Electric Car Chargers At Home

[AnneKipankitoo]

We do not have an electric vehicle as yet.

Our builder wants to fit a 7KW but we are reading that there are 22 KW ones which need a 3 phase supply. We do have a 3 phase supply.
The builder is wanting a quick decision from my husband.
He contacted my husband this morning to say the electricians are coming tomorrow.

Can anyone advise?
My husband and me would prefer to have the higher KW option.

Many EVs will only charge at 11Kw on an AC charger anyway, but as batteries get larger I definitely see the benefit of charging at a faster speed so I’d go 3 phase if it’s available. Even at 11KW my car (84KWh battery) would charge from 20% to 80% in a little over 4 hours. There are certainly times I’ve got back late and needed to leave early, and my my 7KW charger doesn’t get me to 100%!!

Thank you @Tryingtokeepgoing

BTW the builder also told my husband the 22KW is not suitable for a domestic setting.

Hi OP it’s unusual to have 3 phase to a domestic property but not unheard of, 22kw is around 30A so you need to understand your current load and how much spare capacity you have, if it’s an 80A fuse you will be using nearly half your capacity. Your electrician should be advising.

Thank you @LivingDeadGirlUK
We definitely have 3 phase.

The electricians are coming tomorrow. Short notice.

I would stick to the 7kW. You are usually going to be charging overnight so I’m not convinced the extra speed is worth it.

We moved house 4 years ago to a house without a charging unit so we’re just trickle charging for a standard plug. There was a reason we couldn’t get one in earlier and now we have realised that we just don’t need it. If we have a long journey we just plan a bit ahead and charge 2 nights in a row is necessary.

(2 EVs - normall daily mileage with some long cross country journeys)

If you can go three phase, id do it. Id also look at chargers that can charge more than one car.

The current worry is charging a car overnight... In 5 years it will be how you charge both cars overnight....