Are you thinking about driving an electric car or do you already own one? Then you’ll quickly ask yourself: What’s the best way to charge it at home? What should I keep in mind in winter? And which plug types do I need? Here are the answers!
Which socket do I need at home for charging?
In theory, you can charge your electric car using a regular household socket (230 V), but that’s not ideal. These sockets aren’t designed for continuous high loads and can overheat. A wallbox – a dedicated charging station for electric cars – is a safer and faster solution.
A wallbox offers charging power between 3.7 and 22 kW and costs between CHF 500 and CHF 2,000, depending on the model. You can find them in various online shops like Digitec. Installation costs an additional CHF 500 to CHF 1,500. With a wallbox, you can charge your car faster and minimize the risk of overload. There are various models available for every budget.
Does my electric car need to be parked in a garage during winter?
A garage isn’t strictly necessary, but it can be beneficial. Cold temperatures affect the battery: range decreases, and charging times increase. Parking your car in a garage protects the battery from extreme cold and reduces energy loss in winter.
Tip: If you don’t have a garage, try to charge your car when the battery is still warm, ideally right after driving – this improves charging efficiency.
What’s cheaper – charging at home or using public stations?
Charging at home is usually cheaper. In Switzerland, the average electricity price is around CHF 0.32 per kWh, meaning that a charge for 100 km costs less than CHF 5.
Public charging stations are often more expensive, especially fast-charging stations. Prices vary depending on the provider and charging power. If you still want to charge away from home, it’s worth checking out special tariffs and subscription plans offered by some providers.
Which plug types do I need for my electric car?
In Switzerland (and across Europe), the Type 2 plug is the standard for charging electric cars. It’s used both for home wallboxes and many public charging stations.
If you want to charge your car at a fast-charging station, you’ll usually need the CCS (Combined Charging System) plug. This enables fast DC charging and significantly reduces charging times.
Make sure your car is compatible with these plug types to ensure easy charging anywhere.
Conclusion: Here’s how to do it right!
✔ Wallbox at home: Safer and faster than a regular socket.
✔ Garage in winter: Helps protect the battery but isn’t a must.
✔ Charging at home: Generally cheaper than public charging stations.
✔ Plug types: Type 2 for regular charging, CCS for fast charging.
Do you have any questions about our electric cars or the car subscription? Our team will be happy to provide non-binding consultation!
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