In brief
A wallbox is a permanently installed AC charging station for electric vehicles. It charges much faster than a domestic socket and is the usual solution at company sites and the homes of company car users.
Why not use a domestic socket?
Because it is not designed for sustained high loads. Charging a full battery through a Schuko socket takes a very long time and puts the wiring under load for hours, which can become a hazard in older installations. A wallbox is built for continuous operation and has the necessary protective equipment.
What power rating makes sense?
For most applications, 11 kilowatts is enough to charge a vehicle fully overnight. Charge points must be registered with the grid operator; above a certain connection capacity, the operator's approval is also required. As long as vehicles remain parked for long periods, higher charging power rarely offers a practical advantage.
What matters for fleet use?
Three features beyond charging itself. First, assigning each charging session to a vehicle or person so that costs can be allocated to whoever incurred them. Second, load management when several charge points share a connection. Third, metering: reimbursement based on kilowatt-hours consumed requires a meter that complies with calibration law.
Wallboxes without these features cost less to buy but create ongoing work in charging cost accounting.
Further reading
Fleet Management Without Excel Spreadsheets
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