Electromobility is the current trend in the automotive sector as it offers a sustainable solution to traditional internal combustion vehicles. In fact, when you buy an electric vehicle, you need to master certain technical aspects, including how to charge an electric car.
This is a determining factor in the user experience and the overall energy efficiency of the vehicle.
Furthermore, to charge your electric vehicle, you simply need to connect it to an energy source. It is therefore important to understand the different types of charging stations, the technical characteristics of the battery, etc. In this guide, you will discover how to charge your electric car effectively.
Types of charging stations and plugs used to charge electric cars
Electric cars use different types of charging stations to gain energy. The stations used to charge these vehicles are grouped into two categories: alternating current (AC) charging and direct current (DC) charging.
Next, there are 4 different types of plugs to connect your vehicle to a charging station. Indeed, Type 1 and Type 2 plugs are used for alternating current (AC) charging, practiced in vehicles driving on Asian and American roads for Type 1 plugs and European roads for Type 2 plugs. They charge vehicles with a power of up to 22 kW.
For fast direct current (DC) charging, CHAdeMO and CCS systems are preferred. They provide power between 50 and 300 kW to electric vehicles. In any case, a car purchased in Europe will automatically be compatible with Type 2 plugs for 22 kW charging and with CCS plugs for fast charging.
But where can you find these charging stations? There are several options for charging your electric car which vary according to their locations and charging prices.
Home charging
If you own an electric vehicle, you have surely wondered: Can you charge an electric car at home? The answer is yes, and it is even one of the most commonly used strategies for charging electric cars. Two main methods are available to you for home charging:
Using a domestic socket
This option may seem the simplest and most logical, especially if you live in a detached house or a villa. However, it has several notable drawbacks. The charging speed via a standard socket is extremely slow: it generally takes up to 24 hours to fully charge your electric vehicle's battery, which can prove impractical on a daily basis.
If you live in a collective building, the situation can be even more complex. The only option for charging in a collective garage would be to plug into the common areas, which could be considered energy theft by the owner or other co-owners.
Installing a charging station
To avoid these problems, it is recommended to invest in a domestic alternating current (AC) charging station. A 22 kW AC station offers much faster and more efficient charging than a simple standard socket. It also allows for safer charging by reducing fire risks.
Modern stations are equipped with smart technologies that automatically interrupt charging if the device's temperature becomes too high. This level of safety is not guaranteed with a classic domestic socket, making the charging station a solution that is not only more practical but also more reliable.
Tip: Use home charging stations to charge your car quickly and safely
Public charging
If you do not have the necessary means to install a charging station at home, public stations are an excellent alternative. Public car parks and shopping centers now offer expanded access to these infrastructures, thus facilitating the charging of electric vehicles.
To locate an available charging station near your home or workplace, several mobile applications are at your disposal. For example, SuissEenergie offers a map grouping approximately 14,200 publicly accessible charging stations across Switzerland.
Public AC stations known as "slow"
These stations are similar to those you could install at home. The main difference is their location in spaces accessible to everyone, such as public car parks or commercial zones. However, they offer a maximum power of 22 kW, which means it will take several hours to fully charge your vehicle.
Despite their slowness, these stations remain essential for users who do not have a private or assigned parking space.
Public DC stations known as "superchargers"
For fast charging, DC stations are the ideal solution. These stations, mainly located along motorways, allow you to charge your vehicle much faster. They directly transform the alternating current from the grid into direct current to power your battery.
DC stations offer high charging powers, ranging from 50 to 350 kW. Ultra-fast stations (250-350 kW) allow you to charge up to 80% of the battery in just 30 to 60 minutes, making them an essential solution for long journeys.
However, it is important to note that frequent use of these fast stations can slightly accelerate battery degradation in the long term.
Important: Fast charging stations (DC) allow for quick charging on motorways, but their frequent use can lead to battery degradation in the long term. Conversely, public AC stations, although slower, preserve battery durability.
Criteria for comparing charging stations
Charging speed: DC charging stations offer significantly faster charging compared to AC stations, ideal for users with immediate energy needs.
Installation cost: The cost varies depending on the type of station chosen. In general, DC stations are considerably more expensive to install than AC stations, often several times more expensive.
How long does it take for a full charge of an electric car?
The charging time of an electric car can be determined using this formula:
Battery capacity (kWh) / Charging power (kW) = Charging duration
To optimize your car's charging, you can rely on the factors below:
The type of station: it is important to choose the right charging station adapted to your car. Note that (DC) stations provide faster charging than (AC) stations.
The state of the battery: the speed of your car's charging is more influenced by the state the battery is in before being charged. If the battery is empty, it can be charged very quickly.
The battery capacity: note that if your car's battery has a large capacity, its charging duration may be long.
Several questions may also cross the mind of someone who owns an electric car, and one of them could be: what power is needed to charge an electric car at home? So, here is a table that answers this question:
Type of charging | Charging power (kW) | Charging time |
|---|---|---|
Domestic socket | 2.3 | 20 – 24 hours |
Slow station (AC) | 7 – 22 | 4 – 8 hours |
Fast station (DC) | 50 | 1 hour |
Ultra-fast (DC) | 150 – 350 | 30 – 45 minutes |
How much does it cost to charge my electric car?
The cost of charging depends on where you charge and the type of station used. With public charging, you do not have to bear the equipment installation costs, which is already provided for you. However, you will generally need to take out a subscription to access a network of stations available in Switzerland, which allows you to activate charging on the stations of the chosen network.
Next, you pay the price per kWh, which often varies depending on the charging speed. For example, slow stations in Switzerland charge between 0.50 CHF and 0.60 CHF per kWh, while fast stations can go up to 0.90 CHF per kWh.
Cost of installing a home station
If you have the possibility to install a charging station at your home, in a detached house, the initial cost includes:
The station itself: between 800 CHF and 1,100 CHF.
Installation by a specialized company: between 1,000 CHF and 1,500 CHF.
Although this initial investment may seem high, it then allows you to benefit from the standard domestic electricity rate, which is 0.29 CHF/kWh (for the canton of Geneva in 2025). This price differential compared to public charging allows you to amortize your investment in 1 to 2 years.
In addition, charging at home offers unparalleled comfort: you will no longer need to plan your journeys or look for an available and operational public station.
Solution for tenants and co-owners
For apartment owners or tenants, AMP IT offers an alternative solution with the rental of a private charging station at 45 CHF per month. This option eliminates the initial costs related to pre-equipping a collective car park, which can reach tens of thousands of francs.
The kWh is billed at the local supplier's rate, i.e., the same 0.29 CHF/kWh for residents of Geneva. Maintenance, troubleshooting, and billing are included in the service.
How to charge my electric car: errors to avoid
Charging an electric car requires preventing certain errors. We have grouped below the errors to avoid when charging your vehicle.
Prefer charging within a specific battery level range
It is not only the fact of charging at moderate power that benefits your electric car's battery. To go deeper into how to charge an electric car, you must replenish the energy level within a range of about 20 to 80% capacity. You should also avoid fully charging the car's battery or discharging it too deeply.
When your electric vehicle's battery is fully charged or deeply discharged, it can be negatively affected. We therefore advise you to maintain your electric car's battery charge between 20 and 80%. This will in turn allow you to use your car with better stability and secure it for the long term.
How to charge an electric car: optimize the battery temperature
If you are an electric car owner, you should know that temperature plays an essential role when you want to charge the vehicle. It influences the lifespan of your vehicle's battery. If an electric car's battery is charged under high temperatures, the latter can be subject to progressive degradation. Conversely, when the battery is charged under low temperatures, its performance gradually decreases.
We invite you to avoid parking your car in very sunny environments during high-temperature days. In a recent release of electric cars, we noticed that some of these cars already have energy management systems. For example, the cell temperature management system monitors and regulates the state of electric cars for optimal use.
Important: Temperature management is crucial for preserving the performance and lifespan of electric car batteries
How do I charge an electric car at a station?
To charge an electric car at a station, you must follow certain key steps to ensure efficient charging. It is first important to refer to a charging station adapted to your vehicle. Generally, both types of current can be compatible with electric cars.
The next step will be to park the vehicle near the chosen station to plug in the charging cable. Some charging locations provide cables, while for others, you must use your car's cable. After connecting the cable, you will have to activate the charging station. In other words, you can activate it either by using an RFID card, a mobile application, or your bank card. The charging process starts automatically after activation.
Summary: Charging an electric car involves locating a station, checking compatibility, plugging in the cable, and activating the charge
Can I charge my electric car on a normal socket?
It is entirely possible to charge an electric vehicle on a classic domestic socket. However, this solution is much slower than a dedicated charging station. Standard sockets offer a maximum power of 2.3 kW. Thus, for an electric vehicle equipped with a 50 kWh battery, it takes between 20 and 24 hours for a full charge.
This option may be suitable for hybrid vehicles, whose battery capacity is often lower than that of 100% electric cars, thus requiring less time for a charge.
In any case, it is essential to use a specific charging cable, generally provided by the vehicle manufacturer, to ensure a safe and efficient charging process.
Tip: Charging on a domestic socket is more suitable for plug-in hybrid cars than purely electric cars.
Can I charge my car on a 22kW charging station in my underground car park?
Yes, you can do so provided that you have installed a charging station in your underground car park. In Switzerland, SIA 2060 standards allow you to install charging stations in your common car park. They offer the possibility of setting up common stations for an entire set of parking spaces with dynamic or static load management.
An advantage of the common system is that it allows you to prevent overloading the electrical network. The risk of tripping is also eliminated from the common car park even if the charging stations installed there are numerous. With this system, you do not need to reinforce the building's electrical connection.
The common system is compatible even with old buildings and offers a charging speed of 4-6 hours, which is more than enough to charge the car overnight. The cost per kWh is the same as domestic current.
However, if you are an individual tenant and wish to install a charging station in Switzerland, you should expect the installation price to be highly expensive. To remedy this, AMP IT helps you finance these systems and takes care of the management in its entirety. Final drivers have nothing to pay for the installation; they just have to pay a monthly subscription to access the charging service. Maintenance, troubleshooting, and billing are included in the service.
Conclusion
We have explained in this guide how to charge an electric car using the different charging techniques available. It is therefore important to understand the different types of charging, battery features, etc., to charge your vehicle.
When charging your electric vehicle, maintain between 20% and 80% charge to improve its lifespan.