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Charging your car at home: what you need to know
Choosing an electric car also means making choices about how you recharge it. Can you install a charging point at your home? Which one should you choose? How much power? How much will it cost? How do you control access? These are just some of the questions we’ll try to answer in this article.
Do you have to buy a charging point?
A car can also be charged from the homebased mains electric supply, by plugging the cable into a standard 220V socket, just like your smartphone. This works, but it’s not particularly fast (over 20 hours) and it can lead the cable to overheat and cause a fire.
The aim of a charging point is to save youtime, improve safety and make your life easier:
Higher recharging speed: a charging point recharges an electric car faster than a household socket. The maximum power of a domestic plug is 2.3 kW, while the power of a charging point can be up to 11 kW on a three-phase installation. This means that a charging point can increase your car’s recharging speed fivefold. Fast charging points, with power of 22 kW or more, are reserved for professionals.
Greater safety: a charging point is specially designed for recharging electric cars. It is fitted with safety devices to protect the car and the electrical installation against the risk of surges in voltage, short-circuit or fire.
More intelligent management: at the very least, a charging point makes it easier to control energy consumption, manage users and schedule charging periods. Depending on the model, you can add even more smart features, such as load shedding, which prevents the main circuit breaker from being tripped when other electrical appliances are in use.
How much does a charging point cost?
On average, the price of a 7 kW or 11 kW electric charging point is between EUR 750 and 2,000, excluding installation costs.
This price varies according to a number of factors, including:
The type of charging point: wall-mounted or free-standing, designer or more basic, with or without integrated cable, etc. These are essentially practical and/or aesthetic choices, but they can significantly affect the budget.
Charging power: the charging power of a charging point is expressed in kilowatts (kW). For domestic use, the three most common wattages are 3.7 kW, 7.4 kW and 11 kW. To gain 100 km of range, it will take you 5 hours 15 minutes, 2 hours 45 minutes, 55 minutes respectively. However, 11 kW charging points are more expensive and require you to change your power connection to three-phase.
Features: certain charging points offer additional features, such as access management, billing and geolocation. These features can increase the price of the charging point.
Your electrical installation: how much cable do you need to run? Do you need to bring your electrical installation up to standard (if the last inspection was carried out more than 25 years ago)? Switch to a three-phase connection? Adapt your switchboard? All these questions will be answered in the quote from your electrician.
Incentives to help you install a charging point
The “Clever Lueden” financial support provided by Luxembourg has been extended until the end of 2024. This can cover up to 50% of your purchase and installation costs:
- Normal charging point: 50% (up to €750)
- Smart charging point: 50% (up to €1,200)
Find out more on the guichet.lu website.
What are the risks and what safety precautions need to be taken?
Charging points do not in themselves pose any danger if installed by a professional. However, theft, cyber security and accidents involving falls are potential risks.
Theft: if you charge your car at a public charging point, thieves do not target the charging points directly, but the cables, which contain copper. The first precaution is to ensure that the cable is correctly locked on both the charging point and car ends. It is therefore preferable, wherever possible, to use a home charging point or in a monitored location.
Tripping over the charging cable: the cables supplied with cars are generally between 4 and 5 metres long. It will lie on the ground between the charging point and the car and may be in the way. Protective troughs are available to protect the cable and anyone who might get their feet caught in them.
Cyberattacks: charging points are one of the few cyber security vulnerabilities in electric cars. If they are connected to the internet or local networks, these charging stations are “potential targets” for attacks, steal personal information or interfere with your electricity system. Rest assured, most settings can be configured via a local Bluetooth connection.
Insurance, grid operator: who should you notify about your new electrical charging point to?
Before the work: contact your grid operator
In Luxembourg, you need to have the agreement of your grid operator before installing a charging point. Why? Because it has to check the power of your electrical installation to prevent you from overloading it.
This takes place in two stages:
- Installation request: you can find the application form on the website or in the customer area of your grid operator.
- Acceptance of the application: you will receive the agreement and a document notifying you that the work has been completed, which your electrician will need to complete and sign. In the event that the charging point causes electrical problems on the grid, the electrician will be responsible.
The four electricity grid operators in Luxembourg are:
Sudstroum S.à r.l. & Co S.e.c.s.
Does a charging point affect your fire insurance?
You are under no obligation to declare your charging point to your insurer because, provided it is installed correctly, it does not increase the risk of fire.
That said, it is in your interest to do so, to cover your charging point and be properly indemnified in the event of a claim.
Find out more about our two insurance policies tailored to your needs:
- Protecting your charging point: mozaïk, the home insurance that reflects your life
- Power cable protection: mobilé, car insurance that also covers your charging cable
