Electric vehicles are 100% electric and have a battery that supplies power to the drivetrain. They can be charged at home with a wallbox or on the road at public charging stations. Plug-in hybrid vehicles are a mix of combustion engine & electric car. The electric drive is usually fed by a rather small battery and mainly acts as a support for the combustion engine. In a 100% electric drive, the energy is often only enough for a low double-digit kilometer distance. The battery can also be charged using a wallbox or public stations. Hybrid vehicles function similarly to plug-in hybrids, but can only be charged by the vehicle itself, e.g. through braking (recuperation).

Currently, an electric car must still be connected to a charging station or wallbox by plug as standard. In the future, there may be wireless charging, similar to smartphones. There are 4 different charging modes: Mode 1, 2, 3 and 4. Mode 1 is obsolete and can be ignored. Mode 2 describes the charging process with a mobile charging station via a standard household Schuko plug or a CEE plug. Mode 3 describes charging at a charging station or wallbox that is permanently installed, e.g. at home or in a public area. Mode 4 describes charging with direct current, which only occurs at public fast charging stations.

You can charge your electric car anywhere where electricity is available. At home, you can charge most comfortably with a wallbox. On the road, you have to rely on public charging stations, whose places are often located at supermarkets, rest areas or in the middle of the city. Such charging stations are often fast-charging stations, some of which can charge at up to 350kW.

You can find out everything about charging and plug types in our separate guide.

Basically, there is no need to worry. Public charging stations and wallboxes have integrated safety mechanisms that make charging completely risk-free. However, wallboxes must be installed by a specialist electrical company so that safety can be guaranteed. If you want to charge your electric car with an earthed cable, you should be careful, as standard household sockets are not designed for permanently high charging power. We recommend products such as the Juice Booster or NRGkick, which have temperature monitoring so that charging at home (and on the road) is safe even without a wallbox.

The usually audible locking of the charging plug only takes place with type 1 & 2 plugs. Mobile charging stations do not have such a feature on the mains side, as Schuko and CEE plugs can theoretically be pulled out of the socket during charging.

You start the charging process with a wallbox or with public charging stations simply by plugging in the charging plug. The charging process may have to be enabled beforehand with an RFID card or an app. After the car has locked the plug, the charging process is initialized to check the security and release the process. Terminating the charging process often works with an app or a switch on the wallbox or plug, after which the plug is unlocked again.

The charging power depends on the wallbox, the charging station, the electric car and the charging mode. An introduction to the functionality of an electric car and the charging systems as well as the different charging modes can be found in our separate guide.

It is not possible to say in general how long a charging process will take. It depends on the charging power of the charging station and the car itself. An overview of the latest electric cars and their charging characteristics will soon appear in our guide!

The best way to charge on the road is to use public charging stations. To be able to use them, you usually only need a charging cable. But often even that is already available. As a rule, such a charging station must then be unlocked before it can be used. This is usually done with an RFID card from your charging provider. Alternatively, there is often a tariff that you can select at the charging station, but it is often more expensive. Sometimes a credit card is also sufficient for payment.

The best way to charge on the road is at public charging stations. To use them, you usually only need a charging cable. Often, however, even that is already available. As a rule, such a charging station must then be unlocked before use. This is usually done with an RFID card from your charging provider. Alternatively, there is often a tariff, which you can select at the charging station, but which is then also more expensive. Sometimes a credit card is also sufficient for payment.

At most charging stations, the charging process must first be activated - via RFID card, provider app or credit card. Now plug the charging cable into the car and connect it to the charging station. Now start the charging process at the charging station. However, you are often guided through the process step by step at the charging station anyway.

In the EU, the following plug types/charging modes are common: Type 2/Mode 3, CCS Type 2/Mode 4. For DC charging, there are also CHAdeMO plugs, which are used for some cars from Asian manufacturers.

It is now mandatory that charging stations comply with calibration laws, i.e. they must display exactly how much a kilowatt hour costs. However, it is not possible to make a general statement about the costs, as the different charging station providers charge different prices. However, if you do not have a contract with such a provider, it is usually more expensive.

Anyone who wants to charge their electric car may use public charging stations. However, please note that Tesla's Superchargers, for example, can only be used for Tesla models. In addition, charging stations must be activated before the charging process, so it's best to find out in advance which electricity providers offer which activation options (RFID, app).

Public charging stations that work with alternating current often require a Type 2 cable that you bring yourself in order to charge with Mode 3. Fast charging stations charge with direct current (mode 4) and for safety reasons already have a cable integrated, which you only have to plug into your electric car.

You can charge with the type 1 plug without any problems, it is best to always have a cable with you to adapt from type 2 to type 1. You can only charge at charging stations with a fixed type 2 cable.

You need a type 1 to type 2 cable, which you connect between the car and the charging station. Adaptation is not allowed at charging stations with a fixed type 2 cable.

For AC charging (Mode 2 or 3), the following calculation counts: duration = battery capacity in kWh / charging power in kW. With direct current charging (mode 4), the duration is not quite so easy to calculate. Depending on the electric car, parameters such as the battery temperature or the charging status are constantly included and thus influence the charging curve. This charging curve over the battery status results in an integral, which gives the charging duration. We are currently working on a detailed overview, which you will soon find in our guide. It will contain all charging information about the latest electric models.

The car and the charging station permanently exchange information to ensure safe charging. In AC charging, this usually works with the help of a resistor network. This determines that the plug is locked and that the current limit is not exceeded. For charging stations with direct current, much more information is needed. Therefore, a digital communication protocol is maintained, which is described for the CCS used in Europe. The ISO15118 standard makes direct current charging possible in the first place.

CCS is now a widespread charging standard, is based on internationally recognized standards and enables AC and DC charging in just one plug. The CCS port integrates the Type 2 connector, which can be used to charge up to 22W of three-phase alternating current. The American Type 1 variant charges single-phase and also with alternating current.

ChAdeMO is the Japanese charging standard for direct current charging. So this is also not based on international standards, but mainly on Japanese ones. Unlike CCS, CHAdeMO can only charge DC, so an additional plug is needed for AC charging. CHAdeMO is partially available in Europe, but will probably become a thing of the past at some point.

One pin is the protective conductor PE, then there is the neutral conductor N and the three outer conductors L1, L2 and L3. These are responsible for the transmission of three-phase alternating current. The two large pins are for the transmission of strong DC current in mode 4. CP is the pin for the analog communication mechanism. PP is the pin that ensures that the cable is connected to the car and the charging station before charging starts.

The CCS standard combines some norms that serve to create unity between car manufacturers and equipment providers internationally. The standards specify the hardware to be used (IEC 62196) of technical functions for charging topology, communication (ISO 15118) of systems and data and operation security (IEC 61851).

A load management distributes and controls the power of different consumers and prevents overload. Especially in places with limited grid connection, but where many wallboxes are to charge many vehicles at the same time (e.g. companies), such a management is needed. Load management usually relies on staggered charging or intelligently splits the currents depending on which charging point currently requires the most power.

For AC charging (mode 2 or 3), the following calculation counts: duration = battery capacity in kWh / charging power in kW. For DC charging (mode 4), the duration is not so easy to calculate. Depending on the electric car, parameters such as the battery temperature or the charging status are constantly included and thus influence the charging curve. This charging curve over the battery status results in an integral, which gives the charging duration. We are currently working on a detailed overview, which you will soon find in our guide. It will contain all charging information about the latest electric models.

The car and the charging station permanently exchange information to ensure safe charging. In AC charging, this usually works with the help of a resistor network. This determines that the plug is locked and that the current limit is not exceeded. For charging stations with direct current, much more information is needed. Therefore, a digital communication protocol is maintained, which is described for the CCS used in Europe. The ISO15118 standard makes direct current charging possible in the first place.

A load management distributes and controls the power of different consumers and prevents overload. Especially in places with limited grid connection, but where many wallboxes are to charge many vehicles at the same time (e.g. companies), such a management is needed. Load management usually relies on staggered charging or intelligently splits the currents depending on which charging point currently requires the most power.

To charge your electric car from home, you need either a mobile charging station (e.g. Juice Booster) or a wallbox. There are wallboxes that already have a type 2 cable integrated (e.g. Wallbox Pulsar Plus) and those where you can use your own cable (e.g. go-e Charger Homefix+).

No, you can also charge your electric car with a mobile charging station (e.g. Juice Booster) if you have a standard household Schuko or CEE socket at the charging location. However, a wallbox is definitely recommended in the long run. Household sockets are equipped with cables whose cross-section is not designed for such high continuous currents. In the worst case, this can lead to a fire. We therefore strongly recommend a wallbox for charging from home. It is best to have a professional lay out the cable and install the wallbox so that the connection is sufficiently dimensioned.

In principle, you can charge your electric car with a standard household Schuko socket using mobile charging stations (e.g. Juice Booster). However, one disadvantage is the low charging power of max. 3.6 kW, actually only 2.3kW for safety reasons. Schuko sockets are not designed for such a high continuous current, which can lead to fire in the worst case. Therefore, we recommend a wallbox installed by a specialist for charging from home.

Yes, CEE sockets can be used for charging, combined with a mobile charging station (e.g. Juice Booster). Depending on the car, a 16 A CEE socket can charge with up to 11 kW (three-phase) and a 32 A CEE socket with up to 22 kW. However, the same applies here as with a Schuko socket: If you do not know whether the socket has been installed professionally and in accordance with the charging requirements, it is strongly recommended that you use a wallbox and have it installed professionally by a specialist so that the cables can also withstand the continuous current.

In order to be able to charge at apartment buildings, it must first be determined whether an outlet is already available or a wallbox is installed. If not, a retrofit must be clarified with the condominium owners' association (WEG) and the landlord. In the future, landlords and WEG will be required by law to approve the installation of charging options for you.

You only have to be careful in one point when buying a wallbox: If the wallbox has a permanently installed charging cable, the plug must be of the same type (1 or 2) as the socket of the car. Otherwise, it is recommended to see how the charging power of the car turns out. If an electric car can charge 22 kW, it is also worth buying a wallbox that offers that much charging power. But you don't have to worry if your wallbox manages more kW than the car: the car only draws as much as it can, so there is no danger. To be eligible for KFW440, however, a 22kW wallbox must be throttled down to 11kW by an electrician.

Basically, there are wallboxes with charging capacities between 3.6 - 22 kW. It is best to adapt the wallbox to the charging power of your car. We recommend to choose a higher charging power for the wallbox, so that future cars will be covered directly. 11 kW is the perfect compromise between price, performance and compatibility with most electric cars due to eligibility.

Wallboxes for home use usually have a fixed integrated cable so that a cable does not have to be plugged in on both sides for every charging process. Public charging stations sometimes do not have an integrated cable to prevent vandalism. There, you have to have a charging cable that fits a type 2 plug.

There are actually some manufacturers that offer wallboxes with a photovoltaic connection. In our range you will find the go-e Charger Homefix+, which enables a photovoltaic connection via an open API interface (programming required) or via a go-eController (separate product).

Yes, some manufacturers offer an app that goes with the wallbox, which can be used to monitor and control the wallbox and the charging processes. In our range, you will find the Pulsar Plus wallbox and the go-e Charger Homefix+. A free app is available for both.

Yes, wallboxes with this function are divided into master and slave wallboxes. A master wallbox then controls several slave wallboxes, creating multiple charging points. The Pulsar Plus wallbox and the go-e Charger Homefix are capable of this function.

That depends on the local conditions of your charging location. The cable should not be too long so that it does not lie in loops on the ground, but not too short so that it is not difficult to plug in the cable. It is important to note that different electric cars do not always have the charging jack in the same place. Some models have the charging socket at the front of the hood (e.g. Renault Zoé, Nissan Leaf), on the left or right side (e.g. Porsche Taycan, Audi E-Tron) or where the fuel filler flap would normally be (e.g. Tesla Model 3, VW ID.3). If you place the wallbox optimally, a cable length of 3.5m can be enough.

A wallbox is connected to the house installation and integrated into the electrical distribution. It is very important that the installation is carried out by an electrician, because normal lines in households have too small a diameter and are therefore not suitable for such a high continuous load. In addition, a separate circuit breaker and residual current device is required.

Any electrical contractor is able to install a wallbox. We strongly advise against carrying out an installation yourself. Wallboxes have a voltage of up to 400 V, which can be life-threatening if the installation is handled incorrectly.

The classic residual current device (RCD) type A serves sinusoidal AC currents and pulsating DC fault currents. Since smooth DC residual currents can also occur in the electric car, the type B or A-EV is necessary. There are wallboxes with a type A-EV circuit breaker already integrated.

If an A-EV circuit breaker is already installed in the wallbox, only a type A RCD needs to be installed before the supply line to the wallbox.

If no residual current circuit breaker is installed in the wallbox, a type B or type A-EV RCD must be installed before the supply line to the wallbox. In the case of type B, it must be ensured that a type A RCD is not connected upstream under any circumstances, as this can lead to the fault current protection becoming blind.

It is essential to have the installation carried out by a specialist electrical company. They will also tell you what you need for your wallbox and installation.

To install a wallbox at your home, it should be possible to run a cable from the fuse box to the wallbox if the wallbox cannot be connected to an existing (e.g.) CEE socket. In most households, there is also enough power for a wallbox in the power grid. If you are only a tenant, the installation must of course also be agreed with the landlord.

Yes, most wallboxes have splash water and dust protection types, which means they can also be installed and used outdoors. You can find out which wallbox has which type of protection in the respective article description.

Yes, all wallboxes up to 11kW charging power must be registered, all wallboxes with higher charging power must even be approved by the network operator.

The costs depend on the kilometers driven or charged, the consumption of the electric car and the electricity price of your provider. Therefore, it may be worthwhile to change your electricity provider beforehand. This is how you can roughly calculate the monthly charging costs: Charging costs per month = Kilometers driven per month / 100 x Consumption in kWh per 100km x Electricity costs per kWh