July 14, 2023
Joel Manansala
Lectron Home Charger: EV Charging Station Buyer's Guide
Originally published on U.S. News.
Lectron EV offers a full line of simple, attractive and affordable EV charging stations. The company is focused on value, options and wide availability to appeal to the masses.
What Home Charging Solutions Does Lectron EV Offer?
Lectron offers several EV charging stations designed for home use. The various stations are available in different power levels with different cord lengths and features. The V-Box home EV charger is Lectron’s most well-known product, though we’ll provide details about the other units as well.
How Much Does a Lectron EV Home Charging Station Cost?
The cheapest Lectron V-Box home EV charging station currently starts at $449.99, and there’s a more powerful version for about $50 more. However, if you seek something more simple and cost-effective, Lectron sells an EV home charger for as little as $299.99.
Where Can I Buy a Lectron EV Home Charging Station?
You can buy a Lectron EV charging station on the company’s website.
It’s also available at Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe's, Target, Sam’s Club, Walmart, Amazon and many other physical and online retailers. Pricing varies depending on where you buy it, which version you choose and whether there are any current promotions. Some stores, including Target, offer a Lectron Level 1 EV charger for just $199. This charger is also available on the company’s website, where it's sometimes on sale.
What Cars Can I Charge With a Lectron EV Home Charging Station?
All Lectron EV charging stations are designed to charge electric cars from every brand. The chargers are fitted with the standard J1772 connector that can be plugged into nearly every EV on the road today.
Tesla owners will need to attach the J1772 Charging Adapter, which comes with their car, to plug the Lectron charging connector into the EV.
How Powerful Is a Lectron EV Home Charging Station?
Most Lectron EV charging stations are Level 2, 240-volt solutions. The least expensive option on the Lectron website is 32 amps, which should suffice for many EV owners. Upgraded options are available with 40 and 48 amps.
The least powerful unit can charge an electric car up to six times faster than a standard 120-volt wall outlet. Choose the 40- or 48-amp unit and charging is up to nine times faster than plugging into a normal home outlet.
Is the Lectron EV Home Charging Station a "Smart Charger?"
No, Lectron EV home chargers are not “smart chargers,” meaning they don’t connect to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to allow for remote access via a smartphone app or internet browser.
Does the Lectron EV Home Charging Station Offer an App?
No, since Lectron doesn’t produce smart chargers, there’s no mobile app or web-based utility associated with its products.
How Long of a Cable Can I Get?
Different versions of Lectron EV charging stations come equipped with different cable lengths. The less expensive units have at least 15 or 16-foot cables. Stepping up from there will get you a cable that’s 20 or 21 feet long.
Lectron also sells a 20-foot J1772 extension cord for $199.99 that’s specifically designed for EV charger compatibility. It's not safe to use a normal extension cord while charging an electric car. A 40-foot version is available for $299.99.
Does the Lectron EV Home Charging Station Offer Indoor/Outdoor Options?
Every new Lectron EV charging station is designed to be safe for both indoor and outdoor use. However, different models have different weatherproof ratings, so if you plan to install a Lectron EV charger outdoors, make sure to do your homework and get the highest-rated option you can afford.
Is the Lectron EV Home Charging Station Plugged-In or Hardwired?
Lectron home EV chargers are available in both plug-in and hardwired configurations. The plug-in options are considered “portable.” They tend to be more basic in design and less expensive than the hardwired “stations.”
Lectron’s V-Box home EV chargers are hardwired. The majority of the other chargers are portable, though there are a few exceptions.
Can I Install a Lectron EV Home Charging Station In My Home?
Most homes should have no problem accepting a Lectron EV charging station install, but you’ll need to make sure you have enough extra capacity in your electrical service panel. Chances are, you’ll need to have your electrical service upgraded, especially if you live in an older home.
Installations that are far away from the electrical service panel are much pricier due to the extra cable required.
Be sure to contact a qualified electrician to inspect your home and provide an estimate of the work and cost involved before you purchase a home EV charging station.
Do I Need an Electrician to Install a Lectron EV Home Charging Station?
Yes, a qualified electrician should install the Lectron EV charging station or the NEMA outlet you plan to plug a portable unit into.
Permits are typically required prior to the installation process in most locations. You’ll also need to have an official inspection and approval once the work is complete, at least in most areas. Some installers help with the permitting and inspection process, but it may be something you need to handle. Fees are also required, and they vary by location.
Can I Install a Lectron EV Home Charging Station Myself?
It’s not a good idea to install a powerful home EV charger like the various Lectron units on your own. The process requires very specific knowledge, tools and experience. Simply installing the 240-volt outlet for the portables chargers can be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing. Reach out to a licensed installer you can trust.
Is the Lectron EV Home Charging Station UL Listed?
No, it is not UL Listed, which means either it has not been evaluated by UL or it has not met specific safety requirements.
Does the Lectron EV Home Charging Station Offer Any Unique Features?
Lectron offers chargers with basic features to save people money. For this reason, they don’t have any special features that stand out among rival models.
Who Builds the Lectron EV Home Charging Station?
Lectron has locations in the U.S. and Hong Kong. Its U.S. location is situated in Minnesota. The company doesn’t specify where it manufactures its various EV charging stations for the North American market.
Are There Tax Credits Available for Buying a Lectron EV Home Charging Station?
Yes, there are typically ways to get reimbursed for at least part of the cost of home EV charging stations and installation through various tax credits, rebates and utility company incentives.
As part of the Inflation Reduction Act, the U.S. federal government offers a credit of up to 30% of the cost of purchasing and installing home charging equipment, with a limit of $1,000.
Depending on which state you live in and your local power company, you may qualify to get more money back. Various programs have specific rules and are limited to a single charging station installation, while others allow you to get credits for multiple installations.
How Long Is the Lectron EV Home Charging Station Warranty?
Lectron covers all of its EV charging stations with a two-year limited warranty. However, you can buy a one-, two- or three-year extended warranty at the time of purchase. The price of the extended warranties depends on the model, but they’re not that expensive. While an extra year may cost you $30 to $40, an extra three years costs around $50 to $70.