Guide to Wallboxes

What is a wallbox and what is it used for in an electric car?

Anyone who drives or is considering buying an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle will inevitably come across the term wallbox.

But what is a wallbox? What is it used for? Is it really necessary to charge an electric car at home? And what is the difference between a single-phase and a three-phase wallbox?

A wallbox is a device specifically designed for charging electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. It can be installed in a garage, a home, a condominium, a company or another private space with suitable conditions for charging.

Unlike a conventional household socket, a wallbox provides greater control over the energy supplied to the vehicle and can offer features such as charging schedules, power management and energy consumption monitoring.

What is a wallbox used for?

The main purpose of a wallbox is to transfer energy from a building's electrical installation to the battery of an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle.

The equipment establishes the connection between the electrical grid and the vehicle, controlling the supply of energy during charging.

In more advanced wallboxes, this function can be complemented by different management tools. Depending on the equipment, the user can:

• Schedule the start and end of charging;

• Set the charging power;

• Check energy consumption;

• Monitor charging in real time;

• Lock the equipment;

• Control access for different users;

• Integrate charging with solar panels;

• Manage the equipment through an app.

These features make charging simpler and more adaptable to each user's daily routine.

Wallbox or conventional socket: what are the differences?

Some electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles can be charged using a conventional household socket with the appropriate cable.

However, a household socket was not necessarily designed for frequent and prolonged vehicle charging.

According to E-REDES, a conventional socket normally provides around 2.3 kW of power. A wallbox can offer power levels between 3.7 kW and 22 kW, depending on the model and the electrical installation.

Higher power can reduce the time required to charge the battery. However, the actual charging speed will always be limited by the vehicle and the characteristics of the installation.

In addition to power, a wallbox can offer features that are not normally available with a conventional socket:

• Charging power control;

• Charging schedules;

• Energy consumption monitoring;

• Dynamic power management;

• Solar integration;

• App-based control;

• User and access management.

A wallbox is therefore a solution specifically designed for the regular charging of electric vehicles.

How does a wallbox work?

For home charging, a wallbox normally supplies the vehicle with alternating current.

The vehicle's onboard charger then converts this energy into direct current, allowing it to be stored in the battery.

For this reason, the wallbox is not the only factor that determines charging speed. The vehicle's onboard charger also has a maximum power rating.

Imagine that a wallbox can supply 22 kW, but the vehicle only accepts 11 kW in alternating current. In this case, the vehicle will charge at a maximum of 11 kW.

Charging time will depend on factors such as:

• Battery capacity;

• Current battery level;

• Wallbox power;

• Power available in the electrical installation;

• Maximum power supported by the vehicle;

• Battery temperature and management;

• Other electrical consumption in the building.

There is therefore no single charging time that applies to all vehicles.

What is dynamic power management?

During charging, the vehicle uses the same electrical installation that supplies the other equipment in the home or company.

If several devices are switched on at the same time, total consumption may approach or exceed the available power.

A wallbox with dynamic power management can automatically adjust the energy supplied to the vehicle according to the other electrical consumption.

For example, when the oven, induction hob or washing machine is switched on, the charger can temporarily reduce the power being used by the vehicle.

When household consumption decreases, the wallbox can increase the charging power again.

This system makes better use of the available energy and can reduce the risk of the installation exceeding the contracted power.

Single-phase or three-phase wallbox?

One of the main choices when buying a wallbox is deciding between a single-phase and a three-phase model.

The difference lies in the type of electrical installation and the amount of power that can be made available.

Single-phase wallbox

A single-phase wallbox normally operates at 230 V and uses a single phase of the electrical installation.

In the case of the V2C solutions available from Benecar, the single-phase version can reach a maximum power of 7.4 kW.

This configuration is common in homes and can meet the needs of many users, particularly when the vehicle remains parked for several hours.

Three-phase wallbox

A three-phase wallbox operates at 400 V and uses three phases of the electrical installation.

The three-phase versions of the V2C wallboxes available from Benecar can reach a maximum power of 22 kW.

To install this type of wallbox, the building must have a compatible and properly sized three-phase electrical installation.

A 22 kW wallbox does not, by itself, guarantee that the vehicle will charge at this power. The vehicle must also support 22 kW AC charging.

What is the recommended power for a wallbox?

The choice of power should take several factors into account.

The main ones include:

• The type of electrical installation;

• The contracted power;

• The power available in the building;

• The vehicle's charging capacity;

• The number of kilometres driven each day;

• The amount of time available for charging;

• The possibility of changing vehicles in the future;

• The presence of solar panels;

• Whether the equipment will be used individually or shared.

A more powerful wallbox is not always the most suitable choice. If the vehicle is limited to a lower power level or if the electrical installation cannot provide the required energy, part of the equipment's capacity will not be used.

The electrical installation should be assessed by a qualified professional before the most suitable version is selected.

Is it necessary to increase the contracted power?

Not always.

The need to increase the contracted power will depend on the current power, the use of other equipment and the desired charging speed.

A wallbox with dynamic power management can automatically adjust charging to prevent total consumption from exceeding the available limit.

Even so, each installation should be assessed individually. In some situations, it may be advisable to change the contracted power or adapt the electrical installation.

Can a plug-in hybrid be charged with a wallbox?

Yes.

Plug-in hybrid vehicles have a battery that can be charged using an external power source.

As long as the vehicle and charger use compatible connections, a wallbox can charge both a fully electric vehicle and a plug-in hybrid.

Plug-in hybrids normally have smaller batteries and may accept lower charging power than some fully electric vehicles.

Can a wallbox use solar energy?

Some smart wallboxes can be integrated with photovoltaic installations.

This integration makes it possible to adjust charging according to the energy produced by the solar panels.

Depending on the wallbox and the configuration used, it may be possible to charge exclusively using surplus solar energy or to combine the energy produced by the panels with electricity from the grid.

The V2C Trydan and Trydan Pro solutions include photovoltaic integration features and allow different charging modes to be managed.

Where can you buy a wallbox in Portugal?

Benecar is the official V2C representative in Portugal, offering charging solutions for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles through its online store.

You do not need to buy a car from Benecar to purchase a wallbox.

The following models are currently available in stock:

V2C Trydan

A smart wallbox designed for home charging, with dynamic power management, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, control via V2C Cloud and integration with photovoltaic systems.

Available in the following versions:

• Single-phase, 230 V and 7.4 kW;

• Three-phase, 400 V and 22 kW.

V2C Trydan Pro

A solution with additional connectivity and user management features, including Ethernet, 4G, RFID and NFC.

Available in the following versions:

• Single-phase, 230 V and 7.4 kW;

• Three-phase, 400 V and 22 kW.

If you need another charger, accessory or V2C solution, you can contact Benecar directly.

Installation should be carried out by a suitably qualified professional, ensuring that the equipment, electrical protection systems and selected power are appropriate for the building and the vehicle.