A few words about the different types of EV charging points, gathered during my online research while still waiting for my Tesla Model 3.
Household socket (e.g. Schuko)
The simplest charging option is an ordinary electrical socket, the kind you'll find in every home. Charging here uses 230V. For example, with a 10A socket you get about 2.3 kW of charging power. Bump the current up to 16A and the charging power rises to about 3.7 kW. It's the simplest method, but not the fastest – still, it works fine if you have the whole night to charge the car.
Three-phase power socket
Another option is a three-phase power socket, which is a step up from a standard household outlet. A three-phase socket can deliver up to 400V, which – depending on what your installation allows – gives you up to 11 kW of charging power. That's much faster than a standard socket, and at the same time more accessible than a dedicated wallbox.
Wallbox
A wallbox is a dedicated wall-mounted charger that offers higher charging power. The most common wallboxes deliver 11 kW, but you can also find 22 kW models. Depending on the electrical installation in your home, a wallbox can be the most convenient and efficient way to charge an electric car regularly.
Public AC charging points
In public spaces, the most common charging points use alternating current (AC) at 11 kW or 22 kW. Keep in mind, though, that how fast you charge depends not only on the charger's power but also on what the car itself can take. For example, the Tesla Model 3 can accept a maximum of 11 kW from an AC point, which means that even at a 22 kW point you'll only use 11 kW. The most common connector at these points is Type 2.
DC chargers
Fast direct current (DC) charging is the quickest way to charge an electric car. DC chargers come in various power levels, and anything above 150 kW is generally considered ultra-fast charging. The most popular connector standards are CCS and Chademo. It's worth noting that Chademo was popular mainly in cars from the East Asian market, but nowadays new models mostly use CCS, which has become the dominant standard.
Will a 150 kW charger fill a 75 kWh battery in 30 minutes?
You might think that with a 150 kW charger you'd charge a 75 kWh battery in half an hour. In reality, it's not that simple. Electric cars have something called a charging curve, which determines how much power the car can accept depending on the battery's state of charge. For the Tesla Model 3 Highland, the maximum charging power is 250 kW, but it only holds up to a certain point and then drops. So while it's theoretically possible to charge the car from 10% to 80% in about 30 minutes, a full charge can take longer.
Bonus: Mobile AC wallbox
If you're looking for a flexible and affordable solution, consider buying a mobile AC charger, often called a "brick". This kind of charger has interchangeable adapters that plug into both a standard household socket and a three-phase power socket. It's a very sensible option, because it can be cheaper than a wallbox and it's portable at the same time. That means you can take it with you on trips and charge the car at a hotel that lets you plug in – whether they only have a regular socket or a three-phase one. A mobile charging point like this can always be with you, which gives you more freedom and flexibility.
What's more, if you have access to a three-phase socket at home, a mobile charger like this can serve as a stationary wallbox. In my case, since I can't charge in the garage, I won't be setting up a mobile wallbox like that, but I might buy one for trips.