Electromobility is the current trend in the automotive sector because 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 user experience and in the overall energy efficiency of the vehicle.
Furthermore, to charge your electric vehicle, you simply plug it into 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 effectively charge your electric car.
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 divided into two groups: alternating current (AC) charging and direct current (DC) charging.
Then, 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 driven on Asian and American roads for type 1 plugs and European roads for type 2 plugs. They charge vehicles with a power 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 bought 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've probably already asked yourself: Can I charge an electric car at home? The answer is yes, and it's even one of the most commonly used strategies for charging electric cars. Two main methods are available 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 disadvantages. 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 be impractical for daily use.
If you live in a multi-unit building, the situation can be even more complex. The only option for charging in a shared garage would be to plug into 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 home 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, reducing the risk of fire.
Modern stations are equipped with intelligent technologies that automatically interrupt charging if the device temperature becomes too high. This level of safety is not guaranteed with a classic domestic socket, which makes the charging station not only a more practical but also a more reliable solution.
Public charging
If you do not have the means to install a charging station at home, public charging stations are an excellent alternative. Public car parks and shopping centers now offer widespread access to these infrastructures, making it easier to charge electric vehicles.
To locate an available charging station near your home or workplace, several mobile applications are available. For example, SuissEenergie offers a map covering approximately 14,200 publicly accessible charging stations throughout Switzerland.
"Slow" AC public charging stations
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 areas. 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.
"Supercharger" DC public charging stations
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 convert the alternating current from the grid into direct current to power your battery.
DC stations offer high charging capacities, ranging from 50 to 350 kW. Ultra-fast stations (250-350 kW) can 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.
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 to fully charge an electric car?
The charging time of an electric car can be determined using this formula:
To optimize your car's charging, you can rely on the following factors:
- The type of station: it is important to choose the right charging station for your car. Note that DC stations provide faster charging than AC stations.
- Battery status: the speed of your car's charging is more influenced by the state of the battery before it is charged. If the battery is empty, it can be charged very quickly.
- Battery capacity: note that if your car's battery has a large capacity, its charging time may be long.
Several questions may also cross the mind of an electric car owner, and one of them might 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 charging station (AC) | 7 – 22 | 4 – 8 hours |
| Fast charging 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 installation costs of the equipment, which is already made available to you. However, you will generally need to subscribe to a subscription to access a network of available stations in Switzerland, which allows you to activate charging on the chosen network's stations.
Then, you pay the price per kWh, which often varies depending on the charging speed. For example, slow charging stations in Switzerland charge between 0.50 CHF and 0.60 CHF per kWh, while fast charging stations can go up to 0.90 CHF per kWh.
Installation cost of a home charging station
If you have the option of installing a charging station at 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 tariff, i.e., 0.29 CHF/kWh (for the canton of Geneva in 2025). This price difference compared to public charging allows you to amortize your investment in 1 to 2 years.
Furthermore, home charging offers unparalleled convenience: you will no longer need to plan your trips or search for an available and operational public charging 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 associated with equipping a shared car park, which can amount to tens of thousands of francs.
The kWh is billed at the local supplier's rate, which is 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: mistakes to avoid
Charging an electric car requires preventing certain mistakes. We have grouped below the mistakes to avoid when charging your vehicle.
Prefer charging within a specific battery level range
It's not just charging at moderate power that benefits your electric car's battery. To understand more deeply how to charge an electric car, you should replenish the energy level within a range of approximately 20 to 80% of 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 battery temperature
If you own an electric car, 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 at high temperatures, it can be subject to gradual degradation. Conversely, when the battery is charged at low temperatures, its performance gradually decreases.
We advise you to avoid parking your car in very sunny environments during high-temperature days. During 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 condition of electric cars for optimal use.
How to charge an electric car at a charging station?
To charge an electric car at a charging station, you must follow certain key steps to ensure efficient charging. First, it is important to refer to a charging station suitable for 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 need 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.
Can I charge my electric car using a normal socket?
It is entirely possible to charge an electric vehicle using a standard 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 charging.
In all cases, it is essential to use a specific charging cable, generally supplied by the vehicle manufacturer, to ensure a safe and efficient charging process.
Can I charge my car at a 22kW charging station in my underground car park?
Yes, you can, provided you have installed a charging station in your underground car park. In Switzerland, SIA 2060 standards allow you to install charging stations in your shared car park. They offer the possibility of setting up common stations for a whole set of parking spaces with dynamic or static load management.
One advantage of the common system is that it allows you to prevent electrical grid overload. The risk of disconnection is also eliminated from the shared car park even if there are many charging stations installed there. 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 largely sufficient to charge the car overnight. The cost per kWh is the same as home electricity.
However, if you are an individual tenant and wish to install a charging station in Switzerland, you should expect a high installation price. To remedy this, AMP IT helps you finance these systems and manages them entirely. Final drivers do not have to pay anything 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
In this guide, we have explained how to charge an electric car using the different charging techniques available. It is therefore important to understand the different types of charging, battery functionalities, etc., to charge your vehicle.
When charging your electric vehicle, maintain a 20% to 80% charge to improve its lifespan.