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How good are wall boxes for at home?
Photo: Prapass Pulsub/Getty Images
Drivers of electric cars can use a so-called wall box to charge their vehicles: a charging station permanently installed in the wall.
These charging boxes are considered to be particularly safe and charge with higher power.
The ADAC and Stiftung Warentest have now tested twelve of these wall boxes.
The result: the majority of the devices perform »well«.
However, two models were only rated as »poor«.
The cheapest device is one of the test winners
The price range for the twelve devices ranged from 675 to 1570 euros.
Not included are the individual costs for the installation.
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The boxes were tested in the following categories: safety, function and reliability, equipment, scope of delivery and assembly.
In addition, the user-friendliness and the functionality of the app were evaluated, if such an application was available.
Only five of the devices have an app control where the boxes can be set and charging statistics can be read.
Two boxes received the best rating – a grade of 1.8: the »go-eCharger Homefix 11 kW« and the »Wallbox Chargers Commander 2, 11 kW«.
The devices not only achieved good values for function and safety, but also impressed with their high level of user-friendliness.
At a price of 675 euros, the »go-eCharger Homefix« wall box is the cheapest wall charging station that was tested.
The boxes “ABB Terra AC W11-G5-R-0” (1090 euros), “ABL Wallbox eMH2 2W2231 Extender” (1570 euros), “Easee Home 10103” (850 euros) and “LRT Emobility Home” were almost as good Essential+ 11kW/AC09C” (900 euros) – they were all rated with a 1.9.
Another four devices priced between 790 euros and 1330 euros received grades between 2.0 and 2.2.
Deficiencies in security in two cases
However, two devices were found to be defective in the tests: the "Alfen Eve Single S-Line 904460587" wallbox and the "PC Electric Wallbox GLB 353419P" failed.
According to the ADAC, the protective device of both models failed several times in more than 400 test runs.
This is actually intended to prevent possible personal injury from current flow.
In the case of one box, the monitoring device was triggered several times not at all or too late, in the case of the other only late.
"As a result, both products could not meet the safety requirements of the DIN standard," it said.
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Since slow charging of the battery protects the battery, the boxes were also tested for the possibility of manually setting the charging power.
Both test winners offered users this option directly in the pits, while three other models enabled the charging power to be set using a dedicated app.
If you are considering buying a wall box, you should not forget that there are additional expenses in addition to the acquisition costs.
The installation of a wall charging station is reserved for professionals.
According to Stiftung Warentest, it must be checked before installation whether the power lines in the house allow the installation at all.
If necessary, new lines would have to be laid at the desired charging point.
Hundreds of euros can be added for the installation
According to an estimate by the Central Association of Electrical Trades, the costs for the purchase, delivery and installation of a wall box range between 1000 and 2500 euros.
There are also regional differences in hourly labor costs.
The specialist companies also register and approve the boxes with the network operator.
Wall boxes with a charging capacity of 11 kilowatts must be registered, devices with a charging capacity of 22 kilowatts even have to be approved.
Tenants or apartment owners who want to have a wall box installed need permission from the landlord or the community of owners.
For safety reasons, you should not charge an e-car using a normal household socket.
vki/dpa
