Choosing the right home charging station

Installing a home charging station is an essential step for any electric car owner wishing to optimize the charging of their vehicle. Unlike a conventional domestic socket, it significantly reduces charging time, ensures the safety of the entire installation and optimizes energy management within the home.

Choosing a home charging station is not just a question of price. It is essential to take into account several technical and practical criteria, including charging power, compatibility with the electrical installation and available features. This guide details the elements to consider before purchasing your equipment, the different models available on the market, safety standards and the overall cost of installation in France.

Choosing a domestic terminal with the right power

Before purchasing your electric charging station, it is essential to assess the characteristics of the electrical installation and the compatibility with the vehicle. Thanks to this information, it will then be possible to estimate the maximum charging power that can be delivered.

Domestic terminals available on the market generally offer three power levels: 7.4 kW, 11 kW and 22 kW.

Modern vehicles mainly have an on-board charger with an alternating current (AC) charging power of 7.4 kW and 11 kW. There are some recent models equipped with a 22 kW on-board charger, but this is still relatively rare.

It is estimated that a 7 kW terminal can recover on average up to 250 km of autonomy per night, which covers most of the needs of individuals.

Here are the comparative tables of the powers delivered according to the type of electrical installation and the vehicle's on-board charger:

→ Installation on a single-phase electrical network

The single-phase network can support both single-phase and three-phase models, offering a wide choice of products with varied functionalities. However, the 22 kW terminals will be limited to a charging power of 7.4 kW, the maximum power delivered by a single-phase electrical network.

A minimum 9 kVA subscription is recommended to obtain sufficient charging power, without the risk of tripping the electrical panel when you use other devices simultaneously.

→ Installation on a three-phase electrical network

To take full advantage of a three-phase electrical installation and charge faster, the terminal and the vehicle must also be three-phase.

Home charging needs

It is essential to identify your needs in order to choose suitable equipment. Among the main criteria to consider at home are charging control, monitoring energy consumption and dynamic energy management. Some users may also need to connect the terminal to a solar installation or install an access security system.

→ Charging control

Charging control allows you to adapt the charging power during off-peak hours, for example, or simply to avoid overloading the home's electrical network.

Connected terminals offer advanced control through a mobile application or integration into a smart home system (home automation). It is thus possible to program charging times, monitor energy consumption and adapt charging power according to needs.

→ Energy management

To save money on your energy bill, the terminal with dynamic energy management is the ideal solution. It will automatically adapt the charging power according to the remaining energy so as not to exceed the contract subscribed.

Owners wishing to optimize their energy consumption can opt for a solar terminal. This model is designed to work with a photovoltaic installation and allows the vehicle to be recharged using solar energy, thus reducing dependence on the electricity grid while saving money.

Another criterion to consider concerns the monitoring of recharge consumption. Some terminals allow you to record recharge sessions and automatically transmit the information to the employer for reimbursement of electricity costs related to the use of a professional vehicle.

Finally, Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology is beginning to develop on the market. It allows the terminal to return energy to the electrical network, thus transforming the car into a mobile battery.

→ Accessibility

There are terminals equipped with access control systems, operating by RFID card or via a mobile application. You can thus restrict use to authorized users only. This solution offers optimal security while preventing excessive electricity consumption, a particularly advantageous asset in co-ownership or on unfenced land.

Some terminals have some or all of these features!

Standards and quality of the domestic electrical terminal

It is sometimes difficult to make a choice among the multitude of existing products that are easily accessible on the internet or in stores. After selecting the terminals that correspond to your needs, it is also advisable to equip yourself with equipment that meets French and European standards for your safety.

A terminal that complies with French standards must be CE, NF and IEC 61851 certified.

• CE: Compliance with European regulations.
• NF: Guarantee of quality and safety for the French market.
• IEC 61851: Specific standard for charging electric vehicles.

To ensure reliable and durable equipment, it is recommended to choose a housing with a protection rating of at least IP54, especially for outdoor installation. It is also preferable to opt for a terminal that can be dismantled, repaired or equipped with telemetric sensors, in order to ensure that it remains in good working order over the long term.

There is no objectively better or worse brand of hardware, as it depends primarily on the models. However, it is advisable to favor products that are widely recognized by both users and industry experts to minimize maintenance costs and ensure long-term reliability.

Home charging station prices and installation costs

The purchase price depends on the power and features of the equipment. A 7 kW model usually costs between €400 and €1200, while those of 22 kW are offered between €700 and €1500.

Versions equipped with advanced features, such as connectivity or dynamic energy management, have higher prices than standard models.

The total cost is not limited to the purchase price. Installation represents an additional budget, varying between 500 and 2,500 euros depending on the complexity of the work.

However, financial assistance can help reduce the initial investment. A tax credit is available for individuals wishing to install a home charging solution. Certain local or regional subsidies may also be granted under certain conditions.

And while the overall cost may seem expensive, it can quickly be profitable thanks to the energy savings achieved with a dynamic energy management system or by using its solar energy production. This remains the cheapest charging method available for electric cars.

In summary, the choice of your charging station depends on several factors: your electrical installation, the type of vehicle, and the features you need.

For daily charging at home, a power of 7 kW is generally sufficient to recover the necessary autonomy during the night.

If charging time is important, energy savings are just as important. Investing in a controllable model is essential to benefit from the tax credit. In addition, opting for a terminal equipped with dynamic energy management or allowing consumption monitoring is a guarantee for a sustainable and future-oriented solution.