Charging 3x16 amps versus 1x16 amps
An electric car runs on electricity. And that means that the car needs to be charged. There are various options for charging the battery of an electric car. For example, it can be charged at 10 amps , 16 amps and even at 3x16 amps . How big is the difference?
The difference is very big. With 3x16 amps you can charge three times as fast as with 1x16 amps . But that 's not the whole story. There are some catches. What connection do you currently have at home and how much can your electric car handle exactly? These two factors are more important than the difference between 1x16 and 3x16 charging. But how does it all work exactly?
Charging at 1x16 amps
When the EV is charged at home, it is time to look at the home grid power. The available capacity is particularly important here . The vast majority of Dutch households have a grid connection that is higher than 25 amps . This is a pleasant fact when charging electrically; most dealers recommend charging at 1x16 amps and this is possible with a 25 amp connection .
In this case, an empty group is used or created, in order to then set up a separate socket or install a charging station. The empty group is important because this is the only way to use the maximum capacity of the network. This ensures that the electric car can charge optimally.
Although ... optimal? Isn't 3x16 amps much better? Well , usually not at all actually.
3x16 A charging; significantly faster, but is it worth it?
Charging 3x16 A is three times faster than charging with 1x16 A. At least, that is what most people think. However, it is far from always true. There are still models (such as the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV) that can be charged with a maximum of 1x16 amps . Increasing the charging voltage to 3x16 amps literally does nothing, because the inverter in the car cannot handle this and will only use 1x16.
Newer models are prepared for charging with 3x16 amps . For these models too, it is not always so obvious to choose to increase the mains connection when you currently have a maximum of 1x16 amps . For charging with 3 phases, you need a reinforcement of the connection. The mains costs will then be an average of 600 euros per year higher.
Now the big question; is it all worth it? That depends on how you charge the car. Are you someone who puts the car on the charger at home after work, around six o'clock, and takes it off the charger again the next morning around seven o'clock? Then increasing the connection is not worth it, because the time saving will not even be noticeable, and the costs for increasing the connection will.
So, how are you going to charge?
Charging at 1x16 amps is the most logical option when you;
- Have an EV that can be charged at a maximum of 1x16A;
- You leave the car on the charger all night;
- You do not want to pay hundreds of euros to upgrade your grid connection just to charge your electric car.
Charging at 3x16A is the best option when you;
- You have an EV that can handle 3x16A charging voltage;
- You have multiple devices that can be connected to 3 phases;
- You currently have and are using a reinforced connection;
- Your EV should be able to be charged within a few hours with the help of a strong charging station.
More information
Want more information or advice? Feel free to contact us or view our range of charging cables .
