Nothing is more frustrating than realizing your EV is charging slowly . Slow charging times at home are rarely a defect, but usually the result of a mismatch between your car, your power grid, and the charging equipment being used. The causes are both technical and structural. This article breaks down the complexity. We analyze the three primary bottlenecks and offer concrete, immediately applicable solutions. Optimize your charging infrastructure with the right knowledge and upgrade to the highest possible charging speed.
Why this topic is important: Efficiency and Time Savings
The impact of slow loading speeds goes beyond inconvenience; it's an inefficient use of time and resources.
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Direct Time Savings: Reducing the charging time from 10 hours to 4 hours saves valuable time every day. This optimization is a crucial step in the adoption of EVs as primary vehicles.
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Network Load: Faster, controlled charging speeds via a dedicated Wallbox are more efficient and safer than prolonged charging via a standard socket.
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Higher EV Adoption Ceiling: The perceived hassle of charging is a limiting factor. Solving the slow speed by installing the right dedicated wallbox will contribute to smoother EV adoption in the Netherlands and Belgium. Research shows that demand for three-phase charging solutions will increase by 30% by 2025.
How 'EV charging slowly' works in practice: The Three Bottlenecks
Charging speed is always determined by the weakest link in the chain. There are three critical technical thresholds that limit speed:
1. The Power Source (Your Mains Connection)
This is the most common limitation. Standard home connections in the Netherlands and Belgium are often single-phase (max. 3.7 kW charging capacity).
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1-Phase Restriction: You draw a maximum per phase from the mains. This results in a charging speed of (230V 16A), which in a modern EV Can take hours.
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3-Phase Solution: By upgrading your home connection to (or 3x35A), you can use up to (3 x 230V 16A) or charging. This reduces the charging time to hours for a full battery.
2. The Hardware (Charging Point and Cable)
If your connection is 3-phase, but your Wallbox or charging cable is not, the hardware limitations apply.
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Emergency charger (socket): Charging via a standard socket (230V) with a mobile charger only provides . This is a stopgap solution, not a permanent method.
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Cable Mismatch: Even with a 3-phase Wallbox, a single-phase charging cable is the limiting factor. You need a suitable 3-phase charging cable to transfer the full power of the Wallbox.
3. The Car (On-Board Charger)
Every EV has a built-in onboard charger. This device converts AC power from the home grid into DC power for the battery.
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Internal Limitation: Many older or smaller EVs have an on-board charger that maxes out It can handle (2-phase). Even if you have a 22kW wallbox, the car will never charge faster than its internal limit allows.
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Check Specifications: Always consult your car's technical specifications to determine the maximum AC charging capacity. This is the hard upper limit.
Practical example: The owner of a Nissan Leaf with a 6.6 kW on-board charger installs a 22 kW wallbox. The car will charge at a maximum of 6.6 kW. The investment in 22 kW is not immediately necessary unless the owner purchases an EV with a higher on-board charger in the future.
Selection advice or comparison: Upgrade your chain
To maximize charging speed, you need to identify and upgrade the weakest link.
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The Basics: Wallbox: Invest in a 3-phase wallbox (11 kW or 22 kW) with Dynamic Load Balancing (DLB) functionality. DLB monitors your home's total power consumption and automatically adjusts your car's charging speed to prevent overload and tripping circuit breakers. This is crucial for safe and uninterrupted fast charging.
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The Cable: Match Making: Make sure your charging cable matches the highest possible power (3-phase, 32A).
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Network Advice: Have a certified installer assess whether upgrading your meter box from 1-phase to 3-phase is necessary and technically feasible.
Product Category Connection: Our Fixed Charging Stations category only includes models that support 3-phase charging and are equipped with the required Smart Charging features, including DLB. This ensures you're investing in future-proof and maximum charging speed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much faster is 3-phase charging than 1-phase charging?
About three times faster. A single-phase connection delivers a maximum of 3.7 kW. A standard three-phase connection (3x16A) delivers up to 11 kW. This means the charging time for a 60 kWh battery is reduced from over 16 hours (single-phase) to approximately 6 hours (three-phase). The factor of three applies if the car can handle this power.
Is my charging station broken if the car charges slowly?
Usually not. A slow charging speed is caused by a defective charging station in less than 10% of cases. The cause is almost always one of three limitations: the single-phase connection, the car's limited onboard charger, or a temporary limitation due to Dynamic Load Balancing. First, check the specifications of your onboard charger and your mains connection .
What is Dynamic Load Balancing and do I need it?
Dynamic Load Balancing (DLB) is a safety mechanism that automatically reduces the EV's charging speed when other high-output appliances in the home (e.g., an induction cooktop or heat pump) are active. Yes, you need this for fast charging at home. DLB prevents overloading of the main fuse and is essential for safe, uninterrupted, high-capacity charging without tripping the fuses.
Summary & CTA
The solution to the complaint "EVs charge slowly" lies in creating a balance between a 3-phase grid connection, a powerful wallbox with DLB, and a suitable charging cable. It's a chain upgrade. Identify the weakest link: is it your 1-phase connection, your old charging cable , or the wallbox itself? A dedicated 11 kW or 22 kW charging point is the foundation for efficiency. View our range of 3-phase charging solutions and cables now and increase your charging speed.
