EV charging stations have their place in households, company premises and public spaces. In all cases, they serve the same purpose. Yet they differ in many respects. Features you don't need at home can be essential for business and public stations. So which model should you choose? Our clear overview will help you decide.
Home Stations: Reliable and Affordable
Home EV charging stations are designed for everyday charging of family vehicles. What matters most is simple operation, reliability, easy installation and affordability.
Most households can do without an authorisation system, the ability to connect multiple charging stations or an integrated energy meter. Home users will instead appreciate a user-friendly interface, the option to control the station remotely via a mobile phone, dynamic load management or integration with a home PV system.
Charging stations designed for home use typically have one charging connector. Thanks to their durable construction, you can install them not only in a garage but also outside your house. If you do not expect extreme mechanical stress, a station made of durable plastic will be sufficient.
Business Stations: Connected Points and Advanced Management
For charging an entire company fleet or employees' personal vehicles, a single charging station is usually not enough. It is therefore advisable to choose from higher-tier stations that allow connecting multiple charging points and support dynamic load management based on current demand. The ideal choice is an AC station with two charging connectors and an output of 2x22 kW.
An important component of business charging stations is the authorisation system. It gives the station administrator an overview of usage by individual users and also the ability to restrict access to charging or adjust the maximum charging power. If companies want to make the charging point accessible to the public, they must purchase a model with a certified energy meter.
For wallboxes and charging stations intended for business use, expect high frequency of use and less careful handling. Therefore, prioritise a steel chassis construction. For advanced management options, you will also appreciate the ability to connect to a supervisory management system.
Public Stations: Durability, Performance and Energy Metering
The quality and feature requirements for public charging stations are in many respects similar to those for business charging. An even more significant role is played by mechanical durability, whether against weather conditions, high frequency of use or vandalism.
Charging at publicly accessible stations is usually subject to a fee. Therefore, they must be equipped with certified energy meters, connected to a management system and cloud. Also important is the ability to connect multiple stations in a decentralised manner, which gives the administrator an instant overview of the status and usage of individual charging points.
For installation in shopping centres, car parks, squares and other urban areas, AC charging stations with two connectors and an output of 2x22 kW are typically chosen. In locations where users need to charge as quickly as possible, modern DC charging stations with an output of 100 kW or more are the right choice. Ultra-fast charging stations are particularly important at petrol stations or near motorways.
Choose Based on Your Feature and Property Requirements
The boundary between a home, business and public charging station is not fixed. There are households that need to charge two vehicles simultaneously or want to create a publicly accessible charging point. For those, we recommend choosing a higher-tier wallbox, e.g. MyBox Profi.
All MyBox charging stations are equipped with top-quality European components and support a range of advanced features. This also applies to the basic models MyBox Home and MyBox Plus. Even these support the option of adding an identification system, connecting multiple stations or remote management. They may therefore also be sufficient for small businesses that do not currently wish to invest significantly in charging infrastructure.
We Will Help You Choose
Still not sure which MyBox charging station model is best for your needs? Write to us at info@mybox.eco or call +420 799 114 919. We will discuss everything in detail, suggest several solutions and help with installation and commissioning.
Author
Filip Zapletal
