- Considerations for Purchase of a wall box
- The four test winners of wallboxes 2022
- That midfield is one thing above all: usually expensive, only a wall box is not
- Is there a sponsorship by the state?
- Tips for the purchase decision
Electric cars are on the rise. In the meantime, every fifth new registration in Germany is a Stromer. If you want to drive an electric car without any problems, you need one charging station at home. the ADAC tested 12. Two failed completely, with the others the price difference is particularly noticeable.
Considerations when buying a wall box
There were three criteria for the ADAC when selecting the wallbox models: Marketability, connectivity and mid-range price. The function and safety of the wall boxes were the focus of the test. Therefore, more than 400 charging processes had to be completed for each device. The ADAC uses one as a test vehicle Opel Ampera-e, a Renault Zoe, a Tesla Model Y, a VW e-up and a VW ID.3.
In addition to the function and safety, the equipment, the delivery/assembly and – if available – the app were included in the evaluation. Background for including the app in the test: Users expect more from a good wall box than reliable and secure charging. With the app, you can monitor and control the charging process from anywhere using your smartphone. However, this requires the Wallbox to be connected to the Internet.
If unauthorized persons can attack your e-car, you should protect the charging process with an authorization function. A wallbox without this function is then ruled out. Charging with 11 or 22 kilowatts? Wall boxes with a charging capacity of up to 11 kilowatts are sufficient in the private sector, but must be registered with the electricity network operator. Our tip: You should think twice about purchasing a wall box with 22 kilowatts. This wallbox is subject to approval. In addition, a wall box with an output of 22 kW only makes sense if the car can process this electricity. Only a few cars are currently available with onboard chargers of up to 22 kW, often only for an additional charge.
The four test winners of the Wallboxes 2022
The inexpensive wall box (610 euros) from go-e Charger HOMEfix is the best. In terms of price, only the wall box from ABB (Terra AC W11-G5-R-0) can keep up. The other two are more expensive.
go-e: Charger HOMEfix
- Rating: good (1.8)
- Price: approx. 570 euros
- Max. charging power: 11 kW
- Advantages: Cheap wallbox, very good app, user-friendly, AC and DC residual current protection
- Disadvantages: No pre-installed charging cable, high power consumption in stand-by mode
Wall box chargers: Commander 2 CMX2-0-2-3-8-002
- Rating: good (1.8)
- Price: approx. 1,100 euros
- Max. charging power: 11 kW
- Advantages: Very easy operation via touchscreen, compact design, very good and extensive app, good cable storage
- Disadvantages: Expensive, standby power consumption could be lower, data transmission performance
ABB: Terra AC W11-G5-R-0
- Rating: good (1.9)
- Price: approx. 595 euros
- Max. charging power: 11 kW
- Advantages: High security, very reliable functionality, integrated DC residual current protection, comprehensive app
- Disadvantages: Communicates only via Bluetooth with the mobile phone, instructions must be downloaded, configuration and handling requires two different apps
easeee: Home 10103
- Rating: good (1.9)
- Price: approx. 740 euros
- Max. charging power: 22 kW
- Advantages: Very intuitive and convenient app, charges even after a power failure, inexpensive, very good electrical safety with residual current protection, low stand-by power consumption
- Disadvantages: No charging cable included, charging indicator very narrow and therefore difficult to read, no app, cumbersome commissioning
*cheapest online price at idealo, price review on 01/05/2023
The midfield is one thing above all: mostly expensive, only a wall box is not
Places 5 to 10: The midfield includes six providers. It is characterized by a relatively high price (between 700 and 1,000 euros). The only cheaper exception is the Wallbox from Heidelberg (approx. 400 euros), who is actually a printing press manufacturer.
ABL: eMH2 2W2231 extender
- Rating: good (2.0)
- Price: approx. 1,010 euros
- Max. charging power: 22 kW
- Advantages: Very good electrical safety with residual current protection, low stand-by power consumption
- Disadvantages: No app, cumbersome commissioning
E.ON Innogy: eBox Smart
- Rating: good (2.0)
- Price: approx. 908 euros
- Max. charging power: 22 kW
- Advantages: Impeccable security, function, equipment, data security
- Disadvantages: bad authorization, charging cable not lockable
LRT: EMOBILITY Home Essential Plus AC09C
- Rating: good (2.0)
- Price: around 700 euros
- Max. charging power: 11 kW
- Advantages: Operation very simple and uncomplicated, safe and reliable charging function
- Disadvantages: No authorization protection, very basic equipment, lack of connectivity
Heidelberg: Wallbox Energy Control
- Grade: good (2.2)
- Price: around 400 euros
- Max. charging power: 11 kW
- Advantages: security, function
- Disadvantages: Economical equipment
KEBA: KeContact P30 x series 98101
- Rating: good (2.3)
- Price: around 900 euros
- Max. charging power: 22 kW
- Advantages: Secure functionality
- Disadvantages: Lack of authorization option, no fixed charging cable
Mennekes: AMTRON Charge Control 11 C2
- Rating: good (2.4)
- Price: around 980 euros
- Max. charging power: 11 kW
- Advantages: Charging cable, safe and reliable charging
- Disadvantages: Hard to read energy meter without an app
There were two losers in the test because they failed the security check:
elves: Eve Single S line 90446058
- Rating: poor (5.0)
- Price: around 620 euros
- Max. charging power: 11 kW
- Failed the security check
PC Electric: Callbox GLB 353419P + WiFi module
- Rating: poor (5.0)
- Price: approx. 993 euros
- Max. charging power: 22 kW
- Failed the security check
The criteria for the evaluation are: Scope of delivery and assembly (10 percent), security (30 percent), function (30 percent), equipment (20 percent), app (if available, 10 percent) and data behavior and security (no weighting).
Is there any government funding?
The large KfW funding program has expired. The chance of it happening again is very small. State programs only exist in North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Württemberg.
But there is Funding programs from municipal utilities and municipalities: In some municipalities, electricity customers have the option of receiving subsidies. The logic behind this: If you own a car with a battery, you will in all likelihood buy more electricity – and will therefore become a better customer in the future. Basically, these grants are nothing more than part of a customer loyalty program. The list is by no means complete.
- Stadtwerke Dachau
- Funding 125 euros
- When purchasing the Wallbox from Stadtwerke Dachau, a credit of 25 euros over 5 years on the electricity bill
- City of Dusseldorf
- max. 50 percent of the total costs
- Funding is granted to anyone who owns an e-car and, among other things, a photovoltaic system or purchases green electricity
- City of Munich
- max. 40 percent of the net acquisition costs
- Installation up to 500 euros/charging point
- Normal and fast charging stations, planning, assembly and installation
- City of Stuttgart
- max. 1,000 euros/new charging point, max. 5,000 euros/new mains connection
- upstream infrastructure for at least two charging points, e.g. in a row of garages or similar
Tips for the purchase decision
Is the wallbox plug compatible with your electric car? The charging cables are often permanently integrated into the wall box and this is basically very practical. You don’t have to constantly fetch your charging cable from the trunk and you don’t run the risk of forgetting the cable in the garage. In Europe, the IEC 62196 standard has prevailed and the charging stations with a Type 2 connectoralso known as the Mennekes connector. Select suitable cable length: In addition to the connector type, pay attention to the cable length. If, for example, a second electric car is added to a double garage, a cable that is too short quickly causes frustration, although the cable should not be excessively long, otherwise it will be very heavy and unwieldy.
Charging capacity of the wall box: Two factors play a role in the charging capacity of the home charging station: The charging capacity of the electric car should match the charging capacity of the wall box. And secondly: If your car only charges with 4.6 kW, the high charging power of a 22 or 11 kilowatt wall box is of no use to you: the battery still only charges with 4.6 kW. Correct cable available: Does the home charging station match the electrical cable that has been laid? This question mainly affects the 22-kilowatt wall boxes. There are rarely any problems with an 11-kilowatt wallbox.
Does the Wall Connector have an RCD? The home charging station must have an integrated residual current circuit breaker. The FI switch is mandatory for the installation of the wall box. Since 2019 there is also one Declaration of Conformity required to register the Wallbox.
Conclusion
The market for wall boxes is on the move. Where more and more electric cars are driving, more chargers are needed. The larger quantity enables a lower price. Nobody needs to hope for nationwide funding anymore, those days are over. Despite the lack of appointments with the electrical trades, you should not get the idea to lend a hand yourself, because high currents are involved here. It is advisable to use the test winners as a guide.
