Experts Tested the Top Home EV Chargers to Find the Best
Original Post Date: June 18, 2024
Source: Road & Track
Read the full article here
In the market for an electric vehicle charger? You can't really go wrong with any of these electric car charging options.
What You Need to Know:
- The ChargePoint Home Flex EV Charger is our pick for Best Overall mainly due to the handy ChargePoint app; it features a user-friendly interface and a cost-tracker that measures the cost of use down to the penny
- The Emporia is our pick for Best Budget EV Charger because of its affordable price without sacrificing anything in the way of features
- Tesla's Universal Wall Connector is another great option, in part because it comes with a built-in adapter to switch between J1772 and NACS/J3400 plug types
The age of the electric vehicle is upon us. Whether you’re an early adopter or a begrudging buyer, one thing is certain: you’re going to need a way to charge that battery-powered automobile. Public chargers are thankfully becoming ever more ubiquitous, but there's no more efficient—or thrifty—way to charge your EV than in your own garage. In fact, experts estimate EV owners can save nearly one-third on charging at home versus regularly using a fast-charging DC public charger. Besides, much like plugging in your phone before bed, charging your EV overnight while the garage door is securely shut is a no-brainer.
But with this ever-expanding EV market comes an ever-growing selection of at-home EV chargers to choose from. The Gear Team recently tested a host of EV home chargers at various price points, in an effort to discover the best home EV chargers available in 2024. And they're constantly evaluating more products as they come on the market. Here's what we know so far.
Home EV Charging 101
Before you run out and buy the cheapest EV charger you can find and install it in your garage, there are some basic facts you should know.
EV Charging Levels:
- Level 1: Using 120-volt AC electricity (i.e., a standard household outlet) with an output of roughly 1 kilowatt, one of these devices could take days to charge your EV
- Level 2: Uses 240-volt AC electricity to charge with outputs generally between 6 and 19 kilowatts. Should charge an EV with a modestly sized battery overnight
- Level 3/DC Fast-Charger: Many public chargers are this type, but they're illogical for home use due to their high cost. But just so you know, these chargers use 400- or 800-volt DC electricity to charge with output ranging from 50 to 350 kilowatts, charging a typical EV's battery from 10 to 90 percent in as little as 30 minutes
Things to Consider When Shopping for a Home EV Charger
If you're thinking about buying a charger, here are some major factors to consider—chief among them, the output of the household circuit you're connecting to, the output of the EV charging equipment, and the rate of charging that your vehicle can handle. But that's not all you need to know.
Output: Measured in kilowatts, this is how much charging power is being sent from your wall charger to your electric vehicle. (The voltage of the electrical circuit times the amps of current flowing equals the power in watts; 1000 watts equals a kilowatt. E.g., a 240-volt outlet drawing 32 amps of current is outputting 7.7 kW of power.)
Household Circuit Output: Since EV charging can demand anywhere from 24 to 80 amps, it's important to see what additional capacity your home has above your current electrical needs, such as furnace, air conditioning, oven, clothes dryer, etc. Check the main fuse in your breaker box to see the amperage rating—that's the maximum your home can handle before blowing that main breaker. If you have 150- or 200-amp service or higher, you may have enough wiggle room to add charging without an upgrade. But you'll need to measure your house's peak electrical use and consult an electrician.
We recommend using a modest 40- or 50-amp circuit due to its ability to charge most EVs overnight while keeping costs down. You will need a certified electrician to verify your home's circuit capacity and install any equipment or upgrades necessary.
Charge Rate: The charge rate is expressed in kilowatts of power—volts times amps equals watts, 1000 watts equals a kilowatt—which can be used to estimate charge time. If you're charging at 6 kilowatts and your EV has a 60.0-kWh battery, the charge time from empty to full will be roughly 10 hours. (It will actually be slightly longer due to losses during charging and slowing down of the charge rate as the battery nears 100 percent.) The charge rate is affected by three factors and will be limited to the lowest of these: the output of the household circuit, the charging equipment, and the vehicle's onboard charger.
Connector Types: You need a connecter to plug your charger into your EV. For at-home chargers, there are two main types: J1772 and Tesla's North American Charging Standard (aka NACS or J3400). Adapters that let you switch between these connectors are widely available.
Cost to Install: This really depends on if you have enough spare electrical capacity. If so, you might be able to run a new line for a few hundred dollars. If not, adding capacity to your home's electrical system can cost a few thousand. More on that below.
Wi-Fi Connectivity: If you wish to keep track of your EV's electrical use and cost, you'll want a home-charging unit with Wi-Fi connectivity. This allows you to monitor charging, receive alerts, and control the unit via an app.
Accessories and Variants: Most of these EV chargers offer different variants to suit your needs. These variants (hard-wired or plug, different output capabilities, and varying cord lengths) are typically offered at slightly different prices. Make sure you look at all the various options from any manufacturer.
Outdoor Ratings: If you'd like your EV charger to be mounted outside, it's perfectly doable. Each charging unit we tested has an outdoor-grade rating according to either the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) or Ingress Protection (IP) standards. There's additional information below on deciphering these ratings below in our FAQs section.
How the Gear Team Tested Home EV Chargers
This test took months, due to the insane amount of data we collected over an extended period of time with a variety of EV chargers. First, our man Dave VanderWerp installed a dedicated 240-volt outlet in his garage—just like a new EV owner would need to do. He then tested the chargers below using long-term test vehicles, including a Tesla Model 3, Rivian R1T, BMW i4, and Hyundai Ioniq 5, among others, taking notes on each home car charger's performance in normal, daily use.
And it's ongoing. Because the EV charging market is exploding, we plan on updating this article with new products and testing data twice a year. Stay tuned.
The Best Home EV Chargers
- Output capability: 50/48/40/32/24/16 amps (12.0/11.5/9.6/7.7/5.8/3.8 kW)
- Cord length: 23 feet
- Cord management: Built-in
- Outdoor rating: Yes (NEMA 3R)
ChargePoint's Home Flex unit integrates into the same app used to connect to the company's vast public charging network. Functions in the excellent app include the ability to schedule charging times at efficient off-peak hours, nuanced cost tracking, and a percentage of the battery replenished paired with the number of EPA miles added to your ride.
Overall, the app is very user-friendly and adequately displays helpful charts for charge-rate graphs, total energy output, and total charge time during each charge. The design of the dock is clever as well; ChargePoint included a notch at the top to aid with cord management. Most other brands require the purchase of a second cord-management device.
- Output capability: 48–6 amps (11.5–1.4 kW)
- Cord length: 24 feet
- Cord management: Included wall mount
- Outdoor rating: Yes (NEMA 4)
The Emporia electricity-monitoring universe is a bit like a double-edged sword. They offer a wide range of smart devices and tools to keep track of electricity—which can all be accessed through their app. But if you're just using the EV charging equipment, navigating around all of these unused areas makes the app seem far too complicated.
Otherwise, this Wi-Fi-connected entry option impressed the Gear Team; coming in at a price that's hundreds of dollars less than the JuiceBox or ChargePoint. The 11.5-kW output capability is at the high end of this roundup, and short of a couple key features, the Emporia has just about everything.
- Output capability: 48/40/32/24/16/12 amps (11.5/9.6/7.7/5.8/3.8/2.9 kW)
- Cord length: 24 feet
- Cord management: Built-in
- Outdoor rating: Yes (NEMA 3R)
Don't let the brand name fool you—ownership of a Tesla isn't needed for their Wall Connector. While it comes with Tesla's NACS plug, ou can also get the common J1772 plug as an option; you just need to get an adapter.
The sharp-looking Wall Connector also has Wi-Fi capability for firmware updates but lacks the ability to control or monitor charging—something that's important to many owners. However, Tesla owners can see that info via the TeslaFi info hub.
The setup is straightforward; simply scan the QR code on the side of the unit to connect to Wi-Fi. Output is then controlled through a web-based interface. The Wall Connector is also capable of nearly the highest output in this test, and the cables are nice and flexible.
- Output capability: 40/32/24/16/12/6 amps (9.6/7.7/5.8/3.8/2.9/1.4 kW)
- Cord length: 25 feet
- Cord management: Built-in
- Outdoor rating: Yes (NEMA 4X/IP66)
When we first tested home EV charging units in 2022, Dave preferred the JuiceBox charger to the rest, in large part because of its intuitive app. The JuiceBox offers three output levels, depending on your home's circuit: a cheaper 32-amp option, the 40-amp option tested here, and a more expensive 48-amp version.
The JuiceBox app provides energy output and charge time for each charging session, various adjustable notifications, and the ability to set up customized charge times to take advantage of differing electricity pricing.
However, JuiceBox has since revamped that app—and in our opinion, not for the better. Oddly, we now find it more confusing and less intuitive to use than before. Nevertheless, the JuiceBox is still one of the most feature-rich Wi-Fi-enabled Level 2 chargers you can buy.
- Output capability: 32/16/13/10 amps (7.7/3.8/3.1/2.4 kW)
- Cord length: 21 feet
- Cord management: none
- Outdoor rating: Yes (IP67)
The Lectron 32 is one of the most budget-friendly options on our list. While this charger is not Wi-Fi enabled, it does feature a small LCD screen that displays, charge time, energy (kWh), voltage, amperage, and temperature. The unit can set a limit on current, which can be adjusted among 10, 13, 16, or 32 amps of output to match your wall circuit. When you plug in, charge time starts over, but the kilowatt-hour readout doesn't, so if you want to monitor individual charges to track your car's efficiency, you have to unplug and replug before every charge. This can get tedious though, so if you want to track your charging fastidiously, one of the Wi-Fi-connected units on this list is probably a better choice.
While it's relatively affordable, the Lectron 32 has a few drawbacks—most notably, the lack of a wall mount (any hook in your garage will suffice). That said, it's intended to be portable, so you can pack it in the car and use it wherever there's a 220 outlet available.
If this isn't the charger for you, Lectron offers a complete line of chargers, connectors, and accessories for electric vehicles and their chargers.
- Output capability: 40/32/24/16 amps (9.6/7.7/5.8/3.8 kW)
- Cord length: 24 feet
- Cord management: Included wall mount
- Outdoor rating: Yes (NEMA 4X/IP67)
In a reflection of its name, the Grizzl-E embraces durability; touting the ruggedness of its beefy aluminum enclosure, with videos on its website showing a small off-road vehicle running over it (which seems completely unnecessary for a thing that's mounted on a wall in or outside your garage). The cables are also rugged, but the most difficult to hang up.
Theoretically, the Grizzl-E Smart can pair with any EV charging app that uses the OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol) 1.6 and it's one of the cheapest smart units. Unfortunately, it took the Gear Team months to get theirs to connect. Thankfully, Grizzl-E has since streamlined the connection process.
Like the other units, this one can adjust among various output levels, but that's most difficult to accomplish in the Grizzl-E. Rather than change it via the app, you have to take off the front cover to toggle DIP switches and also reset the Wi-Fi connection.
How The Gear Team Tested Home EV Chargers
Michael Simari//Car and Driver
When assembling this story, Dave went down the same path a new EV owner would, starting with installing a dedicated 240-volt outlet in his garage. The Gear Team has chargers at the office, but he needed a proper setup at home to support all of the EVs he's reviewing these days.
Dave was able to add a 40-amp circuit to the existing electric service at the house without a pricey upgrade to run additional capacity, so that's why he landed on a 40-amp outlet versus a 50-amp setup. To be able to easily switch among the units, he ordered the NEMA 14-50 plug-in variant of each charging device.
In the first round of testing, the Gear Team used each unit to charge a Tesla Model 3 numerous times over a period of months. They then compared the electricity output from the wall to what the Model 3 reported made it into its battery pack using the third-party (and very cool) TeslaFi software.
Recently, they tested a few new units along with their favorites from before using a Rivian R1T, verifying the energy delivered to the vehicle via an inline electrical meter. Despite varying cord lengths and thicknesses, there was no measurable difference in performance or efficiency (which averaged roughly 5 to 8 percent charging losses).
FAQs
SimonSkafar/Getty
What are the different types of EV chargers?
Before you charge your electric vehicle, it is helpful to know what sort of options you have at your disposal. There are three main types of chargers, each with different performance levels on offer: Level 1 and Level 2 AC chargers, as well as Level 3 DC fast chargers. When it comes to at-home units, Level 1 and Level 2 offerings are by far the most common option. This is mostly due to the fact that your home is already running on an AC electrical circuit, and therefore these chargers don’t require special equipment or specialized help from your service provided during installation.
Level 1 chargers run on 120-volt AC current, and can be plugged right into a typical wall outlet. As you’d expect, this is the slowest way to recharge your EV. Speeds typically sit right around 1.4 kilowatts. Level 2 chargers on the other hand operate on 240-volt AC current.
While you might not think you have one of these plugs accessible in your home, chances are your dryer already operates on a 240-volt outlet. Depending on the amperage of your socket, you can expect speeds between 5.8 and 19.2 kW.
Level 3 chargers are extremely high-voltage (400 to 800 volts), and are completely incompatible with the wiring in your home. They also tend to run deep into the six-figures, which is why you'll really only find these at public charging stations.
They're also capable of pilling the miles back into your battery with haste, with Tesla's Supercharger network delivering around 150 miles of range in just 20 minutes of charge time. Based on the amount of driving that you do, as well as your public charging options, a Level 2 charger will be a great addition to your garage regardless.
Are all home electric vehicle chargers the same?
This one really depends on how technical you want to be. The tools that we call EV chargers are really known as electric vehicle supply equipment, and simply serve to transfer energy from your home into a vehicle. From there, the vehicle’s onboard charger will turn that AC current into some DC flow, which it uses to charge up the battery pack. In that sense, the overall function of every home EV charger is identical. That said, there are certainly some real-world differences in how these machines operate, as well as the features they provide owners.
The biggest difference between home charging options is going to come down to the overall output of the charger. These figures are measured in either amps (e.g., 32, 40, 48 amps) or power (e.g., 7.7, 9.6, 11.5 kW). The higher the output of the charger, the faster you will be able to charge.
The second major factor to consider when shopping relates to whether or not you’d like a smart charger. Backed by wi-fi connectivity and usually a dedicated app, smart chargers tend to offer more features such as charge reports, scheduling features for off-peak charging, and even mileage logs. Those added features tend to bring an added lump to the price tag, so it’s worth considering your actual use case.
How to choose the right charger?
Here are some of the major considerations that should go into every EV home charger purchase:
Cable Management and Length
It may seem silly, but having a convenient place to store your charge cable when not in use is a nice feature, and one that many chargers lack. Of course you can always stick a hook in the wall should your charger of choice lack this option.
What's harder to work around is the length of the charging cord, which varies dramatically between manufacturers. Depending on where you park and the overall cleanliness of your garage, a long cord (or an aftermarket extension cord) might be necessary.
Furthermore, thick cords aren't as flexible as their skinnier counterparts, but they are more likely to stand up to some abuse. Keep all of these factors in mind while you shop
Size
Depending on how much space you have available in your garage or outside your home, certain EV home chargers just might not fit your needs. A bulkier unit could eat up useful garage space, whereas a thinner unit would not. Measure the space in which you'd like to place the charger, and make sure the unit you intend to purchase will fit!
Weatherproof
If you're limited on garage space, you may opt to install an outdoor EV charger. While there are a ton of weatherproof units available for purchase (including every unit you see here), double check the owner's manual to ensure everything is up to par. Water and electricity is not a fun combination.
Hardwire Vs Plug-in
Once you've got a space set aside for you home EV charger, you'll need to decide whether you want a hardwired or plug-in unit. Plug-in units have gotten far more popular as more EVs hit the market, as owners can simply unplug the unit and bring them along on trips or a full-blown move. That said, a hardwired unit will still provide the same level of charging performance, albeit locked into one place.
Do I need to buy my own EV charging equipment?
Not necessarily. While you do need a device to connect the electricity from your house to your vehicle, you may be able to get by with the portable charging equipment that came with your vehicle. In some cases, the car either comes with or the automaker sells accessory adapters that allow the portable unit to plug into a 240-volt circuit and provide perfectly acceptable charging speeds, as long as you don't mind leaving it behind in your garage (or regularly loading it in and out of your car).
How do I wire my house to charge an EV, and how much does it cost?
The answer to this question is largely dependent on the home that you are currently living in. If you have enough electrical capacity on your property, an installation can be as low as a few hundred dollars, as you'll just need an additional dedicated electrical line.
This runs from your breaker right to the charger and ensures you have the consistent output required to charge the vehicle. You're also going to need a 40- or 50-amp circuit installed if you don't have one nearby. A NEMA 14-50 outlet works great and allows you to unplug your charger if needed. You can also run heavy power tools on that outlet, should you have a project car in the garage as well. Qmerit is a company that provides these installation services nationwide, and is a great resource for new EV owners.
If you don't currently have enough electricity available on your property, the cost of installing a charger gets significantly more expensive. We're talking at least a few thousand dollars worth of work in order to bring you the extra juice. That's worth keeping in mind before you start tackling an EV charger install on your own.
Are there tax breaks for electric car owners who buy a home charger?
Yes. The sweeping Inflation Reduction Act reinstated a federal tax credit of 30 percent of your total costs (capped at $1000). That includes money spent on electrical upgrades and wiring to your house, in addition to the charging unit itself. This credit is currently set to be in place through 2032. In addition, there are often additional state or regional incentives, so make sure to check what's available in your area.
Which plug type should I choose for my charging equipment?
Although several automakers have announced a switch from a J1772 connector to Tesla's North America Charging Standard (NACS) design in the 2025 time frame, whether you buy a J1772 or NACS unit today doesn't limit its future compatibility. There are adapters to go from NACS to J1772 or vice versa, and with the mixed ports both on the vehicles and the public-charging infrastructure, EV owners will need to get used to keeping adapters in their vehicles to be prepared for whichever plug type they encounter.
Can charging equipment be mounted outside?
Generally, yes. Each charging unit they tested has an outdoor-grade rating according to either the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) or Ingress Protection (IP) standards. A NEMA 3R rating, like the ChargePoint and Tesla Wall Connector have, is intended for outdoor use, but does not mean watertight; under certain circumstances, moisture could potentially enter the enclosure. The NEMA 4X rating of the JuiceBox 40 and Grizzl-E is superior. The IP ratings are two digits, the first representing the unit's resistance to solids (in this case dust) and the second number representing water protection. An IP66 rating means the unit is intended for outdoor use, with complete protection from dust or high-pressure water. But an IP67 goes one step further and can be immersed in water up to three feet deep.
Another thing to keep in mind with charging equipment mounted outside is that the electrical feed line to that location must also be in an outdoor-rated enclosure and, if you’re using a plug-type unit like they tested, that the outlet's enclosure must also be rated for outdoor use.
What's the difference between a vehicle's onboard charger and an EV charger?
Although many people refer to the products reviewed here as "chargers," technically they are electric-vehicle supply equipment, or EVSE. The vehicle's onboard charger is a device that converts the AC electricity from your house to DC energy to be stored in the battery, and it determines the fastest Level 2 charging rate your vehicle can handle. No matter how much electrical output you have at your house, you can't exceed the charge rate limited by the onboard charger.
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