Charging at home: wallbox, socket & grants
Most EV charging happens at home — at your own wallbox, at the household socket, or (in a multi-family building) at the shared parking spot. This chapter walks you through the key decisions: which charging type fits, what a wallbox can cost, and how to frame electricity tariffs and grant schemes.
The complete technical guide — efficiency, prices, buying criteria — is in Wallbox: how to charge most efficiently? — efficiency, charging costs & price/km.
Socket charging (Level 1)
The simplest start: the included charging cable in the household socket. Slow, with only about 60 % efficiency — practical as a backup and holiday solution, not as a permanent setup.
Wallbox (Level 2)
The standard for most households: single-phase (4.6 kW) or three-phase (11 kW or 22 kW) — faster, with over 94 % efficiency, and usually cheaper per charging kilometre than the socket or public chargers.
Multi-family building (MFH)
As a tenant you have a legally established entitlement to a charging facility at your parking spot — including grant schemes (KfW, state programmes). The key steps: application, approval by the owners' association, cost allocation.
How much does charging at home cost?
The electricity costs for charging at home are the lowest that can be achieved. The actual cost depends on your electricity tariff and the self-consumption share. Typical price bands:
| Charging option | Price/kWh | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Socket (household current) | €0.30–0.40 | Efficiency loss: only ~60 % efficiency |
| Wallbox with household current | €0.25–0.45 | Depends on the electricity tariff |
| Wallbox with a night-rate tariff | €0.15–0.25 | The cheapest option: charge overnight |
| Wallbox with PV surplus | €0.00–0.10 | Charging with your own PV power from the roof |
For a deeper dive into costs and tariffs, see all details in the article Charging costs & tariffs.
Tip: combine wallbox & tariff
The cheapest combination is the 11 kW wallbox with a night-rate tariff — optionally combined with PV: see Charging with PV solar power. This minimises cost per kilometre and CO₂ output at the same time.
Grants for the wallbox & charging infrastructure
- KfW programmes 442/444: grants for photovoltaics, storage, and the wallbox — up to 60 % of the eligible investment.
- State regulations: several federal states and municipalities offer their own grants for charging infrastructure in multi-family buildings.
- Reduced grid fees: controllable wallboxes above 4.2 kW (§14a EnWG) can apply for reduced grid charges.
Grants in a multi-family building
Since the reform of §550a BGB, tenants have a legally established entitlement to the installation of a wallbox at the parking spot. In practice: submit the application, obtain the owners' association approval, engage a licensed electrician. The KfW grant can cover up to 50 % of the cost.
Next steps for your home project
- Check the electricity connection: how much power does my home have?
- Choose the wallbox: single-phase (4.6 kW) or three-phase (11/22 kW) — more in the Wallbox guide.
- Get 3 quotes from licensed electricians.
- Submit the KfW grant application — before the installation.
- Negotiate a night-rate / smart tariff.
Also interesting: Charging the company car privately and Fleet charging for companies.