Short answer: AC charging using three electrical phases, delivering up to 22 kW (or 43 kW in rare cases) for significantly faster AC charging.
Explanation
Three-phase AC power uses three separate electrical phases working together, delivering about three times the power of single-phase at the same amperage. In Europe, commercial buildings and many homes have three-phase connections. When an EV charger uses all three phases, it can deliver 11 kW (at 16 amps) or 22 kW (at 32 amps).
You can tell if you are charging on three-phase by checking the power output on your car's dashboard or the charger screen. If you see 11 kW or 22 kW from an AC charger, it is almost certainly three-phase. If you see 3.7 kW or 7.4 kW, you are on single-phase.
Not all EVs can use three-phase AC charging. Some cars, like certain Volkswagen ID.3 variants, have an 11 kW three-phase onboard charger. Others, like the base Renault Zoe, only support single-phase AC (though at high amperage). Check your car's spec sheet for the onboard charger rating to know what you can use. If your car only supports single-phase, plugging into a three-phase charger still works, but you will only draw power from one phase.
Where you'll see this
- On the charger screen
- On your car dashboard
- In vehicle specifications
Common confusion
Drivers with single-phase onboard chargers sometimes think a three-phase charger is broken because they only get 7 kW instead of 22 kW. The limitation is the car, not the charger.
Example
A Hyundai Ioniq 5 has an 11 kW three-phase onboard charger. Plugging into a 22 kW three-phase charger still gives only 11 kW because the car limits it.
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