Opel Ampera-e EV charger: which one suits you best?

The Opel Ampera-e is a fully electric car with a Type 2 port. At home it charges at up to 7.4 kW, and it draws that from one phase. A three-phase charger splits its power over three live wires; this car uses just one of them. That is why the right Opel Ampera-e EV charger is not simply the most powerful one. Note that this is the electric Ampera-e, not the older Opel Ampera with a petrol engine. You can also browse our overview of Opel EV chargers.

For the Opel Ampera-e we recommend a charger from our 7.4 kW EV chargers.

Charging specifications of the Opel Ampera-e

Why an 11 kW charger does not charge the Ampera-e any faster

An 11 kW charger is a three-phase model. It supplies 16 A per phase, so 3.7 kW on each of the three. The Ampera-e uses one phase only, which means it draws 3.7 kW and no more. An 11 kW charger therefore makes this car slower, not quicker.

To reach the full 7.4 kW, the charger has to deliver 32 A on one phase. Two of our ranges do that. A 7.4 kW single-phase charger delivers it directly. So does a 22 kW three-phase charger, which supplies 32 A per phase. Weigh both rather than reaching for the highest number.

Which EV charger suits the Opel Ampera-e?

A 7.4 kW charger is the logical choice here. It uses the full charging capacity of the Ampera-e and needs only one phase to do it. In that range we carry chargers you control with an app. There are also models with dynamic load balancing. That feature lowers the charging power by itself when the rest of your home draws a lot.

One thing does not come with that power level. A MID meter is a kWh meter built into the charger. It is calibrated to a European standard. That makes its reading a legally valid record of what you charged at home. It counts your car only, separate from your household consumption, so you can see exactly what charging at home costs you.

In our range the chargers with such a meter are all three-phase models. We stock them at 11 kW and at 22 kW. At 7.4 kW single-phase we carry none. That leaves a clear choice if you want a calibrated meter. A charger from our 22 kW EV chargers supplies 32 A per phase. On one of those phases the Ampera-e still reaches its full 7.4 kW. You can see which models carry the meter in our EV chargers with a MID meter.

How long does the Opel Ampera-e take to charge?

With a 7.4 kW charger you fill the 58 kWh usable battery in about nine hours. The bare sum of 58 kWh divided by 7.4 kW lands just under eight hours. The extra hour is charging loss. Plug the car in during the evening and it is ready in the morning. On an 11 kW charger the power drops to 3.7 kW and the time roughly doubles.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Opel Ampera-e need a three-phase connection?

No. The Ampera-e charges on one phase at up to 7.4 kW. An 11 kW three-phase charger brings no gain, because it supplies only 16 A per phase. What matters is the current on a single phase: 32 A for the full 7.4 kW. A 7.4 kW single-phase charger delivers that, and so does a 22 kW three-phase charger. Check with your electrician whether your connection allows it. We always recommend having the connection done by a certified electrician, which is safer and matters for your insurance.

Wallbox Discounter arranges installation in the Netherlands, Flemish Belgium and Germany, and nowhere else. In the Netherlands and Flemish Belgium you order the installation together with the charger. In Germany you request a free quotation first.

Why does a MID meter matter for the Opel Ampera-e?

A MID meter is calibrated, so it records your charging accurately. The figure holds up as a record of the kWh you charged at home. It sits inside the charger and counts only your car, not the rest of the house. For the Ampera-e that meter comes with a trade-off. Our chargers with a calibrated meter are three-phase, so you reach the full 7.4 kW only on a 22 kW model. Choose an 11 kW model with a meter and this car drops to 3.7 kW.