The short answer#
For almost every home in Kenya, a 7 kW charger is the right one. A 22 kW charger charges faster only if two things are both true: the property has a three-phase supply, and the car's onboard charger accepts more than 7 kW on AC. Most homes are single phase, and many cars cannot take 22 kW at all, so the extra money buys nothing. A 22 kW unit earns its place at workplaces and fleet yards, where several cars share it.
The car sets the speed, not the charger#
On AC, the car's onboard charger converts the power for the battery, and it has a fixed limit. A bigger wallbox cannot push past it.
| Car | Onboard AC limit | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Nissan Leaf 40 kWh | 3.6 kW standard, 6.6 kW optional | EVSpecs |
| BYD Atto 3, Australian specification | 7 kW | CarExpert |
| BYD Atto 3, Irish specification | 7 kW single phase and 11 kW three phase listed | BYD Ireland |
| Tesla Model 3 and Model Y | 7.4 kW single phase, 11 kW three phase | Tesla |
The same model can differ by the market it was built for, as the Atto 3 shows, and many cars in Kenya are imports. None of these cars charges at 22 kW on AC.
What you get from each combination#
| Your supply | Wallbox | Car limit | Charging power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single phase | 7 kW | 6.6 kW | 6.6 kW |
| Single phase | 7 kW | 7.4 kW or more | About 7 kW |
| Single phase | 22 kW | Any | About 7 kW at most |
| Three phase | 22 kW | 7 kW single phase only | About 7 kW |
| Three phase | 22 kW | 11 kW three phase | 11 kW |
| Three phase | 22 kW | 22 kW three phase | 22 kW |
Does the time saved matter at home?#
A 60 km day needs about 9.9 kWh from the wall. A 7 kW charger puts that back in under two hours, so the car is full long before morning either way. The difference shows only on a large battery from nearly empty: about 6 hours for 40 kWh on 7 kW against about 4 hours on 11 kW. See how long charging takes.
What each costs#
In November 2026, 7 kW units were listed in Kenya from KES 38,870 to KES 100,000 and a 22 kW pedestal unit at KES 116,870, before installation. A three-phase installation also needs heavier cable and protection, and a new three-phase supply from Kenya Power if the property does not have one. See EV charger prices in Kenya.
How to find your car's AC limit#
- Look in the handbook or specification sheet for "onboard charger" or "AC charging", in kW.
- Check the figure for the market the car was built for, not only the model name.
- If the car has charged on a public 22 kW AC point, the power shown on its screen is its limit.
- Ask at the survey; the engineer checks the car as well as the supply.
When 22 kW is the right choice#
- Workplaces and fleet yards with a three-phase supply, where a 22 kW point serves cars that accept 11 or 22 kW and load sharing spreads the supply across several points. See Pulse+.
- Vans and cars with 22 kW onboard chargers, which turn round in about two hours.
- A property already on three phase, if you expect a car that takes 11 kW or more.
For a home on a single-phase supply, the Pulse charger at up to 7.4 kW matches what the supply can give. Start with the free EV survey.