Why Does a Car That Supports 7 KW on 1 Phase Only Get 3.6 kW from an 11 kW Charger?
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Why Does a Car That Supports 7 KW on 1 Phase Only Get 3.6 kW from an 11 kW Charger?
Many people may wonder why an 11kW EV charger, which has more power, can't deliver its full rated power to some car models. The answer lies in the electrical system the car itself supports.
In this article, EV Easy Thailand explains it simply and offers guidance on choosing a charger that suits your car, so you can charge quickly, safely and with the best value.
Understanding EV charger power supply
- 7 kW charger, 1-phase supply, power delivered per phase: 7.3 kW
- 11 kW charger, 3-phase supply, power delivered per phase: 3.6 kW / phase
- 22 kW charger, 3-phase supply, power delivered per phase: 7.3 kW / phase
Note: a 3-phase charger has 3 conductors delivering power, but if the car can only accept 1 phase, it can only draw power from 1 of the charger's 3 phases.
Example scenarios
- If the car only supports 1 phase / 7kW and is charged with an 11kW (3-phase) charger → the actual power it receives will be only 3.6 kW
- If you use a 7kW / 1-phase charger that matches the car → it receives the full 7.3 kW, so charging is faster and better value
Advice from EV Easy:
If your car only supports 1 phase, you should choose a 1-phase 7kW charger, especially EV Easy models available as both Portable Chargers and Wall Chargers, for the most efficient charging.
Which charger can your home take?
The right charger depends on your meter size, your existing electrical panel and the distance from the panel to your parking spot — not just your car model. Send photos of your panel and parking spot on LINE and our team will give you a first assessment, or see the four installation options and their pros and cons on our installation service page.