicles are charging on the same infrastructure.
Investment
The prices of wallboxes range from around 500 to around 2000 €, without installation. The differences are considerable and the choice is not always easy. But the numerous tests carried out by automobile associations and consumer organizations will help you to find the right wallbox.
