When choosing a home EV charger, one of the most important questions is: what power rating should I choose? The answer depends on the type of car you are charging, how long you want to charge it, and the capacity of your home electrical system.
Basic models:
- 3.7 kW charger: A simple and cheap solution, but slow – it charges an average 60 kWh battery in up to 15-17 hours.
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7.4 kW charger: Can be installed on a single-phase network, with a typical charging time of 6-9 hours. This is one of the most popular home solutions. -
11 kW charger: Requires a three-phase system. Ideal for smaller fleets and faster overnight charging. -
22 kW charger: The highest power, but it only makes sense if the car can take advantage of it and the network can handle it.
Important considerations:
- Your car's internal charger may limit the charging power. For example, it's useless to have a 22 kW charger if your car charges at a maximum of 11 kW.
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The load capacity of your network is also crucial - sometimes you need permission from your service provider for a more powerful charger.
Tip: It's worth choosing a charger that can be scaled or upgraded later to fit your future cars.
