ABB Terra AC Wallbox EV Charger: An Independent Review

ABB Terra AC Wall Charger banner image

Note: Solar Choice has no affiliation with ABB Terra or any EV Charging company and is here to offer an honest review.

At a Glance: ABB Terra EV Chargers Score 2.5 out of 5

Solar Choice has developed a transparent scorecard to evaluate all the EV Chargers available on the market.

Price:  $$$$$: The ABB Terra AC Charger is priced around $1,950 for their single phase option making it one of the higher cost chargers on the market.

  • Company Backing in Australia: ABB is the type of company you want to see behind a consumer product. They have a long trading history back to 1988, with a good reputation across a range of products. Although they have multiple offices in Australia, when contacting ABB to enquire about some technical parts of their charger we were sent to an overseas call centre and weren’t able to get accurate information without emailing. We score them 4 out of 5 for company backing.
  • Warranty Offer: In Australia EV Chargers with a warranty somewhere between 1 and 5 years. Most companies, like ABB, offer 2 years for their warranty. We score this 1 point per year giving ABB 2 points. 
  • Solar Compatibility: To connect the ABB Terra EV Charger with solar is challenging. Firstly you will need to buy additional hardware, either a ABB energy meter or a 3rd party on they are compatible with. Then you need to make sure that your solar inverter is compatible with ABB Terra as well. We score this 2 points out of 5.
  • Functionality: The ABB chargers comes OCPP 1.6 capability and dynamic load management when paired with additional hardware. However the charger comes with a shorter 5m cable, has an environmental protection rating of IP54 and does not have an LCD display. We score this 2 points out of 5 for the functionality we look for.

Overall 2.5 out of 5 is a mid-range score for our scoring system. With a higher price tag, ABB have some work to do to improve the value of their offer to consumers.

Company Overview

ABB was formed in 1988 when ASEA and BBC merged to form the new company, with headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. ABB is listed on the Swiss stock exchange under SWX: ABBN. 

ABB Group have over 105,000 employees globally. They manufacture a whole range of electrical equipment including EV infrastructure, solar inverters, substations and various cabling and accessories. The ABB Terra AC Wallbox was launched in 2020 as their first EV charger. 

They have offices all over Australia with their headquarters in Moorebank, NSW.

The ABB Terra AC Wallbox is renowned for its versatility and compatibility. Here’s an overview of its key specifications and features:

Product NameIEC portfolioIEC portfolio
Product Image
Price (Approx. AUD price RRP inc. GST)$1,950$2,330
Rating7.4kW(Single-phase)22kW (Three-phase)
Country of manufactureChinaChina
EV compatibilityType 2Type 2
Enclosure dimensions320 x 195 x 110 mm320 x 195 x 110 mm
Weight3kg3kg
Operating Temperature-35°C to +50 °C-35°C to +50 °C
Charge cable length5m (Optional)5m (Optional)
Solar self-consumption optimisation?Yes – but must buy additional hardwareYes – but must buy additional hardware
Internet connection?Yes – Ethernet, Wifi and BluetoothYes – Ethernet, Wifi and Bluetooth
App controlYesYes
Weather resistanceOutdoorOutdoor
IP ratingIP54, IK10IP54, IK10
Warranty (years)2 years2 years
DatasheetTerra AC wallboxTerra AC wallbox

What We Like About These Chargers

The ABB Terra AC Wallbox charger is a smart and future-proof home charging solution that is built on ABB’s 130-year heritage of accessible technology leadership for safe, smart, and sustainable electrification. It is one of the best value home chargers on the market, delivering exceptional quality expected from the world leader in charging with a cost-effective solution. It is designed to integrate seamlessly into everyday life, providing convenient home charging. The Terra AC Wallbox is built to adapt to deliver the most optimized charge today and into the future, with connectivity and smart functionality.

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Key Features of The ABB Terra AC Wallbox:

The Terra AC Wallbox is a smart EV charger, meaning it can be programmed and connected with solar through an accompanying app. 

Dynamic Load Balancing:

The solution comes with a built-in energy meter which can be connected to a load to determine the available capacity for EV Charging in real-time. This means the EV charger can operate a maximum capacity without fear of overloading the power supply of the building.

Remote Firmware Updates: 

Once the charger is set up on a permanent internet connection, firmware updates can be conducted remotely to keep the charger and functionality up to date.

OCPP Compatible:

Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) is a communication feature that enables EV chargers to work with 3rd party applications. The majority of current use cases are to connect EV chargers with payment software to enable a user to pay EFT transactions. In future we expect many more applications to be possible through OCPP so consider this to be an important capability. 

Pros and Cons of the ABB EV Charger

Pros

  • Backed by a large company with a strong local market presence in Australia
  • Compatible with OCPP 1.6

Cons

  • Solar compatibility requires additional hardware and is limited to certain inverter models
  • Higher priced charger without all the bells and whistles you’d expect
  • With an environment rating of IP54, the charger is better suited to indoor or weather-protected applications

The ABB ChargerSync App 

The ABB ChargerSync app is designed to provide a reliable and convenient experience for electric vehicle (EV) drivers, particularly in controlling and customizing their charging sessions. It works exclusively with ABB E-mobility Terra AC charging solutions and offers a range of features, including:

ChargerSync Account

Manage multiple Terra wall boxes with a single account.

Authentication

Start and stop charging sessions easily; manage RFID card authorization.

Charging Information

View real-time charging status and costs; schedule automatic charging sessions.

Statistics and Costs

Monitor charging costs and session history.

Safety

Balance charging power with other home appliances.

New features include reimbursement reports for company car charge sessions, charger sharing without an app or RFID card, notifications for wall box updates, remote control of charging sessions, and global support in over 25 languages and 100 currencies​​​​.

Installation

Installation of the ABB Terra AC Wallbox should be conducted by a qualified electrician. The process is generally straightforward and the charger’s compact dimensions make it suitable for various locations.

Need an ABB charger installation quote?

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Warranty & Service

The ABB Terra AC Wallbox comes with a standard 2-year warranty. This warranty covers any defects in materials or workmanship and includes provisions for unit replacement or spare parts if required.

Generally, most EV Chargers on the Australian market have a 2-year or 3-year warranty, so the ABB Terra AC Wallbox is keeping pace with the market. It is supported by a large local office and presence due to the size of the ABB Group and its broad range of products and services.

Should I Buy an ABB Terra AC Wallbox Charger?

The ABB Terra AC Wallbox Charger is back by a big multinational company with 30 years under their belt. This is their main selling point as a established business.

Technically speaking the charger matches up to the mid to low end of the market missing some of the bells and whistles that some of the more premium chargers offer.

At the current price point, they are one of the more expensive EV chargers on the market.

Jeff Sykes

Reviews from Australians who have installed ABB EV Chargers

Rated 5.00 from 2 reviews
5 star
2
4 star
0
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0
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Showing 2 of 2 Reviews

2nd March 2025
Austin
-
6kW system

Review left 5 years after system installed

5.00

24th December 2024
Andy
VIC - 3162
system
5.00

Showing 2 of 2 Reviews