Why is the charge rate lower than advertised?

Are you driving a Hybrid or PHEV?

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) typically support AC charging rates up to 3.3–3.7 kW. This is a hardware limitation built into the car’s onboard charger - the component that manages AC-to-DC conversion inside the vehicle.

Even if you plug into a 7 kW or 22 kW AC charger, your car will still charge at 3.7 kW max. That’s why you won’t see faster speeds.

Are you driving a fully electric vehicle and still not hitting the top charger limits?

If you're in a full EV (BEV), and you’re still not hitting advertised charge speeds, consider the following:

Most AC public chargers offer 7 kW (single phase) or 22 kW (three phase), but many EVs can only accept:

• 7 kW (e.g. Nissan Leaf, Kia e-Niro)

• 11 kW (e.g. VW ID.3, Tesla Model 3 Standard Range)

That means even on a 22 kW charger, you’ll max out at 7 or 11 kW. Not because of the charger, but because of your car.

Here are some examples of cars that can support 22 kW AC charging:

• Renault Zoe

• Smart EQ ForTwo

• Tesla Model S/X (some variants)

Is it a particularly cold day? 

In cold conditions, your EV’s battery will reduce its charge acceptance to protect itself. Until it warms up, it may pull significantly less power than expected.

Is somebody else charging on the same charge point as you? 

If you're using a dual-socket charger (e.g. a 22 kW AC unit with two ports), the total power is shared.

• 22 kW split across 2 cars = 11 kW each, if both cars can handle it.

Is your charging cable rated correctly? 

Charging cables are rated for specific speeds. For example:

• A single-phase 32A cable supports up to 7.4 kW

• A three-phase 32A cable is needed for 22 kW

If you plug in a lower-rated cable, your car will limit charge speed to match it.