3 ms·

Probably depends on the country. In Italy we usually employ natural gas stoves and we use natural gas furnaces for heating, so normally you get a 3kw to 6kw max

Probably depends on the country. In Italy we usually employ natural gas stoves and we use natural gas furnaces for heating, so normally you get a 3kw to 6kw max inbound power. I think you can easily get to 10kw, but above that it's quite difficult.

leoedin 3y ago
That's interesting. I wonder if that's part of the reason why electric car uptake has been so low in Italy? Most houses here in the UK have enough capacity to run a 7kW charger alongside other household stuff. My house electricity supply must be 50 years old and 80A (about 18 kW) - so it's not even a recent thing. Do people in Italy never have electric showers? How much power do they run to a new house? From a decarbonisation point of view it's a real challenge - the only current path to low carbon living is through electrification of heating, cooking and transport.
- jaclaz 3y ago
  I may add that there is an additional (lesser known) issue. The "typical" contract is 3 kW, due to air conditioners becoming more common, many people upgraded to 4.5 kW (it was also possible, cannot say if it still possible now, to make a 3 kW contract with an upgrade only during three or four months in the summer). Very few people (and very large houses) have a 6 kW contract. The "fixed" part ("potenza impegnata" translatable to "committed power capacity") is a non thrifling part of the monthly (or every two month) electricity bill, so eveyone historically used the smallest possible contract (usually there is a 10% or 20% more allowed for peaks). The electrical plant needs to be made (and certified) by a licensed electrician BUT (and here is the catch) only up to 6kW the electrician can make (and certify it) without the need of a project by an authorized technician, which adds some costs. Additionally (of course it depends on the specific area) up to 6 kW it is considered "normal" and it is rare that the distributors asks for compensation (besides the increase in the bill, and an initial "fixed amount" ) whilst when you go up, it is not uncommon that you are asked a sum as a contribution for the works needed to upgrade the distribution lines. For increasing from 3 kW to 6 kW it would be around 70 € x 3= 210 € + around 50 € + VAT and then around 22 € x 3= 66 €/year (again + VAT). Stepping up from 6 to 10 (besides needing the project and re-certification) is not unlikely to cost several hundreds or a few thousands Euro. Anyway, before the issues with the power needed for re-charging, few people have the "luxury" of a parking space or garage, I would presume that this is a bigger obstacle for electric car adoption.

leoedin 3y ago

That's interesting. I wonder if that's part of the reason why electric car uptake has been so low in Italy? Most houses here in the UK have enough capacity to run a 7kW charger alongside other household stuff. My house electricity supply must be 50 years old and 80A (about 18 kW) - so it's not even a recent thing. Do people in Italy never have electric showers? How much power do they run to a new house? From a decarbonisation point of view it's a real challenge - the only current path to low carbon living is through electrification of heating, cooking and transport.

jaclaz 3y ago
I may add that there is an additional (lesser known) issue. The "typical" contract is 3 kW, due to air conditioners becoming more common, many people upgraded to 4.5 kW (it was also possible, cannot say if it still possible now, to make a 3 kW contract with an upgrade only during three or four months in the summer). Very few people (and very large houses) have a 6 kW contract. The "fixed" part ("potenza impegnata" translatable to "committed power capacity") is a non thrifling part of the monthly (or every two month) electricity bill, so eveyone historically used the smallest possible contract (usually there is a 10% or 20% more allowed for peaks). The electrical plant needs to be made (and certified) by a licensed electrician BUT (and here is the catch) only up to 6kW the electrician can make (and certify it) without the need of a project by an authorized technician, which adds some costs. Additionally (of course it depends on the specific area) up to 6 kW it is considered "normal" and it is rare that the distributors asks for compensation (besides the increase in the bill, and an initial "fixed amount" ) whilst when you go up, it is not uncommon that you are asked a sum as a contribution for the works needed to upgrade the distribution lines. For increasing from 3 kW to 6 kW it would be around 70 € x 3= 210 € + around 50 € + VAT and then around 22 € x 3= 66 €/year (again + VAT). Stepping up from 6 to 10 (besides needing the project and re-certification) is not unlikely to cost several hundreds or a few thousands Euro. Anyway, before the issues with the power needed for re-charging, few people have the "luxury" of a parking space or garage, I would presume that this is a bigger obstacle for electric car adoption.