Why a standard outlet isn't the answer

A standard Type 13 (T13/Schuko) household outlet is built for short loads: a kettle, a vacuum cleaner, a drill. Charging a car means several hours of continuous draw at full power. What wears out contacts and wiring is the duration of the load, not a brief current spike. The plug and socket heat up, the contacts degrade within a few months of regular use, and the fire risk becomes real. This is why Swiss electricians and industry bodies (TCS, electricians' associations) advise against charging from a standard outlet except occasionally.

The solution is a dedicated charging station (wallbox): a separate circuit from the electrical panel, a breaker and residual current device sized for this load, and a Type 2 connector built to transfer power over long periods.

The norms: OIBT, NIBT and what they mean in practice

Like any power installation in a home, a charging station falls under the Ordonnance sur les installations électriques à basse tension (OIBT) and the NIBT technical standard. In practice:

Only a licensed electrician (installateur-électricien agréé) may design and install the station. Installing one yourself is prohibited, just like modifying your own distribution panel.

The circuit needs its own breaker and residual current device, sized to the power level, cable cross-section and distance from the panel.

After installation, the system goes through the standard safety certification: a safety report (RaSi) or, for higher power levels and in multi-unit buildings, an independent inspection by an accredited body (CSE), as with any new power circuit. See our article on periodic OIBT inspection and electrical panels for details.

To plan for load management and future solar panels, professionals follow the SIA 2060 guidelines on e-mobility infrastructure in buildings.

Another practical point is notifying the grid operator. A station of 11 kW or more must be declared to the local electricity distributor before work begins: SIG in Geneva, Romande Energie in the canton of Vaud, Groupe E in other parts of Romandie. Processing usually takes 2 to 4 weeks. If the local grid is already heavily loaded, the operator may sometimes require a power cap or dynamic load management.

Choosing the power: 11 kW or 22 kW

For most single-family homes in Geneva and Lausanne, the sensible choice is an 11 kW three-phase station. It covers about 95% of real-world needs: an average EV with a 40–60 kWh battery charges fully in 4 to 6 hours, which fits easily into one night.

22 kW only makes sense in two cases: two EVs charging at the same time in one household, or a need for fast daytime top-ups between trips. Keep in mind that charging speed also depends on the car's onboard charger. Many models accept no more than 11 kW on AC, and in that case the extra cost of a 22 kW station buys you nothing.

What it costs in Romandie

Price ranges in 2026 for a single-family home with a standard grid connection:

11 kW station, standard installation: CHF 1,800–3,200

11 kW with a long cable run (over 20 m from the panel): CHF 2,500–4,000

22 kW, three-phase connection: CHF 2,400–3,800

With panel replacement or upgrade (common in homes built in the 1980s–1990s, which have little spare capacity): CHF 3,000–5,500

The condition of the existing panel has the biggest effect on the final quote. If it is already running near its rated capacity, upgrading it can cost more than the station itself. It pays to have the panel checked at the consultation stage, so it doesn't turn up later as a surprise line in the quote.

Charging stations in a PPE: a right or an assembly decision?

In a condominium (PPE), things are more complicated than in a single-family home, and there is a common misconception: Switzerland has no automatic federal "right to charge" that forces the owners' assembly to approve a station as soon as one co-owner asks. The matter is decided by the PPE's usual vote under the Civil Code's condominium provisions, and the approval threshold depends on the scope of the work:

Common building infrastructure (a distribution panel serving all parking spaces, a load-management system, riser cables) requires an assembly decision by double majority: a majority of co-owners present or represented and a majority of ownership shares.

An individual station connected to common infrastructure that already exists is usually treated as a simple authorization with technical and financial conditions, without a full vote.

If there is no infrastructure yet, the assembly can require a building-wide project. This is in the co-owners' own interest: when everyone runs their own cable to their own space, the underground garage quickly becomes an unsafe tangle of wires that is hard to maintain.

The process for a PPE:

Preliminary study by a certified electrician (diagram, budget, load management).

Usage rules: kWh metering, liability, insurance.

Subsidy application, before work begins.

Item placed on the assembly agenda with clear documentation.

Assembly vote.

Installation and OIBT sign-off.

Indicative costs for a PPE:

preliminary study and assembly dossier: CHF 1,500–5,000;

ready-to-use common infrastructure, without individual stations: CHF 8,000–40,000 per building;

pre-wiring for one parking space: CHF 500–2,000;

individual station: CHF 1,200–2,500;

load-management software maintenance, if a billing system is in place: CHF 5–15 per station per month.

Subsidies in Geneva and the canton of Vaud

Canton of Vaud: there is a subsidy for private-use charging infrastructure, but it targets collective housing (PPE, apartment buildings), not single-family or semi-detached homes. Terms and caps change regularly, so check the current parameters on vd.ch before applying.

Geneva: SIG runs a "Mobilité électrique" program for property owners that helps prepare buildings for e-mobility.

In both cantons, charging infrastructure subsidies can sometimes be combined with municipal support. Check the exact conditions with both the canton and the municipality.

The rule for all these subsidies: apply before work begins. Retroactive compensation is generally not granted.

Our approach to charging stations

For single-family homes in Geneva and Lausanne, we start by checking the existing electrical panel. If it is already at its limit, we tell you before we draw up the quote, not after. For PPE buildings, we prepare a technical dossier that co-owners can actually discuss at the assembly: a clear diagram, a justified power level and a realistic budget. All work is done by licensed electricians and ends with the standard safety certification, as for any power circuit in the home.

Frequently asked questions

Can I charge an EV regularly from a standard household outlet?

It is technically possible but not recommended: a prolonged load wears out the outlet's contacts and raises the risk of overheating. Regular charging needs a dedicated station with its own protection.

Do I need a building permit to install a charging station in a single-family home?

Usually not. For a single-family or semi-detached home, this work does not require a permit. Only the grid operator notification is mandatory from 11 kW upward.

How long does grid operator approval take?

Usually 2 to 4 weeks after the notification is filed.

What if the PPE assembly refuses a charging station?

First find out why. If the objection is technical (no building-wide plan, risk of messy cabling), it is often resolved by proposing a shared project for the whole building instead of an individual installation.

Is 11 kW enough for daily use?

In the vast majority of cases, yes: an average EV charges fully on an 11 kW station in 4 to 6 hours.

This article is for general information and reflects norms and practice in Switzerland in 2026 (cantons of Geneva and Vaud). Subsidy terms, grid operator tariffs and PPE voting procedures may change, so check the current conditions with us or the relevant authorities before making a decision.