11 kW or 22 kW wallbox – which is the better choice in Austria?
In short: for most households in Austria, an 11 kW wallbox is the more sensible choice: it is less expensive, easier to approve and more than sufficient for everyday use. A 22 kW wallbox is worthwhile only in specific situations.
| Differences at a glance | ||
| Criterion | 11 kW | 22 kW |
| Approval | usually only needs to be notified | often requires approval (grid connection) |
| Cost | neutral | neutral |
| Charging time | sufficient for everyday use | faster in certain cases, e.g. some plug-in hybrids |
| Grid load | lower | higher |
Important point: very few vehicles can use 22 kW
Many people assume that 22 kW is automatically “better” – but in reality, only a small number of electric vehicles on the market can charge at 22 kW AC at all.
Most current EVs are limited to 11 kW AC charging power.
👉 This means that even with a 22 kW wallbox, the vehicle will not charge any faster in practice.
Special case: plug-in hybrids
Some plug-in hybrid models charge on a single phase.
In this case, a 22 kW wallbox can be useful because it can:
- supply up to 32 A on one phase
- thereby provide around 7 kW of single-phase charging power
This is a special case, but it can be relevant in certain setups.
Is 11 kW enough for everyday use?
Yes – by a very comfortable margin.
A simple example:
- 11 kW charging power × 10 hours (overnight)
- = 110 kWh of energy
👉 Very few electric vehicles even have a battery that large.
In addition:
- average daily energy consumption: 20–30 kWh per day (depending on commuting distance)
This means:
- even with daily charging, 11 kW is more than sufficient
- the vehicle is usually fully charged again after only a few hours
When is 11 kW completely sufficient?
- daily overnight charging
- commuters (20–80 km/day)
- detached homes with one vehicle
When does 22 kW make sense?
- several EVs in one household
- commercial use
- very short charging windows
- specific requirements (e.g. single-phase plug-in hybrids)
Conclusion
For the majority of households in Austria, 11 kW is the best choice: sufficient, efficient and future-proof. Combined with a smart meter and dynamic load management, a wallbox can also be integrated easily into existing electrical installations without overloading the grid connection – making smarter use of the infrastructure already in place.
22 kW is genuinely useful only in specific applications.
