§722 — Charging points for electric vehicles (EV)

Section 722 of NEN 1010 (NEN-EN-IEC 60364-7-722) describes the additional requirements for fixed charging points for electric vehicles — wallboxes, public charging stations, and mobile chargers with a fixed connection. The general chapters of NEN 1010 remain applicable; §722 adds conditions specific to charging an EV from the domestic installation.

Scope

§722 applies to:

• Mode 2 — charging via a household socket with an in-cable control box (ICCB).
• Mode 3 — charging via a fixed charging point (wallbox or charging station) with a Type 2 connector.
• Mode 4 — DC fast charging (>22 kW); additional requirements in §722.4.

Not applicable to wireless charging, rolling stock (NEN-EN 50122), and vehicles in motion at charging facilities.

Dedicated circuit (§722.531.2.101)

A separate final circuit is required for each charging point.

Charging an EV draws 16 A – 32 A continuously (over hours). A shared circuit with household loads quickly exceeds the Iz of the cable and triggers thermal tripping of an MCB at the limit of its characteristic. Since NEN 1010:2020, a separate circuit is no longer just a recommendation but a requirement.

Residual-current device protection (§722.531.2.101)

For each EV charging point, the following must be provided:

• Type B RCD or Type A RCD + 6 mA DC detection in the charging point.

Type A alone is not permitted — a leakage current with a DC component (such as may occur in an EV charger during an insulation fault in the battery) "saturates" the toroidal core of a Type A device, deactivating the residual-current function without a tripping signal being issued. Type F is also insufficient; only Type B detects both AC, pulsating DC, and pure DC leakage currents.

The modern practice: wallbox with integrated DC detection + external Type-A 30 mA RCD. Cheaper than a Type-B RCD (€200–€400 versus €30) and functionally equivalent once the wallbox proves compliance with IEC 62752/62955.

Type connector (§722.55)

Mode	Connector	Power
2	Schuko (type-F) or CEE-blue 16 A	2.3 kW – 3.7 kW
3	Type 2 (Mennekes) — fixed on the wallbox	3.7 kW – 22 kW
4	CCS Combo 2, CHAdeMO	50 kW – 350 kW DC

For Mode 3, type-2 is mandatory in the Netherlands; type-1 (Yazaki) is found only on older Asian vehicles and requires an adapter cable in that case — not fixed on the wallbox.

Load calculation — Pmax × diversity

NEN 1010 §722.311 acknowledges that a wallbox is intended to draw continuous current. For cable and MCB selection:

• Diversity factor 1.0 for a single charging point (no summation with discount for other loads).
• For multiple charging points on a single supply (parking garages, apartments), a load management system (LMS) may be used so that the main supply does not trip. The LMS must comply with IEC 61851-1 §A.4 and have a switching time ≤ 5 s.

Calculation example — 11 kW wallbox

• I = P / (√3 × U × cosφ) = 11 000 / (1,732 × 400 × 1,0) ≈ 16 A per phase.
• Continuous load → use cable Iz table 2-core in conduit (NEN 1010 Table B.52.5), select XMvK 5×2.5 mm² (Iz ≈ 22 A) or YMvK 5×4 mm² (Iz ≈ 31 A) for long distances.
• MCB B16 or C16 — C-characteristic is practical because the wallbox has an input filter with inrush current.
• Type-2 RCD 30 mA or type-A 30 mA + DC-6 mA in the box.
• PE bonding to main earth — required if the wallbox has PME detection (see next paragraph).

PEN-fault detection (§722.411.4.1)

The greatest practical pitfall. In a TN-C-S installation (which accounts for 99% in the Netherlands), the charging point shares the PEN conductor with the grid. When the PEN breaks between the meter and the supply point, the PE of the wallbox — and thus the entire car body — can float to L-potential. In rain or upon contact, this results in a lethal touch voltage.

Therefore, §722.411.4.1 requires:

When using a PME (Protective Multiple Earth / TN-C-S) network, either an own earth electrode must be installed, or PEN-fault detection must be present in the wallbox, which disconnects within 5 s upon interruption of the N/PE.

Practical: all commercial wallboxes (Alfen, Eve, Wallbox, Easee) have PEN detection as standard. Still check the specification — IEC 61851-1 clause 6.3.1.103 is the relevant reference. No PEN detection? Mandatory own earth electrode (Ra such that IΔn × Ra ≤ UL = 50 V → for 30 mA: Ra ≤ 1666 Ω; for 100 mA: Ra ≤ 500 Ω).

SPD (surge protection)

§722.443 refers to the general §443. For charging points located outside (>10 m of cable), a type-2 SPD (8/20 µs, 5–20 kA) on the final circuit is recommended. The wallbox electronics are sensitive to lightning induction, and replacement costs are high (€600–€1500 for a controller board).

Inspection and commissioning

For commissioning, at a minimum:

1. Visual inspection — cable routing, mounting height (handle type 2 between 0.5–1.5 m), IP rating for outdoor installation (≥ IP54 for plug, ≥ IP44 for body).
2. PE continuity (R ≤ 0.3 Ω at the charging point PE).
3. Insulation resistance test L–PE and N–PE at 500 V DC (≥ 1 MΩ).
4. Loop impedance Zs from the charging point — Zs × Ia ≤ U0; for B16 in TN ≤ 2.87 Ω, for C16 ≤ 1.44 Ω.
5. RCD test — tripping time ≤ 40 ms at 5 × IΔn, ≤ 300 ms at IΔn.
6. DC leakage current test — for wallboxes with integrated 6 mA detection: simulate with test source or via diagnostic readout.
7. PEN-fault test — break N during charging; wallbox must trip within 5 s.

Include in the inspection report (NEN 1010 §6); sticker with next inspection date ⩽ 1 year (recommendation, no statutory period for domestic use). For commercial charging points, periodic inspection falls under NEN 3140.

Common mistakes

1. Wallbox on an existing cooking circuit "because it has 16 A anyway" — no separate final circuit, not compliant with §722.531.2.101.
2. Schuko socket as a charging solution — Mode 2 with ICCB is allowed, but ≤ 8 A and the final circuit must be dedicated; drawing 16 A continuously on a Schuko socket melts the contact block.
3. Type-AC RCD before the wallbox — no DC detection; an insulation fault in the battery results in undetected leakage current.
4. No PEN detection and no earth electrode — the most deadly mistake; often only discovered during a first fault with fatal consequences.
5. Reusing the connection cable from the boiler circuit — Iz insufficient for continuous load; thermal degradation of the insulation.

Relationship to other standards

• NEN 3140 — working on an active charging point requires VP/WV status and voltage-free procedure (5 steps).
• IEC 61851 — product standard for wallboxes.
• IEC 62196 — connectors type 1, 2, CCS.
• NEN-EN 50550 — POP (overvoltage protection) — related to §443.

Further reading

• NEN-EN-IEC 60364-7-722 (2018 + A11:2021)
• NEN 1010 Practical Book §722 (Kluwer)
• Netbeheer Nederland — Connection Conditions for Charging Points (capacity tariff)