smart EQ forfour EV charger: which one fits best?
The smart EQ forfour has a feature you rarely find in a city car. It could be ordered with an onboard charger that handles 22 kW of alternating current. The onboard charger is the part inside the car that converts AC into battery power. It sets the ceiling for home charging. That ceiling is what makes the choice here different from other small electric cars. The other smart models charge differently again, and our smart EV chargers collect the advice per model.
For the smart EQ forfour with the optional 22 kW onboard charger we recommend a charger from our 22 kW EV chargers.
With the standard 4.6 kW onboard charger the picture changes. That car draws 4.6 kW from a 22 kW unit and the same 4.6 kW from a 7.4 kW one, so speed alone would point you to the cheaper unit. An 11 kW charger is the exception: it hands the car a single 16 amp phase, so it drops to 3.7 kW. The reason to step up to 22 kW is the certified meter, which we cover below.
Charging specifications of the smart EQ forfour
The forfour uses a type 2 connector, the European standard that fits almost every charger. What varies is the onboard charger. smart sold the car with a 4.6 kW unit as standard and a 22 kW unit as a paid option. Your original order documents or the equipment list will say which one you have. A practical test also works: plug into a public three-phase 22 kW point and watch the power it draws. Around 4.6 kW means the standard charger. Close to 22 kW means the optional one.
| Specification | Standard 4.6 kW onboard charger | Optional 22 kW onboard charger |
|---|---|---|
| Usable battery capacity | 16.7 kWh | 16.7 kWh |
| Max. AC charging power | 4.6 kW (single-phase) | 22 kW (three-phase, 32 A) |
| On a 22 kW charger | 4.6 kW, approx. 4 hrs 30 min | 22 kW, approx. 55 minutes |
| On an 11 kW charger | 3.7 kW, approx. 5 hrs 30 min | 11 kW, approx. 2 hours |
| On a 7.4 kW charger | 4.6 kW, approx. 4 hrs 30 min | 7.4 kW, approx. 2 hrs 45 min |
| Charging connector | Type 2 (Mennekes) | Type 2 (Mennekes) |
Charging times are realistic figures including charging losses, so they run above a plain capacity divided by power sum.
Why 22 kW charging on the forfour is unusual
Most electric cars accept no more than 11 kW on alternating current. A forfour fitted with the optional onboard charger takes the full 22 kW. That puts it in a small group alongside the Renault Zoe and some older Teslas. Combine that with a 16.7 kWh battery and the car is full again in under an hour.
The standard car behaves differently, and the difference is easy to miss. A 4.6 kW onboard charger only draws one phase. Put that car on an 11 kW three-phase unit and it takes a single 16 amp phase. It then charges at 3.7 kW rather than 11 kW. On a 22 kW unit it reaches its own ceiling of 4.6 kW. The 3.7 kW is not the car holding back. An 11 kW charger simply has no more than 16 amps per phase to give.
To use the full 22 kW you also need a three-phase connection of 32 amps at home. Without one the forfour still charges perfectly well, just more calmly. The small battery keeps every scenario short.
Which EV charger suits the smart EQ forfour?
A 22 kW three-phase unit is the safe choice either way. It serves both onboard chargers without leaving anything on the table. One feature is worth checking while you compare: a certified kWh meter, often called a MID meter. It measures what you charge at home separately from the rest of your household use. You then know what the car actually costs you.
That meter is also the argument for 22 kW over 7.4 kW. Our range has no 7.4 kW model with the meter built in, because a certified meter here only comes on three-phase units. Our EV chargers with a MID meter show which models qualify.
If your home has a modest three-phase supply, say 3 x 25 A, look at dynamic load balancing. The charger measures how much current your home has to spare and adjusts its output automatically. The breaker then holds when the oven and the washing machine run together. Our EV chargers with dynamic load balancing cover that.
Our range of home EV chargers gathers the models built for a normal domestic supply.
The forfour has a type 2 connector, the same as the chargers. At home you charge through the fixed cable or the type 2 socket of the unit. To charge elsewhere you need a separate type 2 charging cable.
How long does the smart EQ forfour take to charge?
With the optional 22 kW onboard charger, a full charge takes about 55 minutes on a 22 kW unit. On an 11 kW one it is roughly two hours. With the standard 4.6 kW onboard charger, expect about four and a half hours on a 22 kW or 7.4 kW unit. On an 11 kW unit it takes five and a half hours. The battery is small, so the forfour is quick to fill whichever charger you pick.
We always recommend having the connection made by a qualified electrician. It is safer and it can matter for your insurance. Wallbox Discounter arranges installation in the Netherlands, Flemish Belgium and Germany. We ship worldwide, but outside those three countries you arrange the installation yourself.
Other smart models at Wallbox Discounter
Driving a different smart? We have a separate page with charging advice for each model:
Frequently asked questions about the smart EQ forfour EV charger
Does the smart EQ forfour really need a three-phase connection?
Only for the full 22 kW, and only if your car has the optional onboard charger. That combination needs a three-phase supply of 32 amps. Without it the forfour still charges on a single-phase or 11 kW connection, just more slowly. The small battery keeps the wait short either way.
Why does a MID meter matter for my charger?
A MID meter is a certified kWh meter built into the charger. It records what you charge at home to a legally recognised standard. That separates your charging from the rest of your household use, so you can see what driving actually costs. It is useful whether you drive privately or for work.
Can I charge the forfour from an ordinary socket?
You can, using a portable charger, but treat it as a backup rather than a routine. An ordinary socket delivers about 2.3 kW, so a full charge takes a whole night. For daily use a fixed charger is faster, safer and more efficient.