Everything about charging

Interesting facts about charging electric and hybrid vehicles

Charging in private: What can I do and what can’t I do?

The right to a wallbox is not reserved only for public and commercial operators. Since the legislative amendment in December 2020 and in February 2021, the development of private charging stations has been expedited and promoted. As a result it is noticeably easier for private individuals to install a wallbox and to charge electric and hybrid vehicles at home. This doesn’t even require owning or letting a house or a flat – renters can also have a wallbox installed at their own expense. Of course, in consultation with their landlord.

Private charging Public charging Load management Charging types and plugs

For private charging

there are two options:

1. Charging with a charging station/wallbox

Of course, charging with a wallbox is the most efficient, most comfortable and fastest. As a private owner, you are responsible for the charging station and home connections – and for compliance with the technical connection requirements. If prohibited asymmetries arise, you can be held liable for them. This makes it all the more important to register the charging station or wallbox with the responsible network operator. Incidentally, an 11 kW wallbox only requires registration, while a 22 kW wallbox must be approved. The installation must be performed by an electrician, who configures, tests and commissions the electrical system.

2. Charging with a normal power socket

Of course, everyone has the option of charging their electric car or hybrid vehicle at a three-phase socket (red CEE plug, 400 V, max. 32 A) or at a household socket (safety plug, 230 V, 12 A). Apart from the fact that the charging times are significantly prolonged with the normal household socket, it is important to mention that the charging cable has certain communication and protective functions. The so-called cable with ICCB (in cable control box).

Charging at public charging stations:

How is it done? How much does it cost?

First, the good news: As before, there are still a few public charging stations where electric and hybrid vehicles can charge for free. These are primarily at super markets or hotels and restaurants for the duration of the stay. However, at most public charging stations charging is fee-based. There are certain payment systems and different tariff categories:

Public charging. The charging tariff categories.
Public charging is based on different payment systems and factors which influence the price – and often also occur in combination. For example:

  1. The charging time factor: Many providers calculate how long the vehicle is connected to the charging station. Here, however, not only the effective charging time is calculated, but often the entire time the car spends at the charging station. This is intended to prevent many vehicle owners from constantly blocking the charging point.
  2. The load quantity factor: In this case the number of kWh actually consumed for charging are calculated.
  3. The base fee factor: Additionally, a monthly base fee can be incurred which is independent of the charging time or quantity.
  4. The entry fee factor: Here a one-time amount is incurred at the beginning of a charging process.

Paying at public charging stations.
It should be fast and uncomplicated. Accordingly, the providers have come up with many ways to design the payment at e-charging stations to be as convenient as possible for consumers.

  1. Paying with a charging card: One of the most common payment methods is a personalised charging card with an RFID chip (radio frequency identification). Simply hold up the card to the charging station’s RFID reader and the charging process starts immediately. Here the billing is generally monthly. A personal charging card can be requested online from most providers.
  2. Paying via smartphone: Meanwhile there are more and more apps that make public charging even easier. The procedure itself is identical with the RFID card. The only difference is that users do not need a card, but can simply start with the app. In the app the user can always see how much charging occurred and when. And therefore has a complete overview of the costs.
  3. Paying with QR code: If you would like to operate without a contractual obligation, the charging process can also often by carried out by reading in a QR code. You must select the payment method via a specific web application (e.g. PayPal or credit card) and then charging can start. Billing is done directly.
  4. Paying with EC or credit card: At the moment this version is not yet very widely distributed. However, due to the new German Charging Station Act, this simple payment type will become mandatory for new charging stations that become operational from July 2023.
  5. No matter whether at a petrol station or in the city: Anyone who charges at public charging stations is usually on their way faster. Many offer “convenient charging” with 22 kW. As a result, an electric or hybrid vehicle can be charged within 3 hours. Additionally, there are also rapid charging stations, for example at motorway lay-bys. Here a vehicle can be charged within 30 minutes.

Load management

What is it actually?

Briefly stated: Multiple charging stations are often supplied via a single power connection. However, to prevent the connection from being overloaded, intelligent load management is required. Currently wallboxes that are equipped with load management are seen primarily in company or underground car parks. It is also possible, however, to install several wallboxes in a row of parking spaces in a private backyard. There are two types of load management:

  1. Static load management
    The easiest option for preventing a peak load. Here a calculation is made to determine how much electricity the charging stations can deliver without disrupting other power consumption (e.g. of a building). This output is “static” and does not change. It is distributed equally to all charging stations. The disadvantage: Particularly at night, when less electricity is consumed and therefore more charging current could be available, the charging capacity always remains limited.
  2. Dynamic load management
    Here the entire system reacts dynamically to how much electricity is available for charging at that moment. For this an additional meter is necessary so that the current building load can be determined at the wallbox. The charging capacity made available is adjusted dynamically again and again. The advantage is the complete utilisation of the electricity available. One disadvantage is the additional expenditure for the meter and the connection. Nevertheless, it is worthwhile over the long term if multiple vehicles can be charged efficiently at the same time.

Want to learn more?
This will take you to our wallboxes with load management

Which charging types and plugs

are available for electric and hybrid vehicles?

Actually not so many. There are plugs for AC charging and special plugs for the faster DC charging. AC (alternating current) is used for most wallboxes, and therefore the three-phase Type 2 plug is used. Anyone who wants AC and DC charging (alternating current/direct current) needs a CCS combination plug (combined charging system). Inductive charging, also called wireless charging, remains a dream for the future. Nevertheless, a few new e-car models are already equipped for this.

AC CHARGINGDC CHARGINGINDUCTIVE CHARGING
Normal charging3.7 kW
7.4 kW
11 kW
22 kW		3.7 kW
7.4 kW
11 kW
22 kW		3.7 kW
7.4 kW
11 kW
22 kW
Rapid charging43 kW50 kW
High-performance charging150 kW
400 kW
Typ 2

or minimum standard after the German Charging Station Act		Combo 2 CCS

or minimum standard after the German Charging Station Act		Primary, secondary coil

Wireless charging
AC CHARGING
Normal charging3.7 kW
7.4 kW
11 kW
22 kW
Rapid charging43 kW
High-performance charging
Typ 2

or minimum standard after the German Charging Station Act
DC CHARGING
Normal charging3.7 kW
7.4 kW
11 kW
22 kW
Rapid charging50 kW
High-performance charging150 kW
400 kW
Combo 2 CCS

or minimum standard after the German Charging Station Act
INDUCTIVE CHARGING
Normal charging3.7 kW
7.4 kW
11 kW
22 kW
Rapid charging
High-performance charging
Primary, secondary coil

Wireless charging

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