Guide
16 A or 32 A: which AC charger do you need?
The choice depends on three things: the electrical capacity of your home or business, what your car accepts and how long it stays parked. This guide explains each one with numbers.
Where the numbers come from
A single-phase AC charger delivers power roughly equal to voltage times current. On a 240 V circuit, 16 A is about 3.8 kW and 32 A is about 7.7 kW.
That is why our models are named after their maximum current: Bora 16 and Bora 32. The Bora 32 Pro also reaches 32 A.
| Charger | Maximum current | Approx. power at 240 V |
|---|---|---|
| Bora 16 | 16 A | 3.8 kW |
| Bora 32 | 32 A | 7.7 kW |
| Bora 32 Pro | 32 A | 7.7 kW |
1. Your electrical capacity
A 32 A charger draws twice the current of a 16 A charger, so the circuit and the installation must be sized for that current.
If capacity is limited, the Bora 16, or configurable load balancing to share capacity with the rest of the house, is often the practical choice. In every case, a qualified electrician should review the installation.
2. What your car accepts
On AC, the car converts the energy with its own on-board charger, and that charger sets the limit. Check the manual for the AC current or power it accepts.
A 32 A charger connected to a car that accepts less charges at the car maximum. It is safe, but the extra capacity is only useful for cars that accept it.
Check the inlet too: Bora chargers have a Type 1 (J1772) cable. If your car has a Type 2 inlet, use a Type 1 to Type 2 adapter; we supply them.
3. How long the car stays parked
Charging time is roughly the energy you add divided by the charging power, ignoring losses. The table shows the time to add 20 kWh with each charger.
| Charger | Time to add 20 kWh |
|---|---|
| Bora 16 (3.8 kW) | about 5 h 10 min |
| Bora 32 (7.7 kW, if the car accepts it) | about 2 h 35 min |
Which one to choose
At home, cars are usually parked overnight, so the Bora 16 is enough for many drivers.
Choose the Bora 32 when the installation allows 32 A and your car accepts more current, or when cars are parked for short periods, as in some businesses and fleets.
For public charging billed by energy, choose the Bora 32 Pro: 32 A with a MID energy meter, RFID and 4G included.