Cars whose onboard charger is rated for 11 kW of three-phase AC — 16 A drawn on each of three phases. Plug the ACS1605PE into one of those cars and the full 11 kW flows. A car with a smaller or single-phase onboard charger sets a lower rate itself. The deciding figure is the car’s AC charging specification — separate from its DC rapid-charging rate.
Key Takeaways
- Only a car with an 11 kW three-phase onboard charger (16 A × 3) uses this charger’s full output.
- A 22 kW car is capped by the charger at 11 kW; a single-phase car draws about 3.7 kW on one phase.
- Read the AC rating as amps × phases — the kilowatt label alone misleads.
- Verify with one mid-range session and the rate the car itself reports.
The Configurations You Will Actually Meet
Onboard chargers come in a few standard shapes. This table maps each to what it draws from this charger, whose offer is fixed: 16 A per phase, on three phases, Type 2 to the car.
| Car’s onboard charger | What it draws from the ACS1605PE | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Three-phase, rated 11 kW | The full ~11 kW | Car and charger match: 16 A × 3 phases |
| Three-phase, rated 22 kW | ~11 kW | Now the charger is the ceiling |
| Three-phase, rated below 11 kW | Its own rating | The car accepts less per phase than offered |
| Single-phase, any rating | About 3.7 kW (labelled arithmetic: 16 A × 230 V, one phase) | The car uses one phase only, at 16 A |
That last row surprises people. A car advertised as a “7.4 kW” charger reaches that figure at 32 A on one phase — on a 16 A-per-phase unit it takes roughly half. The phase count matters as much as the kilowatts — see our explainer on single-phase vs three-phase EV charging.
Read the Rating as Two Numbers, Not One
An onboard-charger rating is really amps × phases wearing a kilowatt label:
- 11 kW means 16 A × 3 phases. The configuration that uses the ACS1605PE completely.
- 22 kW means 32 A × 3 phases. A fine rating, but on this charger the car still receives 11 kW.
- 7.4 kW means 32 A × 1 phase. A single-phase car — on this unit it draws about 3.7 kW.
- 3.7 kW means 16 A × 1 phase. Common on plug-in hybrids; it takes 3.7 kW here too — one of the unit’s phases matches its draw.
Where to find your car’s figures: the owner’s manual or the maker’s specification page, under “AC charging” or “onboard charger”. Check the exact car, not just the model line — the rating can differ by version and options, and is listed separately from the DC figure.
Confirm It in One Session
The honest test takes one charge. Plug in with the battery mid-range and read what the car itself reports — most cars show the rate or energy added in their display or app. Near 11 kW means the three-phase 11 kW configuration, and the pairing is complete. About 3.7 kW means single-phase charging: nothing is faulty, and no setting can change it — the unit has none. What each rate means for time is in our guide to charging times at 7 kW, 11 kW and 22 kW.
What the ACS1605PE Offers Every Car
The ACS1605PE is an 11 kW three-phase portable charger: 16 A per phase at 230/400 V, a CEE five-pin plug for the wall, Type 2 to the car, a 1.77-inch display, IP66 sealing and a 7.6 m cable. It makes the same offer to every car; the onboard charger accepts all of it, part of it, or one phase. If your car is the 11 kW three-phase configuration, this portable feeds it fully. EVDANCE sells it with the 3-year standard warranty.
Frequently Asked Questions
My car is rated for 22 kW AC. Will it charge at 22 kW on this unit?
No. The charger’s ceiling is 11 kW, so the car takes 11 kW. For the full 22 kW you would need a 32 A-class charger and socket; the car is ready whenever they are.
Can a single-phase car use this charger at all?
Yes. Type 2 fits, the session works normally, and the car draws about 3.7 kW on one phase — a safe pairing, just not a fast one for that car.
Would a bigger charger make my 11 kW car charge faster?
No. On AC charging the car’s onboard charger is the ceiling: 11 kW is the most it accepts from any AC charger, wallbox or portable. Bigger AC equipment only helps a car rated higher.
Related Reading
- How Long Does It Take to Charge an EV at 7 kW, 11 kW and 22 kW?
- Single-Phase vs Three-Phase EV Charging: 7 kW, 11 kW and 22 kW Explained
- 11 kW vs 22 kW Wallbox: Which Should Distributors Stock for Europe?
- Portable EV Charger Types Explained: 10 A, 16 A, 32 A and Three-Phase Models
