A vehicle charging apparatus includes a charging source, a charging plug, a charging socket, a charging control device, an alternating-current charging device and a power switching device. The charging socket has seven electrically assignable contacts, the first contact being connected as a pilot contact by way of a pilot line with the charging control device, the second contact being connected as proximity contact by way of a proxy line with the charging control device, the third contact being connected as a protective grounding conductor contact by way of a ground line with the vehicle ground, the fourth contact being connected as a neutral conductor contact by way of a neutral line with the alternating-current charging device, the fifth contact being connected as a phase 1 contact by way of a phase 1 line with the alternating-current charging device, the sixth contact being connectable as a positive direct-current contact by way of a DC+ line and by way of the power separating device with an energy accumulator, and the seventh contact being connectable as a negative direct-current contact by way of a DC− line and by way of the power separating device with the energy accumulator. The DC+ line is connected by way of a first electric branch line with the neutral line or the phase 1 line, and the DC− line is connected by way of a second electric branch line with the neutral line or the phase 1 line.