KARCHER was formerly known as KÄRCHER and is one of the world's leading manufacturers of cleaning equipment. In 1950, the founder of karcher, Alfred Kärcher, invented the first modern pressure washer. Outstanding technology development and design capabilities have made KARCHER a world leader in the field of cleaning equipment. For the past 30 years, Kärcher has used its own equipment to clean world-famous buildings such as the Statue of Liberty, the Space Needle in Seattle, the Jerusalem Church, and the National Palace. In Germany, France, the United States, Russia and other countries, "Karcher" has become synonymous with high-pressure washers.
KARCHER is the ultimate manufacturer of pressure washers. The company has more than 21 electric and 18 fuel washers to choose from, ranging from small household washers such as 280L/H and 100 Bar to large commercial products such as 820L/H and 280 Bar. This is unique in the cleaning machine industry, where technological innovation is relatively slow and the product range is small.
For Chinese consumers, who mostly have car washes in residential areas or yards, they only need to pay attention to the K2, K3, K4, and K5 series. These series are available in Eco, Home, Premium and Full control versions, which include different functions and accessories, but with the same specifications and the same motors. It is worth noting that some of Karcher's products are not sold on the official Chinese platform, and considering the transportation cost and after-sales service of car washing machines, this list will focus on the models that can be easily bought by consumers in Chinese mainland.
The K3 is the one that best reflects the characteristics of KARCHER and is the most suitable for Chinese consumers. The K3 Full Control's 1600W motor provides a maximum discharge pressure of 120 bar and a flow rate of 380 L/H, which is not competitive in the 1400 yuan price point. However, the standard version of this model includes a fan-shaped spray gun, a rotary spray gun and a brush, different forms of spray guns can change the shape of the water flow, more effectively remove stains of different properties and different parts, and the brush is conducive to more complete stain removal. These three components are part of karcher's core components, and they are often purchased separately from other models, which makes the K3 Full Control even more cost-effective.
In addition, the K3 Full Control's handle has a pressure visualization design, which allows users to intuitively see the pressure in 4 levels on the handle and adjust it according to the usage scenario. Gear 1 is usually used to clean dust, Gear 2 and 3 can be used with foam pots and brushes, while Gear 4 is the nemesis of stubborn stains such as sand, bird droppings, gums, etc. in the crevices of the body.
The K3.200 is the next generation version of the K3 Full Control, and its biggest feature is the replacement of the motor from a series motor to an induction motor. The series motor contains carbon brushes inside, with high speed, sparks during work, strong electromagnetic interference, and high damage rate. The induction motor uses the electromagnetic induction between the stator and rotor to start with capacitance, as long as the bearing is not damaged, the motor generally does not need to be repaired, and the noise is smaller than that of the series motor. The power of the K3.200 reaches 1700W, with a water cooling system, and has better performance in life and noise control, but the price has risen to nearly 2000 yuan, which is suitable for consumers who frequently use car washing machines.
Compared with the K3 Full Control, the K4 motor, priced at 3800 yuan, has been upgraded to 1800W, with a maximum output pressure of 130Bar, which is only a slight increase in power. Its premium of nearly 1,500 yuan is mainly due to the addition of an adjustable pressure spray gun. In addition to the general fan and direct shooting functions, the spray gun also supports rotation and atomization, and with a flow rate of 420L/H, the water column can clean more dirt in the crevices of the car without damaging the body. For a large manufacturer like Karcher, it is not surprising that the cost of developing a core accessory such as a spray gun is no less than that of the car wash machine itself, and the price is on par with that of a car wash machine. In contrast, many domestic manufacturers have similar spray guns with rotation and atomization functions, but most of them are prone to dripping due to the imperfection of the nozzle technology, and the water flow is far less stable and uniform than that of Karcher.
K5 Full Control is the most powerful cleaning machine officially sold in Chinese mainland, with a discharge pressure of up to 145Bar under the 2100W water-cooled induction motor, a maximum flow rate of 500L/H, and a cleaning capacity of no doubt, priced at 6500 yuan. However, if it is only used for car washing, the performance and price of the K5 Full Control overflow too much, and the cost performance is insufficient.
The K2 standard version is priced at 600 yuan, which is the lowest price of karcher car washing machine, and it is also the model with the highest sales, but its power is only 1300W, and accessories such as brushes and foam cans are not included in the standard configuration, and the cost performance is lower than that of Yili products at the same price. Compared with the standard version, the K2 Follow Me portable car washing machine, which won the China Aplan Innovation Award, comes with a water tank and lithium battery, and the 36V, 2000mAh battery can last for 40 minutes, which is enough for general body cleaning, and is suitable for users who lack power and water sources in car wash sites.
Leading technology and excellent quality are the advantages of KARCHER, but such characteristics are not obvious in products below 1000 yuan. So if you have a budget of more than 1500 yuan and are looking for durability, Karcher's car wash machine is your absolute choice. If you're on a smaller budget and have fewer frequent car washes less than once a week, you may want to consider a different brand.
