Home EV charger in Brussels, Flanders and Wallonia

Why install a charger rather than use a socket?

A household socket is not designed to deliver high power for hours on end. It charges slowly and can overheat if the circuit is old. A wall-mounted charger has dedicated protection, charges several times faster and communicates with the vehicle to adjust the power safely.

Most current chargers are connected: they let you track consumption, schedule charging for the cheapest hours or sync it with your solar panels so you drive on your own electricity. Some can also identify users, which is useful if an employer reimburses the charging of a company car.

What charging power should you choose?

The available power depends first on your connection. On single-phase, a charger delivers a maximum of 7.4 kW. On 400 V three-phase, it can reach 11 kW or more; on 230 V three-phase, common in older houses, power is more limited. You also need to consider how much AC power your vehicle can actually accept.

For most drivers, overnight charging at 7.4 kW is more than enough. A charger with dynamic load management prevents the main breaker from tripping when other appliances are running at the same time. In Flanders, where part of the grid cost depends on your monthly peak through the capacity tariff, smart charging also helps keep that peak down. A more powerful charger only makes sense if your vehicle and connection can really use it, which the adviser checks with you.

Installation and RGIE/AREI inspection

The installation includes the charger, a dedicated circuit from the consumer unit, suitable residual current protection and sometimes a trench if the charger is some distance from the house. Once fitted, it must be inspected by an approved body under the RGIE/AREI before being put into service. This inspection also matters for your insurance.

If your consumer unit is old or your connection too weak, the installer may suggest an upgrade, or even a request to the grid operator to increase capacity. The adviser identifies these points from the first conversation to avoid surprises on the quote. You can then compare complete, genuinely equivalent quotes.