7.4 kW, 11 kW or 22 kW EV charger: which one suits your home?

A 7.4 kW charger suits homes with 1-phase power, while 11 kW and 22 kW chargers need 3-phase household power and only genuinely charge faster if your car also supports 3-phase charging. If your car only accepts 1 phase, the 7.4 kW charger is the fastest-charging and best-value choice for most homes.

The question the EV Easy installation team hears most often before an installation is "How many kW should I buy?" Many people assume that picking the bigger number always means faster charging, but in reality charging speed depends on three things at once: your home's electrical system, your meter size, and the capability of the on-board charger built into the car. This article sums up how to choose to match your home and your car, using information from our FAQ and product specifications confirmed by the team.

How do 7.4 kW, 11 kW and 22 kW chargers differ?

The main difference is the power and the electrical system they use. The 7.4 kW charger runs on 1-phase power at 32A and suits homes with a 30/100 or 5/100 meter. The 11 kW charger runs on 3-phase power at 16A and suits 3-phase homes with a 15/45 meter and cars that support 11 kW charging. The 22 kW charger runs on 3-phase power at 32A and suits 3-phase homes with a 30/100 meter.

This table comes from the EV Easy FAQ, which is answered from real installations. If you are not sure what size meter your home has, check the numbers on the face of your electricity meter, or send a photo of the meter to our team for advice before you decide.

Why does a 7.4 kW 1-phase car only get 3.6 kW from an 11 kW charger?

This is where most people go wrong. The 11 kW charger is a 3-phase system, and its power is split across the phases. If your car can only accept 1 phase, it can only draw power from a single phase, which is just 1/3 of the total power. The result is only around 3.6 kW, almost half as fast as using a 1-phase 7.4 kW charger.

Put simply, if your car only supports 1 phase, choose the 7.4 kW charger: it will be faster and better value. But if your car supports 3-phase charging and your home already has 3-phase power, a 22 kW charger will make full use of the car's capability. Before buying, check your car's manual or ask the service centre for the car's maximum AC charging power in kW and how many phases it supports. Read more in the article Don't forget to check how many phases your car supports

How should your home's electrical system be prepared before installation?

For chargers of 7.4 kW or more, the team recommends preparing the electrical system as follows: a 30/100 or 5/100 electricity meter, which can handle more than 32A. If your home has a 15/45 meter, which can handle a continuous current of around 20A, it may not be enough for a 32A charger, with a risk of the meter tripping or other parts of the house losing power.

• A 40A breaker for 32A chargers (7.4 kW or 22 kW), together with an RCD Type B residual current device
• A 20A breaker for 16A chargers (11 kW), together with an RCD Type B
• Size 6 cable (6 sq.mm) or larger, which safely carries 32A over runs of no more than 20 metres
• An earth cable of size 10 or larger, and a 2.4-metre, 5/8-inch earth rod
• A dedicated direct cable run for the charging circuit only, avoiding extension leads

If your home's electrical system does not yet meet these requirements, don't worry: our installation team will survey the site and recommend a solution that suits your home, such as replacing the meter, rewiring or adding an earth. See the installation options on our Installation services page and the guide How do circuit 1 and circuit 2 differ?

Which EV Easy chargers support how many kW?

Each EV Easy wall-mounted charger supports a different power level. The U model supports 7.4, 11 and 22 kW depending on the variant chosen, the Black model supports 7.4 kW, and the Q model supports 7.4 and 22 kW. Besides power, each model also differs in its water and dust protection rating: the U model is IP54, the Black model is IP55 and the Q model is IP66, which is fully suited to outdoor installation.

• Model U Gen 2 — variants: 7.4 kW (1 phase) · 11 kW and 22 kW (3 phase)
• Model U Gen 2 With DLB — the U model with home load management. Read more in What is DLB?
• Model Black Gen 2 With DLB — 7.4 kW, black design
• Model Q — 7.4 kW and 22 kW, IP66 water protection, large display
• Autel Maxi — a wall-mounted charger from the Autel brand
• V3 PRO22 — a portable charger adjustable from 3.6–22 kW

For a detailed comparison of the U, Black and Q models, see the article What is the difference between the U, Black and Q models?

Should I choose 22 kW now in case I change cars in the future?

It mainly depends on your home's electrical system. If your home has 1-phase power, a 22 kW charger cannot be used to its full capability because it needs 3-phase power; choosing a 7.4 kW charger that matches your electrical system is better value. But if your home already has 3-phase power and you plan to switch to a car that supports 3-phase charging, choosing a model that supports 22 kW from the start means you won't need to replace the charger later. In that case, the meter and cabling must also be prepared to carry 32A per phase.

Examples from real installations: our team installed a 3-phase Model Q 22 kW in Pattaya, Chonburi province and in Rayong province, where the homes already had 3-phase power. For homes with 1-phase power, see an example of a 7.4 kW installation at Model U Gen 2 7.4 kW, circuit 1 with DLB, Thawi Watthana district

Which car brands can EV Easy chargers be used with?

EV Easy chargers use the European-standard Type 2 connector and support almost every electric and plug-in hybrid model on the market that uses a Type 2 connector, such as Tesla (models that support Type 2), MG, BYD, Volvo, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, Kia and ORA. What you also need to check is the car's maximum AC charging power and the number of phases it supports, as explained above.

Summary: how to choose for the best value?

Start by checking two things: whether your home's electrical system is 1-phase or 3-phase, and how many phases your car supports for AC charging. If your home is 1-phase or your car supports only 1 phase, choose the 7.4 kW charger. If your home is 3-phase and your car supports 3 phases, choose the 22 kW charger and prepare a 30/100 meter. The 11 kW charger suits 3-phase homes with a 15/45 meter and cars that support 11 kW. If you are still unsure, send a photo of your meter and your car model via LINE and our installation team will recommend the right model, or see other questions on our FAQ