The socket ladder — what charges what
| Setup | Power | Good for | Range added per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal 5A socket (the everyday plug) | 1.0–1.5 kW | Scooters, e-bikes | 4–6 km (scooter) |
| 15A socket (fridge/AC type) | 2.5–3.3 kW | Cars (overnight), scooters (fast) | 12–18 km (car) |
| 7.4 kW wall box (needs install) | 7.4 kW | Cars — the standard home upgrade | 30–40 km |
| Public DC fast charger | 25–50 kW+ | Highway stops | 150–250 km in 30–45 min |
The takeaway: scooters need nothing new — any healthy 5A socket charges them overnight with room to spare. Cars work on a 15A socket for daily use, which is why many owners start there before upgrading. The 7.4 kW wall box is about convenience and future-proofing, not necessity.
Before you plug in: the wiring conversation
Indian home wiring varies from excellent to alarming, and an EV charger is the hardest-working thing that will ever use your circuit — hours of continuous load nightly, not the minutes a kettle sees. Three checks matter. Circuit identity: the charging socket should be on its own circuit from the meter or distribution board, not shared with lights and fans — shared circuits trip and, in bad cases, overheat. Cable gauge: a 15A circuit needs 2.5 sq mm copper minimum; older homes wired with 1.5 sq mm should be re-cabled to the charging point. The earthing test: proper earthing is not optional — it is what makes a fault pop the breaker instead of electrifying the vehicle body. Any honest electrician will test this first; the brand's installer will refuse to proceed without it.
What installation actually involves
For a car wall box: a site survey (the installer checks meter distance, cable route, earthing), a dedicated circuit from your meter or sub-board, RCD/breaker protection sized for the load, the wall box itself, and a fixed cable run to your parking spot. Costs split into the unit (₹8,000–20,000), cable and materials (₹3,000–12,000 depending on distance), and labour (₹2,000–6,000). Apartment residents add the society approval step — a written application naming the parking slot and meter arrangement; most societies handle this routinely now, and the electric cars guide covers the persuasion details.
For scooters, "installation" is a socket check: make sure the point you will use is on decent wiring, doesn't share with heavy appliances, and sits somewhere dry. A weather cover for outdoor parking costs a few hundred rupees and is worth it.
Tariffs: the quiet money-saver
Several state utilities offer separate EV tariffs or EV-meter options priced below domestic slabs, precisely to encourage night charging on cheap surplus power. If your state offers one, a separate EV meter decouples your charging from the domestic slab ladder — heavy charging stops pushing your whole house into a pricier slab. Check your utility's website or ask at the electricity office; the paperwork is a form and the saving compounds monthly. Our charging calculator takes whichever tariff you end up on.