Guide: Charging your electric car at home

Being able to fill up on fuel when it's cheapest, but still never having to visit the gas station. It sounds like a dream! But the fact is that it's everyday life for those who drive an electric car and have access to a charging box at home. Here we've put together a guide to how to charge correctly and easily!

What exactly is a charging box?

A charging station is a device used to charge electric cars and plug-in hybrids in a safe and efficient way. The technology consists of three main parts:

• Charging box: Contains electronics and control systems that regulate the flow of current.

• Fixed cable: Connects the charging box to the electrical outlet.

• Detachable cable: Transfers power from the charging box to the car.

How to charge smartly and safely

Avoid: Charging an electric car or plug-in hybrid in a regular electrical outlet (schuko) is not recommended, as it can cause overheating, fire risk and electrical safety problems. The outlet is not designed for long-term high load and lacks the security and communication that a charging box offers, which can affect both the charging efficiency and the health of the battery.

Do: Use a charging box! A charging box is specially designed to handle high power for a long time and is therefore a safer and also significantly faster way to charge. The Schuko socket normally delivers 10A at 230V, which gives a maximum power of 2.3 kW compared to 11 kW from a charging box. In plain English: it is up to five times faster to charge the car.

Tip! For those who live in a villa or townhouse, a charging box is a wise investment as you can apply for a grant from the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency called "Charge the car" which covers up to half the cost.

Install a charging box at home – expert tips

We had a chat with Magnus Lagerbielke from Infra Charger , total suppliers of charging boxes and equipment, as well as one of Kvdbil 's partners .

“Installation on the facade is easiest,” says Magnus. Digging for a pole costs more, and the charging box should be placed easily for charging. Modern boxes are also weatherproof.

If the property has multiple electrical outlets, the box should be connected to the one closest to the location where the car will be charged.

“If the electrical center is small, for example in a garage, the incoming cable must be sufficient. Otherwise, the charging speed may need to be reduced or a thicker cable may need to be run to the primary electrical center,” he continues.

Which charging box should I buy?

There are a large number of models of charging boxes on the market. In addition to different brands, there are also boxes with one or two outlets, and models with different maximum capacities. However, the majority of today's electric cars cannot receive more than 11 kW of power when charging at home.

– Most charging boxes can handle 22 kW, but that doesn't mean you'll always get that much power. It requires thick cables and at least a 32A main fuse, which results in higher costs for the electricity company. Ordinary houses usually have a 20A main fuse, which is enough for current electricity consumption, says Magnus.

Consider this: To avoid the main fuse tripping, a load balancer is needed. It measures the household's electricity consumption and dynamically adjusts the charging current to adapt the electric car charging to the available power in the electricity grid.

How much does it cost to install a charging box?

– There are different options here. Installing a box with load balancing costs around SEK 7-8,000 including tax reduction. We also offer charging box rental at a low monthly cost, explains Magnus.

From ordering to installation, you can expect about two weeks. Always make sure that the installer is approved by the Swedish Electrical Safety Authority. Otherwise, no permits are required to install a charging box.