Wallbox and charging an EV at home

In short: A wallbox is a fixed charging station for an electric car on a wall or post. It charges much faster and safer than a normal household socket.

In more detail: The car has its own charger. The wallbox supplies alternating current (AC) with protective devices and communicates with the car. 11 kW is typical, 22 kW is also allowed.

In Depth

• Power: 11 kW charges about 50 to 70 km of range per hour. Overnight that is enough for almost any daily use. A Schuko socket continuously delivers only about 2.3 kW and is critical under sustained load.
• Registration: Wallboxes up to 11 kW must be registered with the grid operator, above 11 kW you need approval. Only a qualified electrician may install it.
• Protection: Own circuit, residual-current device (type B, or type A with DC detection), cable cross-section matching the power. The house connection must carry the additional load.
• Smart charging: Load management throttles charging when a lot of other power is running. With PV, surplus can be charged. Dynamic tariffs allow cheap charging at times of low price.
• Controllable consumption device: Under § 14a EnWG grid operators may throttle temporarily; reduced grid fees apply in return.
• Tenants and condominium owners: Since 2020 there is a right to consent to installing a charging station. Costs are normally borne by whoever has it installed.
• Subsidies: Grants existed at times but no longer run permanently. Check current programmes of federal, state and municipal governments.
• Billing at work: For company cars a calibration-law-compliant meter is important.

See also: photovoltaics, smart meter and dynamic tariff