Electromobility is still on the rise thanks to extensive funding. This also increases the need for home charging stations, so-called wall boxes, with which the e-car can be charged at home. The ÖAMTC and its partners have extensively tested twelve models. Only two of them failed.
Ten out of twelve test candidates were found to be “good”. With the go-eCharger, a domestic product takes first place. The box shares this with the Wallbox Chargers Commander 2. Both have in common the safe and reliable charging behavior, setting options via app and directly on the box as well as the generally good equipment. “The Austrian box is also the cheapest product in the test. You have to dig almost twice as deep into your pocket for the Wallbox Chargers model,” says ÖAMTC e-mobility expert Markus Kaiser. “Regardless of the price, however, both boxes are highly recommended – and in general the test shows that the price does not allow any conclusions to be drawn about the quality.” what they need, the club advises: “Is the focus more on high security, on technical features such as charging control and convenience functions, possibly on a functional smartphone app, on visual displays of charging details or ultimately on the price?” Also at the lower end of the An Austrian product can be found in the table: The PC Electric Wallbox GLB was rated “inadequate” as one of two models. “This box has problems with the integrated residual DC current monitoring – a no-go in terms of safety,” says Kaiser. “The same defect also leads to a negative overall rating for the Alfen Eve Single S-line.” Anyone who values safety should therefore avoid these two boxes as long as the manufacturers do not improve them. Test 2018 rated “insufficient” – then as now with the same safety-relevant problem: The integrated residual DC current monitoring device did not trigger in accordance with the standard.Tips for buying and installing a wall box Installation is not for hobby electricians, but the task of a specialist, who, in addition to installing the wallbox itself, also takes care of the upstream and correctly dimensioned electrical installation and protection. Charging facilities for electric vehicles must be registered with the network operator or, depending on the installed capacity, are also subject to approval. Good cable management including plug garage makes it easier to use the wall box in everyday life. Before purchasing, precisely define the desired equipment and comfort functions (e.g. smartphone app, integrated electricity meter, charging control and electricity settings, access protection, visual displays, etc.) for the wallbox. Equipment that is not required should be avoided, as this makes operation more difficult and can lead to errors and failures. A wallbox without a firmly attached charging cable, i.e. with a socket, should have a switchable charging cable lock so that the cable can also be secured against theft in a freely accessible area such as a carport. When integrating into a photovoltaic system, ensure that the interfaces are compatible with the existing PV system.
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