Charging an Electric Car: How Does It Work?

You can charge an electric car using a (personal) charging station or at a commercial charging station. How does it work, and what’s the cheapest way to charge your car? We’re happy to answer your questions below.
An electric car runs on a battery that you need to charge. You can charge it on the go at a charging station, or at home or on the street using a charging station.
In this article, we’ll tell you more about:

• How can I charge my electric car?
• How long does it take to charge?
• How much does it cost to charge?
• How can I charge my electric car at home?
• Is it safe to charge at home?
• What is the advantage of Zappi?
• Charging an Electric Car with Solar Panels

How can I charge my electric car?

To charge your electric car, you’ll need a charging cable. In the Netherlands, Type 2 plugs—also known as Mennekes plugs—are used for electric cars. If you want to charge your car at home, you’ll need your own charging station or wall charger. Planning to charge your car on the road? In that case, you’ll often need a charging card or app to use public charging stations.

How long does it take to charge?

Charging time depends on the capacity of your battery in kW and the charging rate in kWh. With an average battery of 54 kWh, it will take about 64 minutes to fully charge the car using a 50 kWh public charger. An average 7 kWh home charger will take about 7 hours and 42 minutes.

How much does it cost to charge?

Charging your electric car at home is the cheapest option. That’s because you pay the “regular” electricity rate. On average, the electricity rate ranges from €0.22 to €0.25 per kWh. However, you’ll first need to purchase an EV charger for your home.
Charging at public charging stations can vary significantly in price. On average, you’ll quickly reach €0.41 per kWh. At a fast charger, that’s as high as €0.60 per kWh. In addition, some neighborhoods with public charging stations have paid parking. Those costs are added on top when you charge your electric car.

How can I charge my electric car at home?

Do you have your own garage or driveway at your home? If so, you can have a private charging station or wall charger installed. How quickly you can charge at home depends on your electrical connection. With a single-phase connection, charging is slower than with a three-phase connection. In some cases, it’s also a good idea to use a power distributor in your meter cabinet. Do you cook on an induction cooktop or use a heat pump? Just like your electric car, those appliances also consume electricity.

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Is it safe to charge at home?

When you have your charging station or wall charger installed by a certified installer, you can safely charge your electric car at home. In Europe, there are strict requirements that charging stations and wall chargers must meet. It is not advisable to charge your electric car using a standard outlet. The charging cable could overheat and cause a fire. Have your charging station installed by a professional.
Do you use zappi? If so, you have the only EV charger with built-in PEN fault technology, which is the safest choice when it comes to electric charging. This eliminates the need for grounding rods, so you incur no additional costs and can easily install your charger. With the zappi EV charger, you can also control, monitor, and update your charger from your phone, tablet, or computer.

What is the advantage of Zappi?

zappi is one of the most future-proof EV chargers on the market. It’s a smart eco-charger that lets you easily use the solar and wind energy you generate yourself. You can also use zappi as a plug-and-go charger connected to the grid. The advantage of zappi is that the system can be set to take advantage of off-peak rates, allowing you to charge your electric car during the most cost-effective times. zappi is available in 7kWh or 22kWh versions with a Type 2 cable in black or white.
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Charging an Electric Car with Solar Panels

Now that the net metering program As the subsidy for solar panels is being phased out, many homeowners are wondering how they can still benefit from their surplus solar energy. After 2023, you will no longer receive compensation for feeding excess energy back into the grid. One way to maximize the benefits of your self-generated energy is to use it to charge your electric car. This makes charging at home even more cost-effective.
The Zappi EV charger has a smart feature that allows it to communicate with your solar panels. It does this via a small device called Harvi. Harvi is capable of exchanging data with other MyEnergi devices. Thanks to harvi Your excess energy isn't fed back into the grid right away; instead, the system first checks whether it can be used by your own devices. This way, with zappi, you can charge your electric car with the excess energy, and it ensures eddi to ensure that your water is heated using it. How your solar energy is used depends on your preferences and which mode you select.
Learn more about myenergi products