How do you choose your refill?
Before choosing your electric recharging solution, it's important to consider the type of plugs fitted to your car. electric vehicle. Even if adapters are available, the type of cable fitted to the electric car will play an important role in the choice of charging method.
The different types of socket
- Domestic socket: this is obviously the most widely used socket, whether in the home or at public recharging facilities. A standard household socket can recharge at 1.8 kW, or 8A continuously.
- Type 1 socket: this socket is mainly used in Asia. As its power is limited to 8 kW, it cannot be used for rapid charging. It can be found in particular on Nissan env200 and the Peugeot iOn.
- Type 2 socket: widely used in France. The type 2 socket has also been validated as a European standard. It delivers between 3 and 43 kW, enabling it to accept virtually all recharging solutions. It is available on the Renault Zoéthe Tesla Model S and the Nissan Leaf.
- Type 3 socket: formerly the standard model in Europe, it has been replaced by the Type 2 socket, mainly because it can only deliver a maximum of 22 kW. However, it is still compatible with the Opel Amperathe Citroën C-Zero and the Mitsubishi iMiEV.
- Type 4 socket: this type of socket allows rapid recharging thanks to a much higher power output. There are two standards. These are the CHAdeMo is a Japanese standard with an output of 50 to 150 kW, the CHademo plug is mainly compatible with Asian models such as the Nissan Leafthe Nissan e-NV200 Evalia or even Peugeot e-Partner. The Combo socket, for its part, is a European standard with a power rating of 50 to 350 kW. The Combo socket has become the European standard compatible with the Renault Zoéthe Tesla Model 3 or the Kia e Niro.
Check your electrical network and the frequency of use of your electric vehicle
The choice of a home charging solution will also depend on the configuration of the electricity network.
In fact, if you want to load up at home or in your private parkingThe first step is to find out how your electrical network is configured. It must be correctly sized, wired and protected to ensure safe recharging. Some cars refuse to start charging when they detect an anomaly on the network. This is annoying when you consider that an electric car consumes a large amount of energy over many hours. We strongly advise you to call in an electrician to check your installation.
A charging capacity of 2.3 kW is achievable with most electric cars which is equivalent to between 9 and 30 hours' continuous charging using a conventional socket. On a dedicated charging point, the power can reach 7 to 22 kW for a recharge in 3 to 10 hours.
The way you use your electric car will also influence your choice. This will depend on the amount of time you can devote to charging and the type of journeys you make, some solutions will be more relevant than others. All that's left is to find out about them and choose the one best suited to your situation.
Type of accommodation: collective
Your choice of home recharging solution will depend first and foremost on whether you live in an individual or collective dwelling. These two solutions are completely different.
While individual residents are completely free to install the socket or charging point of their choice, the process is a little more complex in condominiums. In a condominium, the steps involved in plugging into a socket or installing a charging point, particularly in the building's car park, can be complex.
Here are your rights and the steps to follow
Right to take?
Any electric vehicle user residing in a condominium can invoke his or her right to use the vehicle. right to take to install a recharging solution in its parking space at its own expense.
What are the rules?
Since 1 November 2014, the equipment of The conversion of a private parking space into a rechargeable vehicle charging point is a right. :
- in buildings with an enclosed and covered car park
- if it allows individual metering and billing of electricity consumption
- for the installation of a charging point normal
What steps do I need to take?
Before carrying out any work, the tenant must inform the owner, with a copy to the co-ownership association, by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt. The owner, in turn, should contact the building manager directly. At this stage, it is necessary to contact an installer for a quotation.
The information must include :
- a detailed description of the work to be undertaken
- a plan or diagram of the works, unless the owner has made it impossible to draw up such a plan
Possible problems?
The trustee may take a period of up to six months in which they can :
- decide to carry out such work in order to equip all the parking spaces in the building. If the work has not been carried out within this period, the applicant may proceed with the installation.
If no objections have been raised, an agreement must be signed between the owner or managing agent and the service provider to define the terms and conditions for the installation, management and maintenance of the electric charging equipment. The property manager can only refuse a request for installation if he can provide convincing proof of refusal. If there is no objection within 6 months, the work can begin.
What assistance is available?
Any owner of a principal residence who acquires a recharging solution can benefit from the energy transition tax credit a lump sum of 300 euros.
Multi-family buildings are eligible for the 50 % available under the ADVENIR programmefor the supply and fitting of a recharging point for individual or collective use. All applications can be submitted via the online platform.
La Paris City Hall has also set up aid to finance collective recharging in condominiums. The aid corresponds to 50 % of the total amount (including tax) of the installation and supply work, with a ceiling of 500 euros per recharging point, up to a limit of 4 recharging points. The charging points must be accessible to all residents who request them.
Type of accommodation: detached
If you live in this type of home, you can breathe easy! You are free to install the charging solution of your choice. And only your budget and your needs will determine which equipment you choose.
What recharging solutions are available?
Today in France, 8 out of 10 owners of an electric car recharge at home. But between the standard socket, the reinforced socket and the WallboxIt's not easy to choose.
Normal 230v socket
The most affordable way to recharge your electric car is to plug it into a conventional socket. However, you'll need to make sure that your home's electricity network can cope with such a charge, by calling in a professional. You'll benefit from a power rating of no more than 1.8 kW, but that could prove to be very useful. sufficient if you recharge your vehicle every night for your daily journeys.
Reinforced socket: Green'Up
This is a reinforced socket that will enable you to increase the power of your domestic socket. It ensures fully secure recharging up to 14 A, while protecting your electrical installation.
Home terminal: Wallbox
La Wallbox is a home charging point. Costing between 500 and 1,500 euros, there are 3 types of charging point:
- Single-phase: 7 kW
- Three-phase: 11 kW and 22 kW
7 to 22 kW, provided the electrical installation is correctly sized.
This is the solution the fastest and most flexible way of charging an electric car at home. There is a very wide range of products offering various options such as power adjustment, remote control, consumption data recording and consultation via an integrated screen, locking and access control. Available until 2025 for private individuals, the tax credit covers installations carried out on residential properties, with VAT reduced to 5.5 % for terminals complying with NF C 15-100 standards. Professional installation is compulsory.This may involve changing the electricity meter.
What you need to know
A Renault Zoé will take around 30 hours to fully recharge using a standard socket, 15 hours using a reinforced socket and 8 hours using a Wallbox.
Green'Up or Wallbox: which to choose?
There is a difference between the Green'Up plug and the Wallbox terminal. Let's take a look at their advantages and disadvantages.
Green'Up
Green'Up socket offers a recharging solution halfway between the domestic socket and the Wallbox. It looks just like a standard household socket, but has a number of innovative features. improvements in strength and power handling.
To operate at full power, the plug requires the use of an occasional charging cable compatible with this system and a wall socket. If either of these two conditions is not met, charging will take place at 2.3 kW, as with a conventional domestic socket.
The electrical installation provided as standard by the manufacturer is designed to be upgradeable. In fact, the circuit-breaker and cables are sized to support a load of up to 3.7 kW or 16 A at 230 volts.
The benefits:
- Charging time: the Green'Up socket delivers more power than a domestic socket
- Price: Legrand offers the Green'Up plug at an affordable price ranging from €60 to €150 compared with the Wallbox recharging point, which can cost from €500 to €1,500.
- Installation: Green'Up plugs must be installed by an approved electrician.
- Strong presence: Green'Up plugs are widely installed in private homes thanks to installation offers subsidised by car manufacturers when new electric vehicles are purchased in France.
Disadvantages:
- Infrastructure: the Green'Up system has a limited presence on public recharging infrastructures. It is also difficult to identify, as there is little to distinguish a Green'Up plug from a conventional plug, particularly when it is integrated into the charging point.
- Power: the Green'Up system requires various additional installations to operate at full power
- Compatibility: some vehicles are supplied with a charging cable for a domestic socket that is compatible with this system. However, it is difficult to find this cable as an aftermarket item, even in dealerships.
Wallbox
The Wallbox remains the solution recommended for recharging your electric car. The Wallbox allows you to recharge your electric car in the safest possible way.
A wallbox is a box that can be fixed to the wall to recharge an electric car. It can be installed in the garage of a private individual, or in the car park of a company or local authority.
The benefits:
- Safety: compared with a simple household socket, the Wallbox provides additional safety thanks to its built-in protection devices.
- Recharging: recharging is the second advantage of the Wallbox. It allows you to recharge an electric car more quickly than a conventional socket or a reinforced socket.
- Recognition: some manufacturers, such as Renault or BMW impose recharging on a Wallbox-type recharging device by simply not providing a cable for recharging on a traditional socket.
- Variety of choice: there are many different models of Wallbox, with more or less similar functions and performance, such as the EVlink Wallbox or the Witty from Hager.
- Valuation : the installation of a charging point enhances the value of a home, and therefore its price. What's more, if a house already has an outlet, this is a plus for future resale of the property.
State aid :
- State aid Wallboxes: the French government is providing aid to reduce the cost of installing a wallbox. It takes the form of a 30% tax credit.
- All owners: of a principal residence who acquires a recharging solution can benefit from an energy transition tax credit of a flat-rate amount of 300 euros.
- Multi-family buildings : The subsidy covers 50 % of the installation costs, capped at €960 excluding VAT per recharging point for individual use and €1,660 excluding VAT for collective use. Collective infrastructures can benefit from 50 % of the costs, with a ceiling of €3,000 for roadworks.
Changes in eligibility conditions for individual charging points in apartment buildings :
From 1 August 2022, the eligibility conditions for individual charging points in collective residence change. From now on, only T2S single-phase charging points will be eligible for the ADVENIR programme.
A quick reminder: the rate and amount of aid for this target remain unchanged. It is still equal to 50 % with a maximum amount of €960 excluding VAT per recharging point.
- Paris City Hall : aid of 50 % of the cost of the work (€500 per charging point, maximum of 4 charging points), i.e. a maximum of €2,000, for building owners or social landlords wishing to install charging points for residents or visitors.
- Normandy : you can reduce the cost of installing charging points if you buy an electric vehicle. The amount of the aid is 30% of the amount excluding tax, up to a maximum of €15,000 per application for the purchase of an electric vehicle.
Disadvantages:
- Price :The main disadvantage of a wallbox is its price. Recharging at a domestic socket does not involve any particular extra cost, This is not the case with wallbox charging, which represents an investment. There are two main areas of expenditure: the cost of the terminal and the cost of installing it.
Which recharging solution should you choose: Green'Up or Wallbox?
There is a wide choice of top-up solutions. A number of criteria come into play, including price, type of home and frequency of use. If you live in a detached house and you need to daily mileage is less than 100 kmand you have a controlled budget, then the best solution for you is the Green'Up plug.
Finally, if you own a car park, then the best solution is the Wallbox because it's a long-term investment that can increase the value of the parking space. if you live in a block of flats and you hold an Renault Zoéwe recommend a Green'Up plug. Finally, if you have a Tesla Model 3 and you live in a house, then the best solution is to recharge using a Wallbox.
Discover the electric cars available from Beev
If you would like to find out more aboutsupport for the installation of charging points for private customers in 2024For more information, see our article on this subject.
