Nobody who owns or is considering purchasing an electric car should also consider home charging stations. Even though you may charge at public stations, doing so rapidly becomes tedious due to needless trip planning and chargers that are continually out of service and already in use. With a home EV charger, all of it is avoidable.
Although slower than commercial DC fast chargers, Level 2 home chargers are more than rapid enough to charge your vehicle when you’re at home, which may match your electric company’s off-peak rates (many of these chargers enable scheduling). Except for Tesla, automakers offer their own branded 240-volt Level 2 chargers for the house, but as all EVs utilize the Common Charging System (CCS), there are less expensive aftermarket options. While some chargers are better installed in garages, others are for outdoor use. Many of these charging devices also link to smartphone applications, so you can check on the progress of charging wherever you are. These varied chargers are a desirable replacement for specialized carmaker chargers due to their wide range of capabilities. These third-party chargers cost anything from $400 to $800.
The Top 5 EV Chargers for Homes
ChargePoint Home Flex
One of the nation’s biggest Level 2 charging networks is provided by ChargePoint, and the company also has a handy app that allows you to locate almost all of the accessible chargers (including free DC fast chargers). The Home Flex 50-amp smart charger has no learning curve since it operates similarly to its public chargers. It may be hooked into an existing 240-volt outlet or a 240-volt circuit, often the home’s dryer circuit. More installation options in your garage are possible thanks to the 23-foot cable, and the whole charging device is stylish.
The Grizzl-E Classic
Have an EV but no garage to charge it in? A powerful Level 2 charger designed to survive the weather is called the Grizzl-E. It includes an integrated GFCI and is water- and fire-resistant. A 40-amp charger called the Grizzl-E may be hardwired or plugged into a 240-volt outlet already in place. It is as straightforward as they come, yet it is a reliable charger.
Autel MaxiCharger Home Smart EV Charger
The Autel MaxiCharger is an attractive, weather- and climate-resistant indoor/outdoor charger that can be installed quickly, either hardwired or plugged into a 240-volt outlet. It connects to an app via Bluetooth, Ethernet, or Wi-Fi so that you can manage and monitor your vehicle’s charging, including scheduling charging for off-peak times with your utility. An optional RFID card reader may stop illegal usage if the charger is mounted outdoors and includes over-the-air software upgrades.
ClipperCreek Level 2 EV Charger
One of the oldest brands in the still-young field of home EV chargers is ClipperCreek. Additionally, Clipper Creek is sticking to the fundamentals while others emphasize “smart” chargers that include smartphone applications. The ClipperCreek Level 2 EV Charger won’t elicit “oohs” and “aahs” from your neighbors about the new expensive device in your garage. The structure is the same as that of earlier ClipperCreek chargers: a base unit with four LEDs (power, charging, power fault, and charging spot) that you plug into your car to start and remove to finish. It has a three-year guarantee and is approved for indoor and outdoor usage. “No frills” does not equate to “low cost.” The quality comes with a price.
Emporia EV Charger
Even though Tesla was one of the first businesses to provide battery backup systems that could be used with its wall charger, it is no longer the only one. Colorado-based Emporia includes an energy-monitoring system that detects the individual demand on your home’s circuits and a 48-amp Level 2 charger linked to the firm’s 8.2 kWh battery backup. Installing up to six batteries and connecting them all to a solar array is possible. You might thus charge your EV outside the grid. Although there are fewer onboard smart features like the Autel MaxiCharger, the pricing is still better at $399.
Installation costs for a home EV charge
When installing a home EV charger, there is no set pricing or price range to consider. It depends on your home’s electrical service (the total amps feeding into the circuit breaker from the street), the amps your charging station needs or wants, whether you use an exterior pole mount or a wall mount, the length and type of wiring from the circuit breaker to the charger, and labor costs for electricians in your area. Be prepared to spend up to $ 1,000 if you haven’t touched your breaker in years.
Most houses only have high-amp 240-volt circuits for an electric oven, dryer, and air conditioning. An EV charging station at home needs a separate course. Installation may cost a few hundred dollars if you place the charger close to your breaker in a modern home with high-amp service. Your home’s layout and the location of your charger will determine everything. It is not inexpensive.
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
How many amps are needed to charge my EV?
Each electric vehicle (EV) is equipped with an onboard charger that limits the amount of input power the battery can absorb at Level 1 (110/120 volts), Level 2 (220/240 volts), or Level 3 (480 volts) charge levels. Many non-Tesla EVs cannot take the full power output of most household chargers at Level 2. They usually peak at a little under 8.0 kW. However, you’ll be better off investing now in a home charger (and an electrical connection) that is more powerful since future EVs will handle Level 2 inputs higher than 10 kW.
Is a smart EV charger necessary?
It varies. In addition to charging tasks, smart chargers include a wide range of features. The capability of smart chargers to alert you if a charging session is interrupted may be their most crucial feature. Additionally, you may schedule charging periods and get alerts when charging is finished. You can join a demand response program with a smart charger, but if you don’t want to, you may still save money by choosing a non-smart charger that may be more cost-effective.
Is a Level 2 home charger worth it?
Three to ten times quicker than a wall-style Level 1 outlet, Level 2 can charge an EV. For short drives in a plug-in hybrid, Level 1 charging could be enough. Most modern EVs can be fully recharged overnight thanks to level 2 charging, making them the best option.
Does the Nissan Leaf use a different connector?
All EVs in North America utilize the industry-standard J1772 connection for Level 1 (120-volt) and Level 2 (240-volt) EV charging, except Tesla, which uses a proprietary connector. A Nissan Leaf may thus use any current home charger except Tesla models. While unsuitable for home use, the Leaf employs a separate connection for DC rapid charging (CHAdeMO).
Why am I unable to use an extension cord?
An automobile needs a constant stream of high-amp current, which may burn up a regular extension cable or result in a ground fault. Therefore, no manufacturer advises connecting an EV to any extension cable. Most outdoor-rated extension cords with larger gauge wire may sometimes handle a Level 1 charge, but they are not intended to carry an EV’s electricity for eight hours every night. The same thing happens when using a typical 240-volt extension cable. There is digital communication between the charger and the car when you connect an EV to a charger. By doing this, it is made sure that there are no surges or connection problems that might cause a fire. This digital “handshake” also offers data that smart chargers may use, including telling the user whether charging has been interrupted. Additionally, these cars are still covered by warranties, so the manufacturers won’t take a chance by letting someone use an old cable from their shed.
Can I use the charger that came with the car?
The company has still given a normal charging cable that can be used to connect an EV to a typical 120-volt wall socket. This very sluggish charging is at Level 1. For every hour of charging, just two to five miles of additional range will be added. It may be useful in an emergency, but it would take days to recharge from 10% fully. Level 1 is great if you aren’t going anywhere for a few days or have a plug-in hybrid (where you aren’t dependent only on the electric battery), but if you drive an EV every day, you will need a 240-volt Level 2 charger.
Where is the Juicebox?
It exists, my friend, thank you