After two years of standardized testing with two EVs and 16 (and counting) of the most popular home charging products, seven products made the cut below. You can’t go wrong with any of these charging stations, but we’ve highlighted their differentiating features.
The Tesla Wall Connector was already the best choice for most Tesla drivers. Now there is a new Universal Wall Connector that works with J1772 plugs too. Regardless of your EV brand preferences, this charging station is a smart choice for the long term as the Tesla (NACS) connector will become the de facto standard in North America post-2025.
We like the integrated cord management features of this product, and the cord is easy to handle in any climate but robust enough to handle 48 amps without overheating.
EVIQO surveyed 1,800 existing EV owners during their product development, and it is evident that many common charging complaints were addressed. The hardware is good all around, with quality components used in the cord and J1772 connector. Very generous cord lengths on both input and output.
The app and smart features are where EVIQO really shines. Both scheduling and electricity rates can be fine-tuned to fit most EV drivers’ specific situations, resulting in accurate and clear charging cost reports. Full review.
ChargePoint is a reputable brand in public charging as well as home charging. Priced at the higher end of the spectrum, the Home Flex is well-built, includes smart cable management, and a fully featured app. We were impressed when the app detected our utility provider by ZIP code, and automatically calculated accurate charging costs using up-to-date TOU electricity rates.
Compatible with all EVs on the market, the ChargePoint Home Flex is our top choice for EVs with large-capacity batteries. The ChargePoint Home Flex is a top seller on Amazon and for good reason. As of March 2024, ChargePoint offers a version with a native NACS connector too. Full review.
Need something solid but without the bells and whistles? LENZ has a great value Level 2 charging station with a robust metal enclosure. The LENZ product can be installed (quickly and easily) inside or outside.
While it may not have connectivity options, most modern EVs will have built-in scheduling options. If you’re looking for something uncomplicated with a NEMA 14-50 wall plug, LENZ is a great choice.
We were impressed with the quality of the materials of the enclosure, the cable, and the J1772 connector. This charging station also managed to stay very cool while operating at 40 amps. But the cord holster could be improved for cable management. Full review.
Leviton is a brand with a long history in home electrical products, and their EV charging products demonstrate their commitment to safety. The EV48W is UL-listed and EnergyStar-certified, and comes with a high-quality charging cord and a durable J1772 connector. Our only complaint is that at 18 feet, the cord could be a little bit longer.
Leviton’s smart switches and connected devices are popular among homeowners looking for smart home automation. Their latest EV charging stations are integrated into the same ecosystem and My Leviton app. This is a great option for drivers who already own other Leviton-connected products. Full review.
Autel has a growing product line of home EV chargers, and the latest Autel AC Lite is a great balance between price and features. Not only are the core specifications competitive for this segment, but the RFID card reader can be paired with almost any RFID card you already own. We were able to pair our charger with the Tesla keycard as well as a transit card.
For drivers looking for a secure access EV charging station, the Autel is a great pick. For example; outdoor or underground parking installation, where you want to prevent strangers from stealing your electricity.
Autel offers this product in two main versions, a 40-amp plug-in SKU, and a 50-amp hardwired version.
Québec-based FLO is best known for its North America-wide public charging network. Their latest home charging station, the Home X5, feels as durable as their outdoor public charging stations. The enclosure is made of molded aluminum both front and back, and the integrated holster and cable management systems are thoughtfully designed. The cable and connector are among the best we have ever tested; it is durable and freely coils around the charging station regardless of ambient temperature.
The Home X5 is an internet-connected smart home charging station, but a key difference is how the unit connects online. Instead of WiFi or Bluetooth, the FLO has built-in powerline networking (PLC). Some competing products struggle to maintain a Wi-Fi connection in our testing garage, but the FLO unit had zero connection issues with powerline networking. Full review.
Our testing facility is a residential two-car garage with a NEMA 14-50 receptacle installed by a licensed electrician. This setup will be similar to how most EV owners charge at home, and allow us to quickly and easily swap chargers for testing.
All products we recommend must be tested in our garage for at least two weeks and several EV battery charge cycles. A Tesla Model Y is our main test vehicle, but we have also borrowed an Ioniq 5 or VW ID.4 for some tests. While we consider user testimonials as part of the rating, the conclusions and recommendations are based on our own hands-on testing and experience with 16+ EVSE products reviewed. We are more familiar than anyone with common issues, shortcomings, and software bugs that appear in this product category, and we aim to surface the most polished products in front of our audience.
Our main criteria for products are (1) ease of use and installation, (2) power output, (3) cord length and management, (4) design and materials used, (5) smart features, and (6) reliability/warranty. Not every product we test is good enough to recommend. This article will be kept up to date with our favorite home EV charging stations as more products are released and tested by our team. You can see our full review feed here.
Home EV Chargers are devices (usually wall-mounted) that safely connect your electric car to your household’s electric circuit. Technically speaking, the wall-mounted device commonly referred to as an "EV Charger" is called an Electric Vehicle Service Equipment (EVSE), and it passes electricity to the onboard vehicle charger. The onboard charger is the actual equipment that converts household alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) required to charge the battery. But for the sake of simplicity and understanding, most people call the wall-mounted EVSEs as home EV Chargers.
Is an EV charger installation something you can do yourself? Sometimes. Many newer homes are pre-wired and have a 240-volt plug near where your car is parked. NEMA 14-50 and NEMA 6-50 are common 50-amp wall receptacles that a home charging station can plug into. If you already have an outlet installed, you may buy and install the equipment by yourself safely.
If you don’t already have a 240-volt receptacle on your wall, or if you are planning to hardwire your charging station (to go above 40 amps), then working with a licensed electrician is highly recommended. An electrical contractor will be able to assess the existing capacity of your electrical panel, run the appropriate gauge insulated wiring to your garage, as well as help receive any permits required in your local area.
If you do not have an outlet, but your household electrical panel has the capacity for a dedicated 40, 50, or 60-amp line, a qualified and licensed electrician will need to run wiring from the breaker box to your charging location. Some regions will require an additional permit for electrical work and upgrades. Expect to pay a few hundred dollars, with costs increasing proportionally with distance from the electrical panel. Our more complicated NEMA 14-50 installation was around $1,200 for a 50+ foot run and electrical permit.
If your home’s electrical supply cannot support a dedicated 30+ amp 240-volt line, like some older construction homes, then major electrical upgrades could cost thousands of dollars to support Level 2 EV charging. A licensed electrician may be able to develop a lower (slower) power solution that still charges an EV at 16, 20, or 24 amps.
Absolutely. EV charging stations can be mounted to an exterior wall or a pedestal near your parking location. For outdoor installations, due to potential exposure to moisture and precipitation, it is recommended to have the unit hardwired to the electrical circuit rather than using a 240v outlet like the NEMA 14-50.
It’s important to pay attention to weather resistance ratings when shopping for an outdoor EV charging station. Most EV charger enclosures on the market are rated at least IP66, which protects the equipment from raindrops and water jets. For outdoor usage, we recommend tougher products that have NEMA water resistance ratings. For example; NEMA Type 4 and Type 3R products like the Tesla Wall Connector are intended for outdoor use and will withstand rain, snow, and ice formation. For extreme climates, NEMA Type 4X products like the Lenz EV Charger or FLO X5 have additional protection from corrosion which may develop from frequent exposure to moisture.
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