The technical basics

First of all, let’s get on the same page regarding some technical fundamentals: In general, there are four EV charging modes defined by international standards (like IEC 61851-1) that differ in their connector type, operating voltage and charging power.

Mode 1 – AC Charging without communication (standard socket)

The slowest mode uses chargers connecting with standard household outlets to AC supply networks (230V and 16A, ~3.7 kW) and does not require any additional equipment besides standard cables and plugs. That’s why there are no additional safety features and it is in general prohibited to use that mode for EV charging!

Mode 2 – AC Charging from a household socket with an in-cable control box

Chargers who support mode 2 also connect directly to the standard AC socket-outlet and charge at the same speed as mode 1 but do have an additional control and security component. It sits between socket and plug integrated into the connection cable. Accordingly, they are safer to use and suitable for occasional charging, but given their still limited charging speed not the best choice for regular use.

Mode 3 – AC Charging with a dedicated charging station

Mode 3 charging describes what most people have in mind when thinking of EV charging at home or in public. After a professional installation and connection to the AC supply network, a dedicated charging station ensures communication with the EV for more safety, control features and higher powers from 3.7 kW to 22 kW.

Mode 4 – DC Fast charging

Last but not least mode 4, which defines DC fast charging up to a few hundreds of kW. You can typically find them along highways, at service stations, and in high-traffic public locations. They are perfect for spontaneous charging and EVs with larger battery capacities. But given their price tag, not the typical choice for home charging or even a scalable fleet charging roll-out. Further, they substantially exceed AC chargers in size, because they convert the AC grid electricity outside of the car with bigger rectifiers.

Short deep dive: Physically batteries can only be charged with DC. Charging with an AC charger requires an electrical component built into modern EVs, the rectifier, to convert AC to DC. In EVs this device is relatively small and therefore limits the charging speed. If already included in the charger, they can be bigger and more powerful. Voilà the magic behind fast chargers.

Finally, to get a feeling of different charging powers at home, take a look at the following examples for the time needed to charge from 20% to 80% battery

*Note: both these models have a maximum allowable power of 11 kW for AC charging, which means that a 22 kW AC charger is not useful for them.

The right hardware setup

Let’s step back for a moment and take the perspective of a modern fleet manager who looks for home chargers that suit his employees, convince his management and ensure home charging policy are respected. That’s where it starts to become complex.

Should you install a home socket or a dedicated charger?

We always recommend installing a dedicated charge point instead of relying on a home socket. Here’s why:

• Power & flexibility: While a home socket can provide overnight charging for low-mileage drivers, a dedicated charger offers more power—essential in case of emergencies or long trips

• Data & monitoring: Standard sockets lack connectivity, making it impossible to track charging sessions. You’d need an additional smart cable, which increases costs. Most dedicated chargers, on the other hand, can provide real-time data on energy use.

• Control & optimization: Most chargers let you adjust charging power, schedule charging to take advantage of cheaper electricity rates, and even integrate with solar panels—features you won’t get with a basic socket.

What charging power is best?

For most employees, a 7.4kW charger is enough. Here’s why:

• Single-phase limitation: Most residential properties have a single-phase electrical system, meaning they can’t support more than 7.4kW.

• Sufficient power: A 7.4kW charger comfortably charges an EV overnight for typical daily driving needs.

However, for employees with higher mileage or specific charging needs, consider:

• Whether their home has (or could support) a three-phase installation for higher power options.

• Their daily driving distance—do they need faster home charging?

• Their available home charging hours—if they only have limited time, or multiple EVs at home, they may need higher power options.

How to choose the right charger brand?

Once you’ve determined the need for a dedicated charger and its power level, the next step is picking the best brand for your fleet. Key selection criteria:

• Price: Good-quality chargers start around €500 and can go higher depending on features.

• Reliability: Check reviews on comparison sites and social media to gauge customer satisfaction.

• Warranty & support: Most reputable brands offer at least a 2-3 year warranty.

• Regulatory compliance: for example, new EU cybersecurity regulations (RED II) require compliance by August 1, 2025—ensure your choice meets these standards.

• Connectivity: Does it support WiFi, Bluetooth, or mobile data for remote monitoring?

• Remote Control Features: Can you start/stop charging and perform maintenance remotely?

• Energy Management System (EMS) compatibility: Does it support load balancing and integration with solar power?

• Software & App Support: A user-friendly app makes managing home charging much easier.

The right management software

That leads us to the right software to manage your EV hardware and fleet. Often, the annoying part starts after the installation of home charges. Because then, it’s all about connecting them (if they are not pre-setup) and getting the charging data to accurately reimburse the employees.

To avoid painful administrative work, you should take a look at, of course, management software.

In theory, lots of OEMs provide fundamental apps to pull home charging data. But often they are poorly designed and lack basic functions like

• A simple view of all charging sessions at your employees’ homes (regardless the charging hardware)

• A way to set-up individual home tariffs to track expenses

• A possibility to integrate with other software backends through common protocols, such as OCPP 1.6

Especially regarding the last bullet: pay attention to how siloed the systems you are buying are. Because in the end, if you have to use just another software for each brand, consolidation of data between different platforms requires manual work again and you could end up juggling Excels.

But there is a path to stress-free hardware decisions and easy automation at the same time. At least, that’s our conviction at Guided Energy.

Our platform connects to almost any charging hardware (plus to your EVs so that we even track home charging with “dumb” chargers by monitoring vehicle charging sessions). This reduces the complexity of your decision making - just let your employees buy whatever they need. Of course we can help them decide.

Afterwards, we gather all the charging data for you, the employees who want reimbursements set-up their energy tariffs and accurate reimbursements become completely automated. Ciao, repetitive management tasks. And we haven’t even mentioned our charge card yet, have we?

But enough advertising. If something remained unclear or you are interested in Guided, just reach out to us, we’re always happy to chat!

Drive carefully!

Your Guided team