Installing a private e-charging station: costs, technology, and important information for Switzerland

Electric cars have long been part of everyday life in Switzerland. With the increasing number of electric vehicles, there is also a growing desire to be able to charge cars conveniently at home – independently of public charging stations or charging times on the road. Having your own e-charging station, usually referred to as a wallbox, makes this possible: it ensures safe, fast, and controlled charging directly at your own parking space or in your garage. In addition to convenience, a professional charging infrastructure also provides technical safety and can have a positive impact on the value of a property. In this guide, you will learn what costs are realistic, how charging options differ, and what points are particularly important to consider in Switzerland.

Before you decide on a solution, there is one question that needs to be answered: How much does a private charging station really cost? The final price depends less on the vehicle itself and more on the desired charging capacity, the existing electrical installation, and the installation costs on site.

In principle, an electric car can also be charged from a normal power outlet. However, this is not a safe option for long-term use. Household power outlets are not designed for continuous use with high currents over many hours. This can result in overheated cables, damaged outlets, or, in the worst case, a fire—especially with older electrical installations. Added to this is the very long charging time: even smaller batteries take many hours to charge, and larger batteries take even longer. A wallbox is therefore not only more convenient, but above all significantly safer.

A private charging station monitors the entire charging process and automatically adjusts the charging power to the vehicle and home installation. This prevents overloads and keeps the charging process stable. In addition, an electric car charges much faster via a wallbox than via a household outlet. The charging cable is permanently installed, ready for use at any time, and saves valuable time in everyday life. The combination with a photovoltaic system is particularly efficient: smart wallboxes automatically use surplus solar power, further reducing energy costs.

Wallboxes are available with charging capacities between 3.7 kW and 22 kW. However, the weakest link in the system is always decisive – usually the charger installed in the vehicle. A car with a 3.7 kW on-board charger will not charge any faster, even with a powerful wallbox. In Switzerland, the Type 2 plug is standard and compatible with virtually all modern electric cars. Many current wallboxes offer additional functions such as load management, RFID access, time control, app monitoring, or intelligent PV charging – particularly useful for multiple vehicles or limited connection power.