)
)
Electric car charging stations: the complete guide to charging on the road and at home
Feb 10, 2026
:format(webp))
The electric car charging station has become one of the key elements of the driving experience for electric vehicle drivers. It is not only used to " fill up," it also influences your daily comfort, your energy budget, your freedom of movement, and even the life of your battery.
However, between power variations, different types of connectors, charging times, installation, and financial assistance, the subject can seem technical. At Electra, we decided to design this guide to clarify the subject of charging on the road or at home and help you understand which station really suits your needs.
)
AC and DC: the basics you need to understand charging
Before even talking about power, charging time, or battery capacity, it is important to understand a fundamental distinction. There are two types of charging: alternating current (more commonly known as AC) and direct current (DC). This is the key to everything else.
At home, electricity always comes in alternating current. When you plug in your car, the vehicle's onboard charger converts this current into direct current (DC) to power the battery. This conversion limits the available power, which explains why home charging is much slower than charging at public stations.
Nevertheless, it is perfectly suited to everyday use, especially at night, during off-peak hours, or when parked for long periods of time. The car recharges without any constraints.
On the highway or when traveling in general, fast charging works differently. At a direct current charging station, the AC/DC conversion is performed directly at the station. The electricity therefore already arrives at the battery as direct current, which allows very high power levels to be achieved. As a result, charging shifts from background use to mobility use, capable of restoring hundreds of kilometers in a matter of minutes.
In Europe, the best chargers offer up to 400 kW of power. Depending on what electric cars can handle, such power levels can allow them to go from 20% to 80% in 15 to 18 minutes.
In short, understanding this distinction makes it clear from the outset why home electric car charging stations and fast charging stations do not meet the same need but complement each other perfectly.
At home: standard outlet, reinforced outlet, or wallbox?
Not all home charging solutions are equal. The choice depends on how often you drive, the level of safety you want, and the convenience you desire. A standard household outlet can be a temporary solution, but to put it another way, it is not designed to withstand long and repeated charging.
Its limited power results in very long charging times, often more than a full day for an average battery, and it can cause overheating in older installations. It can be used occasionally, but is not recommended for everyday use.
A reinforced outlet is a safer compromise. It supports slightly higher power and reduces charging times without requiring complex installation. It is suitable for drivers who drive infrequently or who have long parking periods, but its limitations quickly become apparent when usage becomes more intensive.
The Wallbox is now the market standard for home charging stations. Installed on a dedicated circuit, it allows for much faster charging, usually in just a few hours. It offers real convenience thanks to programming and smart control during off-peak hours.
For most drivers, it is the most suitable electric car charging station for everyday use. It makes charging simple, invisible, and particularly fast!
Connectors: Type 2, Combo CCS, etc.
The question of plugs may seem secondary, but it determines compatibility with infrastructure.
The Type 2 connector has become the European standard for AC charging. All domestic stations and the vast majority of public AC stations use it, and virtually all electric vehicles sold today are equipped with it.
For fast charging, the dominant standard is Combo CCS. This is an evolution of Type 2, supplemented by two pins dedicated to direct current. This configuration allows very high power levels to be achieved and is now fitted to most recent models, including Tesla, Peugeot, Renault, BMW, Volkswagen, and Hyundai.
The CHAdeMO connector, long used by Nissan and the Leaf in particular, is gradually becoming marginalized in Europe. New vehicles no longer adopt it, confirming the widespread adoption of CCS as the standard for fast charging. In North America, Tesla has imposed the NACS standard.
Power, charging time, and range: the decisive trio
The power of an electric car charging station directly influences the time needed to recover range. But the result also depends on the battery capacity and the technical limitations of the vehicle.
Let's take two models that are particularly popular in France. A Peugeot e-208 equipped with a battery of around 50 kWh will need to spend more than 14 hours on a small domestic charging station, but only five hours on an 11 kW charging station. With fast charging, going from 10% to 90% will take around 30 minutes. The difference in usage is considerable.
A Tesla Model 3, equipped with a larger battery (57 kWh), will also need several hours (around 30 hours) to recharge at home, but it can recover several hundred kilometers and go from 10% to 90% at a fast charging station in just 23 minutes.
Approximate charging times depending on power
Battery capacity | Standard outlet | 3.7 kW | 22 kW | 150 kW DC |
40 kWh | 19 hours | 11 | 2 hours | 20 min |
50 kWh | 11:45 p.m. | 2 p.m. | 2.5 hours | 25 min |
60 kWh | 28:30 | 5:00 p.m. | 3 hours | 30 min |
80 kWh | 38 hours | 10 p.m. | 3 hours 45 minutes | 35 min |
Please note that these values are indicative. Some electric cars with large batteries, such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 (77 kWh), can go from 10% to 80% charge in just 18 minutes. This depends on the technologies offered by the car, in particular 400-volt architectures.
But in any case, these figures still illustrate a reality: the power of the charging station profoundly transforms the charging experience.
Charging away from home: infrastructure that frees up mobility
Home charging covers most needs, but fast charging plays an essential role as soon as you leave your usual area. On long journeys, ultra-fast charging stations allow you to quickly recover range and turn your break into a simple transition.
The experience is then similar to that of a conventional fill-up. Well, almost... In urban areas, fast charging offers valuable flexibility, especially for drivers without a private charging station. It allows you to recharge efficiently during a break, an appointment, or a trip to the city center. This complementarity between home charging and fast charging is now the most fluid and reliable charging ecosystem.
Installation: why EVSE certification is essential
Installing a charging station for an electric car is not just a matter of pulling a cable. Far from it. Regulations require the intervention of an IRVE-certified electrician, and this requirement responds to concrete issues of safety, compliance, and performance.
A correctly sized installation ensures that the station will deliver the expected power without risk to the electrical system. It also determines access to financial assistance and the durability of the equipment. In both individual and shared housing, using a certified professional remains the best guarantee of peace of mind.
Financial assistance: reducing installation costs
Several schemes are available to support the installation of a domestic charging station. The tax credit allows you to recover part of the cost of a controllable charging station, while the ADVENIR program specifically supports installations in multi-unit dwellings. In some cases, reduced VAT also applies to the installation, and local subsidies may supplement these schemes.
These subsidies make installing an electric car charging station at home more affordable than you might think, and they help accelerate the adoption of electric mobility. It's worth looking into!
Preserving your battery: the simple 20-80% rule
One piece of advice that experts consistently give is to avoid keeping the battery at 0% or 100% for too long. In everyday use, staying between 20% and 80% limits chemical stress and helps preserve battery capacity over time. A full charge is useful before a long trip, but it is not necessary on a daily basis. Keep this in mind!
Vehicle compatibility: reassuring standardization
Recent models now share the same standards, which facilitates access to infrastructure. Tesla Model 3, Peugeot e-208, Renault Mégane E-Tech, BMW i4, Volkswagen ID.3, and Hyundai Ioniq 5 all use Type 2 AC charging and, for the most part, Combo CCS for fast charging.
This standardization simplifies the choice of an electric car charging station and guarantees long-term compatibility.
Choosing the right station: a question of usage above all else
The right choice depends less on technology than on your daily life. A driver who mainly charges at home will prefer a Wallbox that is suitable for their installation and vehicle. If their place of residence allows it. Long journeys, on the other hand, require a vehicle capable of high-power charging and reliable access to a fast network.
In short, using a charging station for your electric car means changing your mindset. You no longer " fill up " on an ad hoc basis, you charge intelligently: at night, during a break, before setting off. Charging becomes gradual, invisible, and adapted to your lifestyle. And that changes everything.
Thanks to the combination of home charging and fast or even ultra-fast charging, electric cars now cover all uses, from everyday driving to long journeys. And it's important to remember that charging is no longer a technical constraint; today, it's an infrastructure of freedom.
The only charging app you will need
4.5/5
on the stores