Charging an electric car: These are the requirements at home and on the road

Can you charge e-cars at the socket?

In principle, this is possible. However, charging at a standard household Schuko socket should be an emergency solution. The reason: earthed sockets are designed for domestic use and similar applications and can only be loaded for limited periods of time with the maximum rated current of 16 amps.

When charging electric vehicles for several hours, increased resistance in the circuit can occur due to aging processes of the contacts, at terminal points in the supply line or due to improper installation. This can lead to excessive heating and fire. To reduce the risk, the charging current should be limited to 10 amps or less.

In addition to the longer charging time, slow charging also has the disadvantage of higher charging losses. This alone can make the installation of a special charging station for electric cars, the so-called wallbox, pay off over time.

Do you need a wallbox at home?

A wallbox at home has many advantages. Not only because it offers maximum safety, but because the car charges when you are at home anyway. It doesn't get any more convenient than that. In addition, the contractually guaranteed electricity at home is cheaper than at a public charging station, and there are only half as many charging losses as at the normal Schuko socket. Last but not least, you can think about using self-generated solar power – at your own house.

Important: Wallbox installations must always have suitable protective devices against direct and alternating current faults that prevent people from receiving an electric shock, for example if a line is defective or a contact has become damp.

In addition to safety, wallboxes have the great advantage that they offer maximum ease of use thanks to a permanently installed charging cable and can operate with higher charging capacities. Instead of 2.3 kW – as with the household socket – even up to 22 kW are possible. As a rule, however, 11 kW is completely sufficient and easier to achieve at home.

Can you install a wallbox yourself?

No, this must always be done by a specialist company. The electrician is then also liable for the professional installation and registers the charging device with the grid operator. However, in consultation with the electrician, it is possible to carry out some non-electrical work such as wall openings, cable ducts, earthworks or paving work yourself.

What are the differences between wallboxes?

Wallboxes, regardless of type, are connected to a separately fused supply line for the house installation. The differences for customers are the charging capacity, ease of use, equipment and connectivity of the respective wallbox. When it comes to safety equipment, you should make sure that at least one protective device against DC faults is integrated.

There are wallboxes for single-phase or three-phase connection. A current of max. 20 A is allowed in single-phase, which corresponds to a charging power of 4.6 kW. Three-phase Versions have 11 kW (3x16 A) or up to 22 kW (3x32 A). Wallboxes for bidirectional charging are still in their infancy, so to speak, but should be available in the foreseeable future.

A charging facility must always be registered with the grid operator, only wallboxes with more than 11 kW charging power aresubject to approval. The ADAC has been conducting tests of a wide variety of wallboxes since 2018.

How much does a wallbox cost? Are there subsidies?

The price range ranges from about 200 to about 2000 euros (without installation). What makes it difficult to choose the right model: There are sometimes big differences, even among models at the same price level. The common features are access protection, display, electricity meter, interfaces and protocols as well as a smartphone app. The advantages and disadvantages in detail can only be revealed by special examinations. The ADAC has therefore tested various wallboxes.

A good compromise – and therefore the ADAC recommendation – is an 11 kW wallbox. It can charge single-phase, two-phase and three-phase and is usually sufficient for overnight charging, even with larger batteries. Especially since the battery is almost never completely empty. KfW funding has been discontinued. However, various federal states, municipalities and electricity providers offer subsidy programs. Here you will find a list of the current subsidies for wallboxes.

Can you charge vehicles with electricity from your own PV system?

Charging an electric car with electricity from your own photovoltaic (PV) system is the cleanest and usually cheapest way to charge it. Ideally, the PV surplus is loaded into the e-car. However, depending on the size and orientation of the system, fluctuations or the time of day, this is often not possible. In these phases, electricity from the grid serves as a sensible balance.

Charging in the rental/underground car park

As a tenant or parking space holder, can I install a charging facility in an owners' association?

According to the Condominium Act, apartment owners and tenants have a fundamental right to a charging facility for an electric car. However, there are some challenges to overcome during installation. For example, many house connections are not designed for the increased demand for electricity from electric cars. However, there are technical solutions in the form of load management. A preliminary check by an electrician is always advisable.

Here you will find a step-by-step guide to installing a wallbox for tenants and apartment owners.

Are there complete offers for wallboxes in the underground car park?

The range of wallboxes is diverse. Vehicle manufacturers often offer charging stations through cooperation partners and also regional energy supply companies, usually including installation. Alternatively, you should also inquire at local electrical installation companies. ADAC experts recommend that everything be obtained from a single source if possible so that the relevant requirements and specifications are complied with and responsibilities are clearly regulated in the event of problems.

Charging at a public charging station

How do I find the nearest public charging station?

On ADAC Maps, you can display charging stations along your route. Ideally, the charging locations are also integrated into the navigation systems of the electric cars. Electricity providers for electric car drivers also offer smartphone apps that can be used to quickly and easily find all charging stations. For searches, it usually makes sense to filter the charging stations according to the charging power available at the station (22 to 350 kW) depending on demand.

What charging cards are there and how much do they cost?

There are charging cards from energy companies and electromobility providers. They make it possible to recharge and bill electricitywith a charging card at stations of different operators via so-called roaming offers.

The operators of the charging stations set the price according to the kilowatt hours charged, the duration of the charging process or a combination of kWh and time. Roaming and/or start-up fees may also apply.

Which plug do you need at the public column?

There are two different types of charging methods and therefore charging stations: those with alternating voltage (AC) and those with direct voltage (DC). The latter are fast-charging stations, for which there are two types of plugs: CCS as the European standard and occasionally the Japanese CHAdeMO plug, which can still be found in older electric cars. Charging capacities of up to 350 kW are already possible at DC charging stations. A maximum charging power of 22 kW is provided at AC charging stations.

AC charging stations have the standardised "Type 2" plug. Public alternating current (AC) charging stations usually do not have a cable, so you have to have your own cable with you. For older vehicles with a "Type 1" charging socket on the vehicle, there are adapter charging cables that have a "Type 1" plug on the vehicle side and a "Type 2" plug on the charging station side. At direct current (DC) charging stations, the cables are always firmly attached.

How do I pay at charging stations?

Payment is usually made via a charging card or a smartphone app. With it, the station recognizes the card provider and then transmits the cost of the charge to the charging card provider, who bills you. In addition, charging stations in Germany must allow payment without a charging contract, called "ad-hoc charging" or "selective charging". This is usually done via a QR code and a mobile website where you have to enter the payment data (credit card).

Since April 2024, payments by debit or credit card must be accepted at new public charging stations, i.e. they must be equipped with card terminals. Older charging stations are to be retrofitted by 2027.

How many public charging stations are there?

Charging stations are registered centrally for Germany. The Federal Network Agency's charging station register contains 93,261 normal charging points and 22,047 fast charging points that were in operation on 1 November 2023. In total, this amounts to 115,308 charging points, where a total of 3.98 GW of charging capacity can be provided at the same time.

How many public charging stations are needed?

Estimates differ. The German government's goal is to have a nationwide and user-friendly charging network of one million publicly accessible charging points by 2030.

According to the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW), between 100,000 and 250,000 public charging points would be sufficient for 2030. In its calculations, the National Platform Future of Mobility comes to a range of 107,000 to 631,000 charging points. And the "National Centre for Charging Infrastructure" refers to a study by the Federal Ministry of Transport, which states that, depending on developments in the target year 2030, between 440,000 and 843,000 publicly accessible charging points will be needed.

Are public charging stations barrier-free?

Many charging stations are accessible to people with limited mobility – but some of them can only be reached via detours. For example, it may happen that a wheelchair user has to drive on the road to the next lowering of the curb and then have to go back to the charging station on the sidewalk.

Barrier-free accessibility and usability means that wheelchair users can easily access both frontally and sideways. There must therefore be no steps, ground slopes must not exceed maximum values, and floor coverings must be safe and slip-free to walk on and drive on. In addition, the devices must be easy to operate while sitting.

Can I get a ticket while parking at the charging station?

This depends on the signage at the respective charging station. You may park there for as long as indicated. If the additional sign "car plus plug" (1010-66) is attached, only cars with an E-license plate are allowed to park. The most important basic rule: A charging station should only be used for charging and should be released quickly after the end of the charging process. Parking without charging is unfair to other e-mobilists.

Charging abroad

How good is the charging network in countries bordering Germany?

Good planning is still necessary. Northern Europe and the Netherlands are very well developed, Austria and Switzerland at German level. The further south and east you go, the more difficult it becomes. Even if there are charging stations along the route, this does not mean that they are free, that the activation works smoothly and that the stations are actually functional. Before traveling abroad, you should find out about the country-specific charging infrastructure.

What means of payment are accepted abroad?

When it comes to payment options, e-car travelers should be flexible. Each country has its own charging station operators and payment services. And it is not possible to pay by EC card, credit card, smartphone or cash everywhere. You should find out about the details beforehand. However, there are various providers with roaming agreements. Payment is also possible with the ADAC eCharge charging card in many European countries.