T23 or CEE socket for an electric car: price and installation.

Want to install a charging socket at home? Here are the essentials: T13, T23 or CEE, the pitfalls to avoid, the installation rules, the subsidies in 2026, and how to get reimbursed if it is a company car.

The plug trap: why you get stuck at around 2 kW

To reach 3.7 kW, you need a T23 or CEE socket on a dedicated circuit and a Mode 2 cable fitted with the matching plug, set to 16 A. Plugged into a standard T13 household socket, the same cable stays limited to 8 or 10 A, i.e. 1.8 to 2.3 kW.

The choice of cable is decisive: the right charging cable (Mode 2, Type 2, T23 or CEE plug) is what gets you the 3.7 kW.

How much does it cost?

The price depends mainly on the distance to the distribution board and the work required: ask several licensed electrical installers for quotes. Be wary of cheap sockets and adapters sold online: choose certified equipment.

Installation: dedicated circuit and safety

In Switzerland, the socket is installed by a licensed electrical installer, in line with the Low-Voltage Installation Ordinance (NIV/OIBT) and the NIN/NIBT standard, on a dedicated circuit from the distribution board, with a circuit breaker and residual current protection suited to electric vehicle charging. The installer notifies the network operator of the work and hands over a safety certificate (SiNa/RS) at the end. The cable cross-section depends on the distance to the board: the longer the circuit, the larger it must be.

Mistakes to avoid

• Buying a cheap counterfeit socket or adapter: risk of overheating and fire.
• Charging with the cable coiled up: the loop creates a hot spot.
• Plugging into an existing circuit instead of a dedicated circuit.
• Forgetting the residual current protection suited to electric vehicle charging.
• Undersizing the cable cross-section for the distance.
• Leaving the socket housing loose instead of fixed to the wall.

T23 / CEE socket or charging station: which to choose?

It all depends on how you use your car:

Pay less: charge on the low tariff

The price of electricity depends on your municipality and your network operator: a Swiss median of 27.7 ct./kWh in 2026. Most operators offer a low tariff at night and at weekends, with their own time slots.

Schedule charging according to your actual tariff, not a fixed time slot. Well managed, home charging costs 2 to 3 times less than public fast charging.

A T23 or CEE socket draws 3.7 kW for hours: start charging at night, when your home uses little power, to avoid tripping the breaker. If you charge a company car, your employer can reimburse the electricity at real cost with Voltaback.

Which subsidies in 2026?

For a simple socket, support is rare:

• Cantonal programmes: they mainly target charging stations and the pre-equipment of shared car parks (for example Zurich, Geneva, Ticino, Lucerne). Check the conditions in your canton.
• Municipal support: some municipalities or network operators contribute, with varying amounts. Check locally.
• No federal support: the Confederation does not subsidise charging equipment.
• VAT: 8.1 % on equipment and installation.

How do you get reimbursed for charging a company car?

If you charge a company car at home, the electricity comes out of your own pocket: your employer can reimburse it at real cost, with no income tax and no AHV/AVS social security contributions, as long as each charging session is documented.

The right method is reimbursement at real cost, calculated from your electricity tariffs (high tariff, low tariff, solar), rather than a flat rate capped at CHF 60 a month. If your company does not have a scheme yet, talk to your HR, fleet management or finance department.

Solutions such as Voltaback measure each home charging session and generate documentation compliant with the salary certificate (Lohnausweis) for automatic reimbursement, accurate to the cent, with no hardware to install and nothing to pay upfront. See how it works for drivers.

Warning signs and service life

A charging socket used every day wears out. Have it checked by a professional if you notice any of these signs:

• The socket is warm or hot to the touch after charging.
• Charging gradually slows down (from 16 A to 12 or 10 A).
• Discolouration or blackening appears around the pins.
• The circuit breaker trips for no apparent reason.

T23 / CEE socket or wallbox: power comparison

To equip a fleet driver at home, there are several options. A T23 or CEE socket is the best cost/speed compromise in most cases. Here are the benchmarks, at full power and excluding charging losses (8 to 15 %).

Charging time by battery capacity

On a 3.7 kW T23 or CEE socket, one night is enough to recharge most daily journeys. Indicative benchmarks, at full power:

In Switzerland, VAT of 8.1 % applies to equipment and installation. A safety point: never use an extension lead or a multi-socket adapter for charging, as it creates a risk of overheating; you need a dedicated circuit.

If your company car belongs to a fleet, a T23 or CEE socket is often still the best choice: lower equipment cost and consumption tracking is possible even without a smart charging station. For reimbursement, talk to your HR or fleet management department. Solutions such as Voltaback produce documentation compliant with the salary certificate at real cost, including without a smart meter. Talk to a Voltaback expert.