Opel Vivaro-e 50 kWh EV charger: which one fits best?
The Opel Vivaro-e 50 kWh charges at home on 7.4 kW as standard. That is single-phase charging at 32 A. It fills the usable 46.3 kWh battery in about seven and a half hours. The van is ready before the working day starts. An 11 kW three-phase on-board charger was an option on this van, and standard in some markets. With that option the battery is full in about five hours. Want to compare more widely first? Browse all Opel EV chargers in our overview.
For the Opel Vivaro-e 50 kWh we recommend a charger from our 7.4 kW EV charger range.
Charging specifications of the Opel Vivaro-e 50 kWh
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Usable battery capacity | 46.3 kWh (50 kWh nominal) |
| Max. AC charging power, standard | 7.4 kW (single-phase, 32 A) |
| Max. AC charging power, optional on-board charger | 11 kW (three-phase) |
| Charging time on a 7.4 kW charger | approx. 7.5 hours |
| Charging time on an 11 kW charger, standard van | approx. 14 hours 45 minutes (capped at 3.7 kW) |
| Charging time on an 11 kW charger, optional on-board charger | approx. 5 hours |
| Charging time on a 22 kW charger, standard van | approx. 7.5 hours (7.4 kW) |
| Charge port | type 2 (Mennekes) |
All charging times run from empty to full and include charging losses.
The right EV charger for the Opel Vivaro-e 50 kWh
The standard Vivaro-e uses one phase and draws up to 32 A on it. A three-phase charger splits its power over three separate live wires instead of one. An 11 kW three-phase charger gives 16 A per phase, and the standard van can only use one of them. That leaves it with 3.7 kW, so an 11 kW charger is slower than a 7.4 kW one, not faster. Check the order sheet or the vehicle documents before you decide, because the optional 11 kW on-board charger does change the answer.
Two features are worth looking at for a working van. Load balancing lets the charger watch what the rest of the building uses and lower its own power when demand rises. That keeps the fuse from tripping on a busy Monday morning. An EV charger with an app shows each session on your phone. You can see what a night of charging actually delivered. Both are available at 7.4 kW, and you can filter on EV chargers with dynamic load balancing directly.
One thing does not exist at 7.4 kW: a MID meter. That is a calibrated kWh meter built into the charger, which records exactly how much electricity went into the van at home. In our range those EV chargers with a MID meter start at 11 kW. The standard Vivaro-e drops to 3.7 kW there. The option that keeps the full 7.4 kW is a 22 kW EV charger, because it delivers 32 A per phase. It does need a three-phase supply at the property, so check that first.
Most vans in this class end up on a straightforward single-phase charger at home. Our EV chargers for home use show what that costs and which models fit a driveway or a yard wall.
Charging times for the Opel Vivaro-e 50 kWh
On a 7.4 kW charger the Vivaro-e goes from empty to full in roughly seven and a half hours. That figure includes charging losses, so it sits about an hour above the pure battery-divided-by-power calculation. Plug the van in after the last drop-off and it is ready the next morning. On a 16 A single-phase supply the power halves to 3.7 kW. The same charge then takes about 14 hours 45 minutes.
The van has a type 2 port, like most modern chargers. A separate type 2 charging cable is only needed if you want to charge somewhere else. At home you charge through the fixed connection of the charger.
Other versions of the Opel Vivaro-e
Wallbox Discounter also has charging information for the other version of the Vivaro-e:
- Opel Vivaro-e 75 kWh, with a bigger battery and more range for long days on the road
Frequently asked questions
Does the Opel Vivaro-e 50 kWh need a three-phase connection?
Not the standard van. It charges fastest on a single-phase 32 A charger, which gives it the full 7.4 kW. A three-phase 11 kW charger actually halves that, because the standard on-board charger only uses one phase. Only the optional 11 kW on-board charger benefits from three phases. We always recommend having the connection made by a qualified electrician. We arrange installation in the Netherlands, Flemish Belgium and Germany.
Do I need an EV charger with a MID meter?
A MID meter is a calibrated kWh meter inside the charger. It tells you exactly how many kilowatt hours went into the van at home. That is useful for anyone who wants to know what charging really costs. Settling those costs with an employer or a leasing company is one example of what it makes easier. In our range a calibrated meter starts at 11 kW, and the real choice sits at 22 kW. Do you want that calibrated meter? Then a 22 kW charger keeps the van at its full 7.4 kW, and that does require a three-phase supply at the property. If you do not need it, a 7.4 kW charger stays the faster and simpler choice.