Every electric car has a built-in limit on how fast it can charge from an AC socket. Your charger cannot beat that limit. So before you buy, there are only two numbers that matter: what your car accepts, and what your home supply can deliver.
Step 1: What does your car accept?
Find your model below. The figure is the car's maximum AC charging power — the fastest it will ever charge from a home wall box, no matter how powerful the charger is.
| Car | Max AC charging | Charger we recommend |
|---|---|---|
| BYD Dolphin | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| BYD Atto 3 | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| BYD Seal | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| BYD Seal U DM-i (plug-in hybrid) | 6.6 kW | 7 kW |
| Tesla Model 3 | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| Tesla Model Y | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| Volkswagen ID.3 / ID.4 / ID.5 | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| Škoda Enyaq | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| Kia EV6 | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| Kia Niro EV | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| Hyundai Ioniq 5 | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| Hyundai Kona Electric | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| Renault Zoe | 22 kW | 22 kW |
| Renault Megane E-Tech | 7–22 kW depending on version | Check your version |
| Nissan Leaf | 6.6 kW | 7 kW |
| Volvo EX30 / EX40 | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| Polestar 2 | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| MG4 / MG ZS EV | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| BMW i4 / iX | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| Mercedes EQA / EQB | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| Audi Q4 e-tron | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| Peugeot e-208 / e-2008 | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| Fiat 500e | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| Dacia Spring | 6.6 kW | 7 kW |
| Most plug-in hybrids | 3.7–7.4 kW | 7 kW or a portable charger |
Figures vary by model year and trim, so check your car's manual if you are unsure. Not on the list? Email your model to support@giraffevolt.shop and we will tell you.
Step 2: What does your home supply allow?
- Single-phase supply — common in older homes and apartments. Maximum 7.4 kW, whatever charger you buy.
- Three-phase supply — standard in much of Northern and Central Europe, including Estonia, Germany, Austria and the Nordics. Allows 11 kW or 22 kW.
If you do not know which you have, look in your fuse box: a three-phase supply has a main breaker with three switches ganged together. Your electrician will confirm it in a moment.
Step 3: Match them up
| Your situation | What to buy |
|---|---|
| No dedicated circuit, just a household socket | Portable charger 3.5 kW |
| Single-phase supply at home | Wall box 7 kW |
| Three-phase supply, car accepts 11 kW (most EVs) | Wall box 11 kW |
| Three-phase supply, car accepts 22 kW (Renault Zoe, some others) | Wall box 22 kW |
| Shared parking, several drivers | 22 kW with NFC card access |
Why a bigger charger does not charge faster
This is the single most common mistake. If your BYD Dolphin accepts 11 kW, a 22 kW wall box will still charge it at 11 kW. You would pay more for the charger, possibly more for the installation, and gain nothing at all.
There is one reason to buy bigger anyway: your next car. A 22 kW wall box will still be on the wall in eight years.
How long will it actually take?
| Power | Range added per hour | Typical 60 kWh battery, 20% to 100% |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5 kW (household socket) | 15–20 km | About 14 hours |
| 7 kW | 35–40 km | About 7 hours |
| 11 kW | 50–60 km | About 4.5 hours |
| 22 kW | 100–120 km | About 2.5 hours, if the car accepts 22 kW |
For almost everyone, overnight is overnight. A 7 kW or 11 kW charger refills a normal day's driving many times over while you sleep.
What about installation?
A wall box is a fixed installation and must be fitted by a qualified electrician on its own circuit. In several European countries the installation also has to be registered with the local grid operator — and in some, a 22 kW unit needs approval in advance while an 11 kW unit only needs to be notified. Your electrician will know the local rule.
If you rent, or you do not want an installation at all, a portable charger plugs into an existing socket and comes with you when you move.
What about Type 1, Type 2, CCS?
- Type 2 — the European standard for AC charging. Every car sold new in Europe uses it, and every charger we sell uses it.
- Type 1 — older cars and imports from the US or Japan. Needs an adapter.
- CCS and CHAdeMO — rapid DC charging at motorway stations. Not relevant for home charging.
The short version
Most European EV drivers should buy an 11 kW wall box if they have three-phase power, and a 7 kW wall box if they do not. Buy 22 kW only if your car genuinely accepts it or several people will share the charger.