Wallboxes: not all charging is the same
Charging an electric vehicle overnight and at home is convenient and easy. But which wallbox should you use? The one from the manufacturer or a different one? Are there any major differences? The TCS has carried out a comparison test.
Ideally, you can charge your electric car at home - all you need is a wallbox. The TCS tested six models for charging efficiency, operation, installation and scope of delivery, functions and app. These were wallboxes with 11 kW power and a CEE16 plug. Positive: None of the models tested had any defects and all of them had a charging efficiency of almost 100 percent. The biggest differences in the comparative test were in the range of functions, operation and availability of an app.
Three models receive "excellent"
On some models, additional information and functions can be activated at the station itself, via an app or, ideally, via both. For example, it is possible to set charging power or time scheduling, and there are also statistics on the charging processes. There are some differences here. The wallbox from EB Troller impresses with its simple connection and app setup, a good display with details on the charging process and the range of functions. The surprise in the test is the wallbox from the Chinese provider Feyree. Simple installation and commissioning and many functions directly on the wallbox speak for the product. However, the CEE connection cable is very short and the instructions are only in English. The Ctek model is easy to install with just two holes and six screws. The accompanying app offers many functions, albeit without delayed charging. These three models were all rated "excellent".
It's worth looking at prices
The Defenzo, Tera and Heidelberg models each received a "recommended". If you simply want to plug in your vehicle and charge it, you can't go wrong with these wallboxes either. The TCS test also shows that there is no correlation between the price and the quality of the charging station. The test winners according to the evaluation criteria are the wallboxes from EB-Troller and Feyree. The charging station from Feyree is already available for less than 300 francs, while the model from EB Troller costs just under 460 francs. The Ctek model also received an "excellent" rating, but costs 690 francs with a bracket.
All details as PDF are also available here
