Best EV chargers for your home: Our top 10 based on real data. Wallbox home charger

Meet ChargePoint Home Flex

A wall outlet just doesn’t cut it anymore. Add up to 37 miles of Range Per Hour to your EV with ChargePoint® Home Flex, a 240-volt Level 2 home charger that delivers up to 50 amps of power. Most drivers will use 32 or 40 amps. 48 or 50 amps will give you the fastest charge, but requires hardwired installation and may require electrical upgrades. Contact a licensed electrician to set the amperage that matches your electrical panel capacity and vehicle requirements to see how fast you can charge.

Set ChargePoint Home Flex to

to add up to 37 36 30 25 18 12 miles of range per hour.

Charges an EV, including your Audi BMW Chevy Chrysler Ford Honda Hyundai Jaguar Kia Mazda Mercedes-Benz Mitsubishi Nissan Polestar Tesla Toyota Volvo

ChargePoint Home Flex can charge any EV, including your next one. It also works with your home, now and in the future.

Convenient, connected and smarter than ever

Use the ChargePoint app (available on iOS and Android) to make owning an EV even easier.

Home, work and around town — we’ve got you covered.

Find places to charge away from home

Search for spots, filter by charging speed, see if stations are available and more.

Schedule charging when energy is cheapest

Save money and reduce hassle by setting a schedule for charging.

Never forget to charge when you set regular reminders.

Connect to your Smart home

Manage charging with your voice using Alexa and set charging speed in the app.

Track all your charging in one place

Home, work and around town — we’ve got you covered.

Find places to charge away from home

Search for spots, filter by charging speed, see if stations are available and more.

Schedule charging when energy is cheapest

Save money and reduce hassle by setting a schedule for charging.

Get reminders to plug in

Never forget to charge when you set regular reminders.

Connect to your Smart home

Manage charging with your voice using Alexa and set charging speed in the app.

Safe and reliable for your home and your EV

ChargePoint Home Flex is UL listed for safety, ENERGY STAR certified for efficiency and backed by a 3-year warranty to protect your EV investment. It’s easy to install indoors or out, no matter your electrical capacity, and the 23-foot charging cable can reach any parking configuration. We don’t think you’ll have any issues, but 24/7 phone support is available just in case.

Save money on home charging

There are many rebates, tax credits and other incentives that can save you money on home charging, especially when you get a Smart charger like Flex.

Renewed for 2021The U.S. federal tax credit gives individuals 30% off a ChargePoint Home EV charging station plus installation costs (up to 1,000). Buy and install by December 31, 2021 and claim the credit on your federal tax return.

Perfect charger, looks great works really fast. Quality is great and the app works great with my phone. Highly recommended.

Install once, charge whenever

No matter what you drive or how much space is available in your electrical panel, ChargePoint Home Flex fits right in. Have a licensed electrician install it indoors or outdoors using a NEMA 6-50 plug, 14-50 plug, or hardwired connection, and set the appropriate charging speed — up to 50 amps. Hardwired installation is required for 48A, 50A charging. Click here for more installation resources. Click here for more installation resources.

Need help finding an electrician to install ChargePoint Home? Qmerit can connect you with a licensed electrician installer near you.

By EV drivers, for EV drivers

EV charging is all we do, and we do it all—from home charging to charging around town. We’ve delivered more than 172 million charges to all kinds of cars at hundreds of thousands of places to charge worldwide, and we’re always working to make EV charging even easier.

Fast, reliable, and excellent customer service

ChargePoint is an excellent product, easy to install and has excellent customer service if or when trouble shooting may be needed. Quality.”

.Spencer

Worth the Money

Installing the faster charger has made owning an electric car as carefree as owning a gas-powered car. I can go from 40% to 80% in about 2 hours. My state offered a 500 refund as well, so a big win!”

.Jennifer

Fast and convenient charging at home

Love this charger. Easy to store and attach for charging. Not too heavy or bulky. Plug in at night and have a full charge when you leave in the morning. Takes the stress out of finding a charging station and worrying about the time needed to charge in a public place.

.Maria

Great Product

What a great addition to the home garage. My charger has been reliable, easy to use and, frankly, a good-looking addition to the house. So convenient to use and so FAST, I used to have to wait 14-15 hours for a full charge, now I can recharge in a few short hours.

.Bob

Fast, reliable, and excellent customer service

ChargePoint is an excellent product, easy to install and has excellent customer service if or when trouble shooting may be needed. Quality.”

.Spencer

Worth the Money

Installing the faster charger has made owning an electric car as carefree as owning a gas-powered car. I can go from 40% to 80% in about 2 hours. My state offered a 500 refund as well, so a big win!”

.Jennifer

Fast and convenient charging at home

Love this charger. Easy to store and attach for charging. Not too heavy or bulky. Plug in at night and have a full charge when you leave in the morning. Takes the stress out of finding a charging station and worrying about the time needed to charge in a public place.

.Maria

Great Product

What a great addition to the home garage. My charger has been reliable, easy to use and, frankly, a good-looking addition to the house. So convenient to use and so FAST, I used to have to wait 14-15 hours for a full charge, now I can recharge in a few short hours.

.Bob

Best EV chargers for your home: Our top 10 based on real data

Buying an electric vehicle (EV) is a major way you can contribute to reducing CO2 emissions. But before you can adorn your 4-wheeled companion with accessories, there is a much more urgent and practical task you need to complete – making sure your EV can be charged properly.

For most EV car owners, a charge point (or often called a wallbox or charging station) at home is a must-have if you drive frequently and don’t want to rely on the public stations or don’t have one at work. That brings us to the question: what kind of charge point should you buy?

That would highly depend on your EV and your personal needs and circumstances.

What makes a great charge point

Before we go more in depth with the ten best home ev chargers, it’s a good idea to look a bit closer into what a top-performing home charging point actually looks alike for other EV drivers. specifically, here are the main features that the best home EV charger should be equipped with:

Smart charging

A reliable home EV charger should be able to support Smart charging features. Simply put, it should enable electric car owners to charge their electric cars greener and more cost-effectively. To achieve that, it should rely on data from the grid and the EV owner’s usage patterns to optimise the charging process and take advantage of any surplus energy.

Like that, it can reduce the total charging cost of the EV by being able to schedule charging sessions when the charge should take place to check all boxes: low price, needed charging breaks and time to use the car.

Charge speed

Electric vehicles can be charged in different speeds depending on the type of the car and the location where you charge your vehicle overnight or during the day. For instance, you can’t install a Level 3 EV charger at home even though it is the fastest.

What you will need is a Level 2 charger that will be able to fully charge your car from 5 to 7 times quicker than a Level 1 charger.

Tethered or untethered EV chargers?

There are different views on this topic, but our suggestion would be to go for a tethered EV charger. The reason behind it is just practicality.

You can simply plug your electric vehicle to the wallbox and go on with your day. Otherwise, you should always remember to have your own charging cable.

Size

When it comes to size, it’s a good idea to go discreet and choose a charge point of 1.5 or maximum 2kg weight. As the market develops, there are more options in that range.

Convenience and maintenance

Our next category covers a number of aspects of charging sessions such as connectivity, ease of installation and maintenance as well as access of the EV charging data. Starting from connectivity, it’s highly recommendable to go for an EV charger that works well both with Wi-Fi and 4G/5G.

In that manner, you will have better control over your EV charge point and you will actually make the maintenance process easier, as many issues will be fixed remotely. By choosing home EV chargers of small size and fewer bits, you make your life much easier and cheaper in terms of installation cost, as well.

The right app

Last but not least, it’s important that you find a home EV charger that is compatible to a reliable EV charging management solution. In that way, you can always feel in charge and detect mistakes the moment they emerge.

The Monta app is a great example, as it allows you to automate your admin tasks and gain full control over your charging experience.

What to consider when choosing an EV charge point for your home

As a quick summary of what we discussed above, here are some of the things you need to consider before buying a home charger:

• The type of connector your car requires, for example, all EU certified cars require a type 2 connector
• The type of EV and the battery it has
• Tethered or untethered, which means your charger comes with or without a cable
• Charging speeds, which start from 3 and 3.7kW and go pricier the more power your EV requires, up to 22kW
• What electricity supply your home has, single-phase or three-phase (more powerful)
• Installation costs, earth rod installation
• With or without a mobile app and remote control

Those are the main aspects to consider when deciding which charge point to choose. Now let’s explore what home chargers there are on the market and what features and they have.

Best electric car charge points

How is the scoring calculated

• Popularity = Measured by the total number of connected charge points and rate of installation (0. 100%)
• Rating = Average user rating after a charge has been completed (0. 100%)
• Stability = Overall charge point performance measured over the last 30 days, updated daily (0. 100%)
• Sore = Total score calculated as the sum of popularity, stability and rating whereby stability is weighted more heavily

/ Successful charges/total charges last 7 days, max 10 Successful charges/total charges last 30 days, max 70 Successful charges last month, max 10 avg rating 4, max 10 Hours disconnected/error last month max 20 /

With the help of usage data from our platform, we have put together a detailed list of the 10 best EV home chargers:

Zaptec. Go

Zaptec. Go is an excellent option for EV owners who are on the lookout for a next generation home ev charger. Its incredible small size in combination with its ease of installation and maintenance makes it very appealing to electric car owners who want reliable yet easy-to-use charge point.

• Charger compatible with any electric car
• 60 percent fewer bits than other home chargers on the market
• 1.3kg (lighter than most chargers. 80 percent of charge points in the market are heavier)
• Charge up to 22kW (100km driving range after just one hour of electric car charging)
• Wi-Fi or 4G LTE-M connectivity

Monta score: 16,977

Its Eco mode is also worth-mentioning as it allows you to charge your car off peak times when energy usage is cheaper, protecting in that way both your and the environment. Last but not least, it has excellent Wi-Fi and 4G connectivity making it much easier to detect and resolve any issues as soon as they emerge.

Easee Home Easee Charge

The Norwegian manufacturer Easee comes with stylish, highly versatile chargers. Both models are compatible with all electrical grids and provides electrical capacity from the lowest of 3.7 kW to the highest 22 kW.

• Type 2 universal connector
• Compatible with both phase 1 and 3
• Built-in SIM and mobile connection
• Just 1.5kg, 69 percent smaller than its counterparts

Monta score: 16,531 for Easee Home / 15124 for Easee Charge

The Easee app provides user-friendly features such as charging remotely, scheduling charge times, choosing the speed of charging, monitoring charge analytics and many more.

With a built-in 4G and Wi-Fi connectivity, Easee charge points are able to connect to your smartphone easily, however, many users share that sometimes the app does not respond and they can’t charge their EV. Another issue often mentioned is the RFID sensor not responding.

Zaptec Pro

Zaptec Pro is without a doubt one of the best home EV chargers in the market. It gives you full control over your energy bills as it allows you to always keep an eye on your energy consumption through the Zaptec portal or by using the app.

• Charging speed of 22 kilowatts (110km driving range for your car in about an hour)
• Balance between single and three-phase charging
• 4G internet
• Type 2 connector

Monta score: 14,828

According to Zaptec, it is a charge point that provides you with 66 percent more efficient use of the available power thanks to the remarkable balance between single and three-phase charging. Lastly, its size and its simple installation process makes it a great option for housing cooperatives with larger on or off street parking areas.

ABB. Terra AC Wallbox

The company that creates this electric vehicle charging station has more than 130 years of expertise in power and heavy electrical equipment, making the wallbox charger itself a symbol of trust and superior build quality for your car.

• Integrated protection measures against DC ground fault
• Supports charge scheduling via a smartphone app
• Charger compatible with the electrical system of most houses and buildings
• Prepared for communication with external energy meter for dynamic load management

Monta score: 14,793

With its comprehensive safety measures and Smart load management, ABB Terra AC Wallbox is a value-for-money home charging solution for EV drivers who seek a reliable and easy-to-use electric vehicle charger. The smartphone app has a minimalistic design, yet it lacks in functionality, such as adding more than one user and locking/unlocking the plug remotely.

Garo. Wallbox GLB

The Swedish manufacturer Garo comes with its EV home charger called GLB. It is a reliable charge point that can automatically charge from a PV grid when available. It has an LED status panel and a type 2 connector (tethered version). It has automatic updates, making the GLB a future-proof choice for homeowners. Even if you change your electric car, you can still use your GLB.

• Electrical capacity of 3.7 kW and 11.4 kW
• 3-year warranty
• Built-in earth rod
• Tethered or untethered unit

Monta score: 12,721

ABB. EVLunic Basic Plus

The EVLunic Basic Plus is a reliable home charger for electric car owners that prioritise price. Its easy-to-fit and compact charger design makes it an attractive choice for those who value ease of use and don’t want to sacrifice too much space for installing their charge point. What is more, it’s a home charger that provides its owner with great flexibility as it can be placed both indoors and outdoors thanks to its weather-resistant enclosure.

• 4.6kW (only B), 11kW and 22kW AC charging available
• Authentication (B)
• Suitable both for outdoor and indoor use thanks to its weather-resistant enclosure
• DC leakage detection

Monta score: 11,757

Wallbox Pulsar Plus

Wallbox is one of the biggest manufacturers of EV charge points, and there is a reason why. The Pulsar Plus, for example, combines quality materials, a user-friendly mobile app as well as a compact design.

Price starts from £532Manufacturer’s website: Wallbox.com

• Tethered charge point, yet very compact design
• No need for an earth-rod, which is built-in
• 7.4kW charging output, equal to 30 miles per hour added to your EV
• LED lights showing current charge status

Monta score: 11,529

Connect your charge point to the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for a stable connection and enjoy the multiple features of the myWallbox app. Locking and unlocking remotely, changing the charging output as well as scheduling your charging can be done through the app.

The review score is quite low on Google Play Store, the main reason being constant Wi-Fi connection as well as unreliable charging statistics, such as comparing night and day charging cost.

Vestel. EVC04-AC7SWA

Vestel EVC04 is a serious contender for the best home EV charger title when it comes to fire safety. over, it offers a wide array of options when it comes to connectivity (Wi-Fi, LTE, RS485 and Ethernet). This FOCUS on connectivity makes it enables a series of remote management capabilities.

• Power: 7.4 kW max
• Voltage: 230V AC, 50/60 Hz, 1-Phase
• Socket Type: IEC 62196 Type 2 EU
• Weight: 4.8kg
• Operating temperature:.35°C to 55°C
• Storage temperature:.40°C to 80°C
• Best in Class Flame Retardant 5VA Plastic Housing
• Remote control
• Remote SW update and Diagnostics
• Dynamic load management

Monta score: 11,483

We would also like to emphasise on the Dynamic Load Management option which adjusts to grid demand ensuring lower running costs, fewer power deviations and all in all a consistent and reliable charging experience.

EVBox. Elvi MID

This charge point is fully compatible with all models of EV as it supports both one and three-phase charging and it comes with both fixed cable and socket-only versions. Its versatility makes the charge point ideal for electric car owners who may want to change the EV model in the future without worrying about the compatibility problem.

• Autostart function: charging can restart as soon as possible in case of power failure
• Suitable for all EV models
• Can track usage and manage scheduled charging, local dynamic load balancing via a mobile app
• Supports solar charging
• Adjustable power output

Monta score: 11,439

A disadvantage is the high price, which might be a turn-off for those who want a budget charge point at home. It was also dissapointing that despite the premium price, the app sometimes may not be able to connect to chargers on the first, or even second try.

Etrel. INCH Home

Etrel. INCH Home is a Smart charger that deserves your attention. With the help of Artificial Intelligence and cutting-edge Load Management, it protects your home grid by preventing overloads.

• Max charging power: 7,4 kW (1 x 32 A) or 22 kW (3 x 32 A) adjustable
• Type 2 socket (optional shutter) with cable lock or Type 2 tethered charging cable
• Communication: Ethernet or Wi-Fi or 4G LTE
• Used identification: PIN code or RFID, app, SMS
• Dynamic Load Balancing
• Energy meter: Class 2 energy meter, MID (optional)
• Material: Aluminium housing, Polycarbonate Lexan cover plate

Monta score: 11,261

Its Load Guard module gives you the opportunity to charge your vehicle faster without having to worry about upgrading the connection power of the grid. Simply put, it combines fast charging with low installation and charging costs.

Lastly, the intuitive design of Etrel. INCH Home ensures that you get the most out of your charger without having to navigate through a labyrinth of technical specifications.

Which home EV charger is right for you?

We hope that by now you have a better idea as to which home charger is the right one for your car. There is a number of reliable and truly remarkable charge points in the market but everything depends on your personal needs and your budget.

Our last advice to you is reaching out to the different charge point providers so that you can hear from the experts which model would be able to fulfil your needs and give that peace of mind you need when it comes to charging your electric vehicle.

Wallbox home charger

ELECTRIC CAR HOME CHARGING

Start every day with a full charge.

When it comes to charging your Jaguar, there’s no place like home. Simply plug in your vehicle on an evening – just as you would your mobile phone – and by morning you can be fully charged and ready to go.

HOME CHARGERS – THE PERFECT WAY TO RECHARGE

For the fastest charging time at home, we recommend a professionally installed home charger – also known as a wall box or home charging point.

Installation will typically require private off-street parking – such as a driveway or garage – to connect to your home’s electricity. Please check the suitability of your property with your chosen home charger provider.

A home charger will charge an all-electric car overnight and deliver up to 35km (22 miles) 1 of range from 60 minutes using a 7kW supply.

Charging at home is not only convenient, the cost of electricity is less per kilometre compared to petrol and diesel. And you can reduce this further with an off-peak electricity tariff.

Home chargers from industry-approved providers are designed to be used in all weather conditions.

CHARGING TIME USING A HOME CHARGER

OUR RECOMMENDED HOME CHARGING PARTNERS

To find out who our recommended home charger (Wall Box) providers are for your area, please visit your local Jaguar Retailer.

OUR RECOMMENDED HOME CHARGING PARTNERS

To find out who our recommended home charger (Wall Box) providers are for your area, please visit your local Jaguar Retailer.

ARRANGING YOUR HOME CHARGER INSTALLATION

To start your home charger installation process, choose your home charging provider. Your Jaguar Retailer can help you get started.

Your chosen charging provider will undertake a survey over the phone or online to determine the suitability of your property for a wall box.

ARRANGE INSTALLATION DATE

Agree an installation date with your chosen provider. If you qualify for a government grant to help with the installation cost, your provider will do this on your behalf.

Once your installation date comes around, your chosen provider will install your wall box and talk you through the basics of charging.

DOMESTIC SOCKETS PROVIDE ADDED PEACE OF MIND

If you’re away from home for longer periods and a home charger is not accessible, the standard domestic plug socket used for electric household items will also charge your vehicle at a much slower rate. This is achieved by simply plugging in your Jaguar’s optional Domestic Plug (Mode 2) charging cable.

JAGUAR ALL-ELECTRIC AND ELECTRIC HYBRID CARS

Experience Jaguar’s world of electrifying performance with our range of all-electric and electric hybrid cars.

JAGUAR ALL-ELECTRIC AND ELECTRIC HYBRID CARS

Experience Jaguar’s world of electrifying performance with our range of all-electric and electric hybrid cars.

Familiarise yourself with the simple steps to charge your all-electric or plug-in electric hybrid (PHEV), whether you’re at home or on the go.

With an ever-growing infrastructure of public charging points, charging away from home is more accessible than ever.

ALREADY OWN AN ELECTRIC JAGUAR?

Connect to the features at the heart of your electrified world and understand the simple steps to charging at home and on the go.

ALREADY OWN AN ELECTRIC JAGUAR?

Connect to the features at the heart of your electrified world and understand the simple steps to charging at home and on the go.

1 Charging times will vary dependent on many factors, including but not limited to: the age, condition, temperature and existing charge of the battery; facility used and duration of charge.

‡ The figures provided are NEDC2 calculated from official manufacturer’s WLTP tests in accordance with EU legislation with a fully charged battery. For comparison purposes only. Real world figures may differ. CO2, fuel economy, energy consumption and range figures may vary according to factors such as driving styles, environmental conditions, load, wheel fitment and accessories fitted. NEDC2 are figures calculated using a Government formula from WLTP figures equivalent to what they would have been under the old NEDC test. The correct tax treatment can then be applied.

Official Fuel Consumption Figures: N/A (not applicable); Figures for the I-PACE in kWh/100km (miles): Combined 22,0-25,2 (35,4-40,5). CO2 Emissions 0 g/km. EV Range: Up to 470km (292 miles). The figures provided are as a result of official manufacturer’s tests in accordance with EU legislation with a fully charged battery. For comparison purposes only. Real world figures may differ. Energy consumption and range figures may vary according to factors such as driving styles, environmental conditions, load, wheel fitment, accessories fitted, actual route and battery condition. Range figures are based upon production vehicle over a standardised route.

Official Fuel Consumption Figures for the F-PACE range (excluding plug-in electric hybrid (PHEV)) in I/100km (mpg): Combined 6,2-12,2 (45,6-23,2). WLTP CO2 Emissions 163-275g/km. Plug-in electric hybrid (PHEV) in l/100km (mpg): Combined 2,2 (128,4). WLTP CO2 Emissions 49g/km. EV range figures are based upon production vehicle over a standardised route. Range achieved will vary dependent on vehicle and battery condition, actual route and environment and driving style. The figures provided are as a result of official manufacturer’s tests in accordance with EU legislation. For comparison purposes only. Real world figures may differ. CO2, fuel economy, energy consumption and range figures may vary according to factors such as driving styles, environmental conditions, load and accessories.

† Official Fuel Consumption Figures for E-PACE plug-in electric hybrid (PHEV) in l/100km (mpg): Combined 1,4 (201,8). CO2 Emissions 32 g/km. EV Range: Up to 62km (39 miles). The figures provided are as a result of official manufacturer’s tests in accordance with EU legislation with a fully charged battery. For comparison purposes only. Real world figures may differ. CO2, fuel economy, energy consumption and range figures may vary according to factors such as driving styles, environmental conditions, load, wheel fitment, accessories fitted, actual route and battery condition. Range figures are based upon production vehicle over a standardised route.

How to buy and install an EV home charger

Gas prices? Pah! A few months ago, my family bought an electric car, used. A little 2018 BMW i3s. It looks weird but it drives great. Every time I pass long lines of cars and trucks waiting to fill up on 6-a-gallon gas, I admit, I feel a schadenfreude smile coming on.

But buying the car, it turns out, was a lot easier than buying a home charger and getting it installed, which was a serious hassle. Worth it in the end, but a hassle. And that government rebate I thought I’d been promised? Yeah, right.

You can get by without a home charger but I wouldn’t advise it. There are too few public chargers available at present for dependable refueling. And the price you pay is significantly higher than your cost of electricity at home.

A home charger isn’t cheap, though. Including installation, depending on what model you buy, the cost can top 1,500.

And hunting for charger isn’t easy. The challenges can be small or large depending on variables that include the age of your home, the state of its electrical system and how tough it is to find an installer in your area.

If stories about 7-a-gallon gasoline have you thinking it’s time for an EV, though, here are some hard-won tips that might save you some headaches.

The basics

The first step is deciding whether you want a Level 1 or Level 2 charger.

Level 1 operates at 120 volts. That’s the voltage you use to run your toaster and most of your home’s electricity. Level 2 is 240 volts, what an electric dryer requires. Level 2 chargers will fill your EV a lot faster from empty than a Level 1: a couple hours or so, depending on the size of your battery, versus overnight.

You’ll probably get a portable Level 1 charger included when you get your car. If most of your trips are local, or you can charge at work, or buy a plug-in hybrid instead of a battery-only electric, a Level 1 might work just fine.

If you want the flexibility of a relatively fast fill-up and more freedom from range anxiety, you’re a candidate for a more expensive but more powerful Level 2. That’s what we chose.

Level 2 chargers require 240 volts and a socket like an electric dryer might use. If you have a 240-volt outlet near where you’ll park your car, good for you. Installation will be a lot easier. (A charger also can be connected directly to your electric panel, obviating the need for an outlet.)

How to spend less on gas: Fix your car. Drive slower. Ignore Shaq

Gas are high across California, and it’s unclear when will go down. But, there are ways to save money on gas. Here are some tips.

Chargers come with cords of different lengths. You’ll want to measure the distance from where you put your charger to where you’ll park your car. Shorter cords make for less expensive chargers. I’d rather have too much than not enough and went for a 25-foot cord. If you’ll always be parking in a tight garage space, you can get by with something shorter and cheaper.

Portable 240-volt chargers are available, but you’ll get only about 10 miles of range per hour. If you want to fill up fairly fast and have your car ready to go when you need it, a stationary charger is the way to go.

Buying

An internet search will turn up loads of sites that rank home chargers. For a comprehensive overview of what’s available, Veloz, an EV advocacy site, is a good first step.

Level 2 charger range from nearly 300 to well over 1,000. The bigger your car battery, the more expensive your charger is likely to be. Veloz pegs the typical cost of installation around 500. It can be lower or it can cost several thousand dollars, depending on how your home’s electrical system is configured and whether you need a 240v outlet installed.

Unless you are well versed in volts and amps and kilowatts and kilowatt hours, you should ask an electrician or someone with expertise in the area for advice before you choose your charger. The requirements of your car’s battery and the configuration of your home electrical system are major factors in charger choice.

You’ll also have to ask yourself how important it is to be able to control charging times through a charger’s software, allowing you to take advantage of your utility’s variable time-of-day electric rates and potentially prolong your battery’s life. Many experts suggest you not fill your battery all the way full because that can degrade performance. Charger software can set a limit at, say, 90% full.

You’ll also need to know whether you want to install the charger inside a garage or outdoors — many chargers are advertised as weatherproof.

Which brand is best? After spending much time comparing models online, I found a ChargePoint model that topped many best-of lists and tried to buy one. Alas, ChargePoint told me I couldn’t expect the charger to arrive for at least several weeks. Popularity has its price.

My neighbor bought a charger from Wallbox and got it in a couple of days. I did too. The reviews were good. It’s working fine so far, although the software interface could be much improved. I paid 649 plus tax.

Installing

Wallbox posts an excellent installation guide online that can apply to any charger make or model. With any luck, you’ll be able to hire an electrician at a reasonable price and he or she will take care of everything for you.

I wasn’t so lucky. Our Berkeley house was built 60 years ago. No 240v outlet in the garage. Worse, the house is fed by a 100-amp Pacific Gas Electric power line; the lines to modern houses are rated at 200 amps. Practically speaking, the 100-amp line means that adding an electric car to the house’s load could overpower the whole system. The situation would demand some changes to our electric supply panel.

Finding an electrician to help was tough. It’s hard to find a tradesman to do anything lately — too few workers with the proper skills, too much home improvement demand. One electrician informed us our electric panel is way out of date, and that building codes would require a new one. We’d also need a 200-amp line to the house. Total cost, he said, would top 2,000.

The truth about L.A.’s most notoriously expensive gas stations

You’ve seen the signs advertising 6.95, 6.99 or even 7.05 for a gallon of regular unleaded. But who’s buying it, and why?

With the help of a neighbor who’s a lighting architect and ace handyman, I was able to get the job done for the price of materials and a nice dinner.

If you have an older home, do some research on home electric load capacities to better communicate with the professional electricians you might hire.

The rebate

Rebates from the government or electric utilities depend on where you live. Put your ZIP Code into the Veloz site and then click on a charger model to find out what’s available to you. If your electricity comes from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the utility says you can get up to 1,000 back, even more if you qualify as low-income. But the actual amount, based on numerous Veloz searches, is likely to be a few hundred dollars. Residents of the South Coast Air Quality Management District can get another several hundred dollars, but the money is available “first come first served,” so you can’t count on funds being there.

The city of Anaheim says charger buyers can qualify for 400 to 1,000 in rebates, “subject to the availability of funds.” The city of Burbank advertises rebates up to 500.

If you bought a charger in 2021, you may be eligible for a federal income tax credit for 30% of the charger’s cost. If you waited until 2022, you’re out of luck.

Here in Berkeley, I qualified for rebates totaling 0. My utility, the financially troubled Pacific Gas Electric, offers no home EV charger incentives at all.

But driving an EV can save 800 or more a year for an average driver, and the warm feeling I get driving past those gas station price signs makes up for a zero rebate, and then some.

The Best Electric Vehicle Chargers for Home

Whether you’re a longtime electric vehicle owner or you’re still waiting for your first EV to leave the factory floor, you should consider investing in a Level 2 charger for your home.

Most modern EVs ship with a Level 1 charger—these tend to be small, portable, and slow-charging, thanks to their 120-volt output. But a 240-volt Level 2 charger is the fastest way to juice up an EV at home, adding four or more times as many miles per hour of charge.

They’re also more likely to have premium features, such as a power cord that’s long enough to reach across a two-car garage or a wide variety of installation options.

After 28 hours of research and 85 hours of testing, we found that the United Chargers Grizzl-E Classic is the best at-home charger for most EV drivers, whereas Tesla drivers should stick with the Tesla Wall Connector.

The vast majority of EVs fall into one of two categories: Tesla and everything that’s not a Tesla. The latter category is made up mostly of EVs from legacy car manufacturers like Chevrolet, Ford, and Volkswagen, with a charging port where the gas tank would normally be (called a J1772 port). Teslas have their own proprietary charging port (much like how iPhones charge from Apple’s exclusive Lightning port, whereas most other smartphones have a USB-C port). For this guide, we chose to FOCUS on chargers that are compatible with either a J1772 or a Tesla port, as well as on adapters that can convert one type of plug to the opposite type of port.

The best EV charger for home

This is the EV charger we’d put in our garage. It’s fast-charging and lightweight, and it comes with a lengthy, 24-foot cord. Plus, it’s the most weatherproof model we tested.

Buying Options

At the time of publishing, the price was 429.

Despite costing less than any other J1772 (non-Tesla) EV charger in our testing pool at this writing, the United Chargers Grizzl-E Classic offers many of the same capabilities and features seen in pricier models. It’s rated for a maximum current of 40 A, which we were able to reproduce in our testing, allowing it to charge much faster than the Level 1 chargers that come with most EVs. The three-year warranty is as long as any we’ve seen, giving you plenty of time to make sure the charger works properly and meets your needs.

It’s available in two plug-in configurations and can also be hardwired, whereas many of the models we tested have just one or two installation options. This charger is also fairly compact, so it won’t take up much garage space, and it’s lightweight enough to lift into a trunk or mount onto a wall with relative ease. And it has a long, slim cord that can be neatly wound around the included cable organizer.

If you’d like the option of installing your charger outside, the Grizzl-E Classic has the most weatherproof exterior of any we tested, with a rating that shows it can shield the charger from superficial dirt, dust, oils, moisture, and even heavy rain or snow. It’s also rated to operate safely in temperatures between.22° to 122° Fahrenheit, and its plug has a protective rubber cap.

Our main gripes with this model are that its packaging isn’t especially protective, so we worry that it could be more easily damaged in transit, and its painted metal exterior attracts fingerprints and smudges more than most models we tested. But we think most people can overlook these minor quibbles in light of the Grizzl-E Classic’s other great qualities.

Max current rating: 40 AWeatherproof rating: IP67 (fully dustproof and waterproof)Installation options: three (hardwire, NEMA 14-50 plug, NEMA 6-50 plug)Warranty: three years

The best EV charger for Teslas

If you drive a Tesla, this is your best option for at-home charging. It’s rated for up to 48 A of current, suitable for indoor and outdoor use, and backed by a two-year warranty. It also has a super-streamlined look, and its built-in cable organizer keeps its 24-foot cord neatly stored.

Buying Options

At the time of publishing, the price was 400.

Not surprisingly, our testing showed that the best charger for a Tesla EV is Tesla’s flagship charger, the Tesla Wall Connector. It’s not our top pick for all drivers, because connecting it to a non-Tesla EV requires a pricey third-party adapter that isn’t designed for everyday use. (Plus, since Tesla sells more EVs than the other car companies combined, its chargers are in high demand and often out of stock.) But if you drive a Tesla, it’s the best option available with the company’s proprietary connector. Its maximum current rating of 48 A is among the highest of those we tested, and at this writing its price is one of the lowest.

The Tesla Wall Connector is even slimmer and lighter than the Grizzl-E Classic, it has a super-sleek look, and it’s backed by Tesla’s two-year warranty. This charger has a 24-foot cord, just like the Grizzl-E Classic, and its built-in cable organizer is elegantly designed. It’s not quite as weatherized as our non-Tesla pick, but it’s still rated to provide ample protection against dirt, dust, and oils, splashes and sprays of water, and temperatures between.22° to 122° Fahrenheit.

The biggest downside to this charger is that it lacks plug-in options, so you have to hardwire it into your home’s electrical system. That’s less convenient if you want to be able to move your charger without calling an electrician. But since hardwiring is generally preferable to plug-in installation anyway, we don’t consider this a fatal flaw.

Max current rating: 48 AWeatherproof rating: IP55 (highly dustproof and waterproof)Installation options: one (hardwire)Warranty: two years

The best EV charger for home

This is the EV charger we’d put in our garage. It’s fast-charging and lightweight, and it comes with a lengthy, 24-foot cord. Plus, it’s the most weatherproof model we tested.

Buying Options

At the time of publishing, the price was 429.

The best EV charger for Teslas

If you drive a Tesla, this is your best option for at-home charging. It’s rated for up to 48 A of current, suitable for indoor and outdoor use, and backed by a two-year warranty. It also has a super-streamlined look, and its built-in cable organizer keeps its 24-foot cord neatly stored.

Buying Options

At the time of publishing, the price was 400.

Why you should trust us

As the writer of this guide, I spent 28 hours researching and 85 hours testing EV chargers. I’ve been a science writer for more than nine years, covering a wide variety of topics, from particle physics to satellite remote sensing. Since joining Wirecutter, in 2017, I’ve reported on surge protectors, rechargeable batteries, power banks for phones and tablets, and more.

In preparation to write this guide, I interviewed Paul Vosper (CEO of JuiceBar, a manufacturer of commercial EV charging stations founded in 2009) about the history and current landscape of the EV charging industry. I discussed the ins and outs of installing an EV charger in a private home or an apartment building with Tracy Price (CEO of Qmerit, a network of certified electricians specializing in the installation of EV chargers) and Caradoc Ehrenhalt (CEO of EV Safe Charge, an EV charger installation and consulting firm). To better understand the needs and concerns of EV drivers, I interviewed Joe Flores, deputy director at San José Clean Energy, a nonprofit electricity provider; Suncheth Bhat, director of clean energy transportation for the Pacific Gas and Electric (PGE) utility company; and Aaron August, PGE’s vice president of utility partnerships and innovation.

Who this is for

If you’re in the process of buying an EV, and you want the fastest possible at-home charge right out of the gate, this is the guide for you. If you already own an EV, and you’re thinking about leveling up (literally) from a sluggish Level 1 charger to a speedier Level 2 charger, this guide is also for you. If you’re just here to learn, welcome! We hope you find what you’re looking for.

Gas-powered vehicles might still rule the road, but global EV sales doubled in 2021, and analysts expect there to be 26 million EVs worldwide by the end of 2022. We can safely assume that these millions of EV drivers, despite having at least one thing in common, have widely varying lifestyles, needs, and priorities: They could be homeowners in single-family houses or renters in multi-unit apartment buildings. Or they might be remote workers who rarely leave the house or ride-share drivers clocking hundreds of miles a day. Maybe they pass dozens of charging stations along their daily route, or perhaps they live 90 miles from the nearest public charger.

Regardless of your situation, though, having the most powerful EV charger possible at home will likely be a worthwhile investment. Per the U.S. Department of Transportation, a Level 1 charger can take days (40 to 50 hours) to charge an EV battery from empty to full, whereas a Level 2 charger can complete the same task in just four to 10 hours. Even if you don’t put many miles on your car, and topping off the battery overnight works for you most of the time, you still might want to have a charger at home that lets you juice up quickly in the event of a wildfire, flash flood, or other unforeseen disaster.

In addition to faster charging times, Level 2 chargers often come with features you might not get from the charger that came with your EV, such as:

• the option to hardwire the charger directly into your home’s electrical grid
• a long cord that can reach across a two-car garage or carport
• a smartphone app that supplements your EV’s app to track battery life, charge times, and more
• a weatherproof enclosure to add protection from elements

As is true of any home-improvement project, upgrading your EV charging setup will come at a cost. In addition to the sticker price of the charger, you’ll likely pay around 400 to 1,200 to have it professionally installed. You can circumvent some of these installation costs by buying a plug-in model, but if you don’t already have a 240 V outlet installed at your parking spot (they’re typically used for RVs or electric stovetops, among other things), you’ll still need to spend at least a few hundred dollars to take advantage of the Level 2 charger’s higher current. The silver lining here is that to help recoup the costs of going electric, many federal, state, and regional programs offer rebates and other incentives, including discounted rates for electricity usage during off-peak hours (which you can manage through your EV’s app or, if it has one, your EV charger’s app).

If you rent your home and you’re unsure whether your rental agreement allows you to install a Level 2 charger, check your state’s “right to charge” laws. Likewise, if you own a home or rental property, the U.S. Department of Energy has a trove of resources explaining the various rules, regulations, and rudiments of installing EV chargers.

How we picked

To find the most well-known and widely available makers of Level 2 EV chargers, we sniffed around the websites of major retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart, as well as industry publications such as Car and Driver, CleanTechnica, Electrek, and InsideEVs. From there, we built a list of contenders based on the following features:

• Costs less than 2,000: Most chargers we considered cost 1,000 or less, but we were open to pricier options that add an extra feature, such as the ability to charge two EVs at once. The annual savings from switching to electric will vary depending on your driving habits, the type of car you drive, fuel costs, and a variety of other factors. But whether you spend 500 or 2,000, your EV is likely to pay for the cost of your charger in less than a year. In 2022, according to a AAA study, powering the average EV will cost 2,100 less per year than fueling a traditional car, and that doesn’t even include the reduction in maintenancecosts. (You can see how your car stacks up using an online calculator from the U.S. Department of Energy.)
• Has at least a 32 A maximum current rating: To provide the fastest possible at-home charge, Level 2 chargers run off a 240 V circuit, passing between 16 to 80 A of current to your vehicle. Since most EVs come with a portable Level 1 charger capable of trickle charging up to 32 A from a standard 120 V outlet, we made that our minimum amperage requirement.
• Has at least a 20-foot cord: Longer cords tend to be thicker and more unwieldy than shorter ones, but a lengthy cord is critical for an EV charger to ensure that it can reach the car’s charging port. A typical two-car garage is 20 to 24 feet wide, so we struck any chargers with a cord shorter than 20 feet from our testing pool. We didn’t set an upper limit for cord length, though the National Electrical Code (NEC) set by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) caps it at 25 feet, and we didn’t see any that were longer than that.
• Weighs 50 pounds or less: Even though most Level 2 chargers are intended for stationary use, you may occasionally need to lift your charger into a car trunk (to bring it on a road trip, say) or move it on and off a wall mount. As such, we set a weight limit of 50 pounds, since heavier loads have an increased risk of injury.
• Has a NEMA 14-50 plug and/or can be hardwired: Hardwiring is generally preferable to a plug-in installation, since it creates a more seamless (and, therefore, more energy-efficient) connection between your home’s wiring and the charger. Hardwiring also offers better protection against the elements (vital if you’re planning to install your charger outside) and can deliver between 15 A to 60 A to your vehicle, whereas a NEMA 14-50 (plug-in) connection can handle only 15 A to 50 A. On the downside, in order to hardwire your charger, you’ll need to have it installed (ideally by a certified electrician) and, if you ever want to move it, have it uninstalled. Since everyone’s living situations and needs are different, we can’t say that one method or the other is better across the board; in the end, we preferred each model in our testing pool to have at least one of these installation options, and we gave bonus points to those that offered both. We considered additional plug configurations (such as the less-versatile NEMA 6-50 plug, which lacks a neutral wire and is most commonly used for welding equipment) to be nonessential bonuses.
• Certified by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL): A seal of approval from Underwriters Laboratories (UL), Intertek’s Electrical Testing Labs (ETL), or any of the other testing facilities recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) indicates that a product meets rigorous safety and compliance standards. We required that each charger have a certification from one or more of these organizations.
• Has at least a one-year warranty: We think a year is ample time to use your charger on a regular basis and ensure that it’s not a dud. Still, a longer warranty period is nice, since it gives you more wiggle room in case a part breaks or your charger conks out unexpectedly.
• Can be used safely outdoors: If you typically park in a carport or other outdoor parking space, you’ll want to make sure your charger is protected from blowing dust, rain, and other inclement conditions. Even if you plan to keep your charger in an enclosed garage, it’ll still be exposed to the elements to a lesser extent when the door is open. We gave preference to chargers with more robust Ingress Protection (IP) or National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) ratings (two common grading scales for weatherproofing) and to those rated to withstand more extreme temperatures, so you can juice up in a variety of environments.
• Has a cord organizer: We preferred that each model in our testing pool include some type of cord organization system, whether it be a simple wall-mounted hook or an elaborate retraction system. Not only does this keep your garage looking tidy, but it prevents someone from tripping over the cord or running it over and damaging it.
• Has a history of positive : We ran some of our top contenders through FindOurView, a program that analyzes online user ratings and reviews to highlight common patterns. Although some models had an insufficient number of reviews for the software to analyze, this allowed us to identify a few models with consistently reported problems, which we then cut from our list.

After sifting through dozens of contenders based on these criteria, we were left with a list of 10 models for testing:

In addition to these chargers, we also tested a handful of adapters that make it possible to charge an EV with an otherwise incompatible charger. For non-Tesla EV drivers who want to use Tesla chargers, we tested two Tesla-to-J1772 adapters: the Lectron Tesla to J1772 Charging Adapter (40 A) and the Lectron Tesla to J1772 Charging Adapter (48 A). For Tesla drivers who want to use non-Tesla chargers, we tested Lectron’s J1772 to Tesla Charging Adapter, as well as the J1772 to Tesla adapter that comes with all Teslas.

We opted not to test Combined Charging System (CCS) adapters, which allow some J1772 or Tesla EVs to charge at Level 3 chargers (also called DC fast chargers). These top-speed chargers are commonly seen at public charging stations, but since they require a heavy-duty 480 V power circuit, they’re impractical for at-home charging.

Ford and Tesla announced in May 2023 that they plan to launch a proprietary adapter allowing Ford EVs to fast-charge from Tesla Superchargers starting in early 2024. But like other Level 3 chargers, Superchargers are not designed for residential use, so we don’t currently have plans to test this type of adapter.

How we tested

To test the chargers, we rented a 2022 Tesla Model Y Long-Range AWD and borrowed a 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 Pro for a week apiece. Teslas have a proprietary charging port, whereas all non-Tesla EVs (including the ID.4) have a J1772 port. So testing with one of each type allowed us to confirm the chargers’ compatibility with both types.

Over the course of two weeks, we drove the cars up and down country roads, circled parking lots, and waited in fast-food drive-through queues to run the batteries down to a 65% charge. We then charged the batteries up to 75% and recorded three key measurements, as reported by the cars’ built-in software: time elapsed (in minutes), battery capacity (in kilowatt-hours, or kWh), and maximum current (in amps, or A). To test all 10 chargers with both cars, we repeated this process 20 times.

In general, to make them last longer, EV batteries should be kept at a 20% to 80% charge, and ideally they’d never get lower than 10% or above 90%. We chose an even narrower window for our testing, though, since staying above a 65% charge and below a 75% charge puts minimal strain on a lithium-ion battery (the kind found in most EVs). It also allowed us to spend way less time driving and charging than we otherwise would have: The Tesla we tested on has a 75 kWh battery and a 330-mile range, and the Volkswagen has a 82 kWh battery and a 260-mile range. So draining their batteries from 75% to 65% takes about 20 minutes to an hour (depending on driving speeds, wind, and other factors).

We ran the majority of our charging tests using a NEMA 14-50 wall outlet, which is rated for 240 V and 50 A. Even though hardwiring offers some well-documented advantages for long-term use, we didn’t think we’d glean any additional insights by hiring an electrician to install and uninstall all 10 chargers for our two-week testing period. Since the Tesla Mobile Connector comes with two swappable plug options, we tested it on a slow-charging 120 V outlet as well as the 240 V outlet. And we used a Kill A Watt power meter to verify that its time, capacity, and amperage measurements matched the readings shown on the EVs’ respective display screens (they did). Also, before getting started, we used a Klein Tools electrical test kit to make sure the voltage and wiring conditions of both outlets were up to snuff (they were).

Two of the models we considered couldn’t be tested on our NEMA 14-50 wall outlet. The Tesla Wall Connector is limited to hardwire installations, so we performed our tests at a public charging station that already had one installed. The Blink HQ150 can only be hardwired or plugged into a NEMA 6-50 outlet, but we decided to dismiss it based on other factors before getting to the charging tests. We used the Lectron Tesla to J1772 Charging Adapter (Max 48 A) or Tesla SAE J1772 Charging Adapter to connect the Volkswagen or Tesla, as needed, to a non-compatible charger. Once we’d identified the most powerful chargers, we used them to put the other adapters in our testing pool to the test.

To compare the circumferences of the chargers’ main power cords, we measured them with a small measuring tape (all were less than 3 inches around). In general, longer electrical wires are thicker to combat resistance and carry power over greater distances. So we didn’t expect any of the EV charging cords to be as slim as, say, a smartphone or laptop charging cable. But we favored thinner cords because they’re typically lighter and easier to maneuver, and they don’t add as much clutter to your charging setup.

In addition to these quantitative tests, we spent hours collecting qualitative data. Throughout our two-week testing period, we took stock of the overall look, feel, ease of use, and build quality of the chargers. We also assessed the efficacy and added value of any extra features, such as a mobile app or cord-storage rack. We did the same for the adapters we tested.

The best EV charger for home: United Chargers Grizzl-E Classic

The best EV charger for home

This is the EV charger we’d put in our garage. It’s fast-charging and lightweight, and it comes with a lengthy, 24-foot cord. Plus, it’s the most weatherproof model we tested.

Buying Options

At the time of publishing, the price was 429.

The United Chargers Grizzl-E Classic is the EV charger we’d buy for ourselves. As of this writing, it costs less than any non-Tesla charger we tested, while offering many of the same benefits of models costing hundreds of dollars more. It’s rated to charge at 40 A, and it matched that figure in our testing with the Tesla and slightly surpassed it with the Volkswagen. It can be hardwired into your home’s electrical panel. But if you prefer a plug-in model, you have two options in that regard: either a NEMA 14-50 or a NEMA 6-50 plug. This charger is lightweight, has a long cord, and boasts a higher weatherproof rating than any other model in our testing pool, making it great for outdoor use.

When we charged the Volkswagen and Tesla batteries with the Grizzl-E Classic, their power gauges registered 45 A and 40 A, respectively. In real-world terms, this meant that it charged the Volkswagen’s battery from 65% to 75% in 45 minutes, and the Tesla’s in 55 minutes. Batteries don’t drain or charge at a constant rate—and most EVs have a setting to automatically prevent you from getting down to 0% or up to 100%, since these extreme states of charge can put undue strain on the battery—but from this we can roughly calculate that the Grizzl-E can fully charge either of these EVs in about 7.5 to 9 hours.

The Grizzl-E Classic is UL-listed, meaning it’s been tested and certified to be in accordance with national safety and compliance standards. It’s also backed by United Chargers’ three-year warranty (there’s an optional five-year warranty for 100 more), giving you plenty of time to install your charger, use it, and determine if it needs to be replaced or repaired.

In addition to being hardwire-ready, the Grizzl-E Classic comes in either a NEMA 14-50 plug or NEMA 6-50 plug configuration. We generally recommend having a certified electrician hardwire an EV charger into your home electrical system, but if you prefer a plug-in charger we think you should opt for one with a NEMA 14-50 plug: Unlike a 6-50 plug, it has a neutral wire, and it can also be used to power RVs, electric stoves, and more. In any case, we like that this charger offers more options than most—especially if you already have a 6-50 outlet in your garage for a welder or some other power tool.

The Grizzl-E charger is relatively compact and lightweight, measuring 6.25 by 10.25 by 3.5 inches (not including the cord) and weighing just 20 pounds (about as much as a small dog crate—or a small dog). Its cord is longer than most we tested, measuring 24 feet in length, and it has a circumference of 2.75 inches. It also comes with a sturdy, wall-mountable cord organizer to keep your garage walkways clear of clutter.

This charger is better-suited for outdoor use than any other we tested. Its weatherproof rating is best of the bunch (IP67, meaning it’s fully protected from dust and water). And its plug has a protective rubber cover attached by a short tether, further protecting the internal components from the elements. Also, like most models we tested, it’s rated to operate safely within a temperature range of.22° to 122° Fahrenheit.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The United Chargers Grizzl-E Classic isn’t the sleekest or most attractive charger we tested, and its glossy painted metal surfaces attract fingerprints and smudges more than most. But we think most people can overlook its sub-par aesthetics in exchange for superior weatherization.

When we unboxed this charger, it wasn’t as well-wrapped as other models, which could have potentially led to it being harmed in transit. And we found several user reviews reporting damaged parts, dents, and/or scratches straight out of the box. But since ours arrived intact, and the charger seems sturdily built overall, we don’t think it’s a major cause for concern (just make sure to inspect yours for signs of damage before setting it up).

The best EV charger for Teslas: Tesla Wall Connector

The best EV charger for Teslas

If you drive a Tesla, this is your best option for at-home charging. It’s rated for up to 48 A of current, suitable for indoor and outdoor use, and backed by a two-year warranty. It also has a super-streamlined look, and its built-in cable organizer keeps its 24-foot cord neatly stored.

Buying Options

At the time of publishing, the price was 400.

If you drive a Tesla, or you’re planning to get one, you should get a Tesla Wall Connector to charge it at home. It charges EVs (Teslas and otherwise) slightly faster than our top pick, and at this writing the Wall Connector costs 60 less. It’s small and sleek, weighs half as much as our top pick, and it has a long, slim cord. It also has one of the most elegant cord holders of any model in our testing pool. It’s not as weatherized as the Grizzl-E Classic, and it has no plug-in installation options. But if it didn’t require a third-party adapter to charge non-Tesla EVs, we might have been tempted to make it our overall top pick.

True to its amperage rating, the Wall Connector delivered 48 A when we used it to charge our rental Tesla, and it ticked up to 49 A when charging the Volkswagen. It brought the Tesla’s battery up from a 65% charge to 75% in just 30 minutes, and the Volkswagen’s in 45 minutes. This translates to a full charge in roughly 5 hours (for the Tesla) or 7.5 hours (for the Volkswagen).

Like the Grizzl-E Classic, the Wall Connector is UL-listed, showing that it meets national safety and compliance standards. It’s also backed by Tesla’s two-year warranty; this is a year shorter than United Chargers’ warranty, but it should still give you plenty of time to ascertain if the charger meets your needs, or if it has to be repaired or replaced.

Unlike the Grizzl-E Charger, which offers several installation options, the Wall Connector must be hardwired in (to make sure it’s installed safely and in accordance with electrical codes, we recommend hiring a certified electrician to do this). Hardwiring is arguably the best installation option anyway, though, so it’s an easy pill to swallow. If you prefer a plug-in option, or you don’t have the ability to permanently install a charger where you live, Tesla also makes a Mobile Connector with two interchangeable plugs: One goes into a standard 120 V outlet for trickle charging, and the other goes into a 240 V outlet for fast-charging up to 32 A.

Other than the Tesla Mobile Connector, the Wall Connector is the lightest model in our testing pool, weighing just 10 pounds (about as much as a metal folding chair). It has a sleek, streamlined shape and a super-slim profile—measuring just 4.3 inches deep—so even if your garage is tight on space, it’s easy to sneak past. Its 24-foot cord is on a par with that of our top pick in terms of length, but it’s even slimmer, measuring 2 inches around.

Instead of a wall-mountable cord holder (like the ones most models we tested have), the Wall Connector has a built-in notch that allows you to easily wind the cord around its body, as well as a small plug rest. It’s an elegant and practical solution to prevent the charging cord from being a trip hazard or leaving it at risk of getting run over.

Though the Wall Connector lacks the Grizzl-E’s protective rubber plug cap, and it’s not completely impervious to dust and moisture like that model is, it’s still one of the most weatherized models we tested. Its IP55 rating indicates that it’s well protected against dust, dirt, and oils, as well as splashes and sprays of water. And like most chargers we tested, including the Grizzl-E Classic, the Wall Connector is rated for use in temperatures between.22° to 122° Fahrenheit.

When it arrived on our doorstep, the Wall Connector was carefully packaged, with little room left for it to knock about inside the box. This minimizes the likelihood of the charger getting battered or broken en route, necessitating a return or exchange (which, in these times of lengthy shipping delays, can be a major inconvenience).

How to charge most electric vehicles with a Tesla charger (and vice versa)

Just as you can’t charge an iPhone with a USB-C cable or an Android phone with a Lightning cable, not every EV can be charged by every EV charger. In rare cases, if the charger you want to use is incompatible with your EV, you’re out of luck: For example, if you drive a Chevy Bolt, and the only charging station along your route is a Tesla Supercharger, no adapter in the world will allow you to use it. But in most instances, there’s an adapter that can help (as long as you have the right one, and you remember to pack it).

Lectron’s Tesla-to-J1772 adapter is UL-listed and rated to support up to 48 A of current. Photo: Connie Park

A Tesla-to-J1772 adapter allows a non-Tesla EV to charge from a Tesla charger, which is handy if your battery is running low and a Tesla charging station is the closest option. Photo: Sarah Witman

Lectron’s Tesla-to-J1772 adapter is UL-listed and rated to support up to 48 A of current. Photo: Connie Park

The best Tesla-to-J1772 adapter

This compact, easy-to-use adapter lets drivers of non-Tesla EVs use Tesla chargers (except Superchargers) to juice up. When paired with a compatible charger, it can provide up to 48 A of current.

Buying Options

The Lectron Tesla to J1772 Charging Adapter (48 A) allows non-Tesla EV drivers to juice up from most Tesla chargers, which is helpful if your non-Tesla EV battery is running low and a Tesla charging station is the closest option, or if you spend a lot of time at a Tesla owner’s home and want the option to top off your battery with their charger. This adapter is small and compact, and in our testing it supported up to 49 A charging speeds, slightly exceeding its 48 A rating. It has an IP54 weatherproof rating, which means it’s highly protected against airborne dust and moderately protected against splashing or falling water. When you’re connecting it to a Tesla charging plug, it makes a satisfying click when it snaps into place, and a simple press of a button releases it from the plug after charging. It’s also UL-listed and has a one-year warranty.

The best J1772-to-Tesla adapter

Included for free with all Tesla EVs, this easy-to-use adapter is the best option for charging any Tesla using a non-Tesla charger. Since it supports up to 80 A of current, it can be paired with any Level 1 or 2 charger.

Buying Options

To charge a Tesla from a non-Tesla charger, the Tesla SAE J1772 Charging Adapter is your best bet. It comes free with all Tesla EVs, and even if you buy it separately—maybe you lost yours, or you just want a backup—it’s still one of the least expensive options available at this writing. It’s small and lightweight, making it easy to pack in a trunk or even a glove compartment, and we measured up to 48 A of current flowing through it in our testing. (This is lower than its 80 A rating. But since our testing pool included only chargers rated for 48 A at most, it’s the highest amperage we’d expect to see, and as high as on any adapter of this type that we tested.) Its NEMA 3R weatherproof rating (equivalent to IP14, meaning it’s minimally dustproof and moderately waterproof) isn’t great, but it should be fine for occasional use. Plus, it’s backed by a two-year warranty, which is twice as long as that of any adapter we tested. It’s worth mentioning that the Tesla adapter is the only product we tested for this guide (chargers and adapters included) that hasn’t been certified by UL, ETL, or another NRTL. But we are reasonably confident, given its prevalence, that any potential issues will have been spotted and ironed out at this point.

Other good EV chargers and charging adapters

J1772 chargers

If the Grizzl-E is out of stock: You should buy the Emporia EMEVSEVAR without hesitation. It cost 100 more than the Grizzl-E at the time of our testing, but the have since equalized. That makes them two of the cheapest non-Tesla chargers we tested. The Emporia got up to 40 A in our tests with the Tesla and 45 A with the Volkswagen—both of which are below its 48 A rating but still on par with that of the Grizzl-E. Like the Grizzl-E, this charger has a three-year warranty, is UL-listed, weighs 20 pounds, and has a sleek, low-profile shape. It has a slim, 24-foot cord, its metal cord holder is sturdily built, and it comes with a handy set of hook-and-loop ties to keep the cord neatly coiled when not in use. The Emporia model can be installed via a NEMA 14-50 plug or hardwired directly into your home power grid. (It lacks the Grizzl-E’s optional NEMA 6-50 configuration, but that’s an unusual plug type anyway.) This charger is rated to operate in temperatures between.22° to 122° Fahrenheit, and its NEMA 4 (similar to IP56) rating means it’s highly protected against the elements. Plus, its plug has a removable rubber cap, further protecting its innards from dust and water damage, and it was shipped to us in adequately protective packaging.

If you want a charger with a replaceable cord (and can live with some significant drawbacks): The ChargePoint Home Flex is a good alternative to the Grizzl-E. It’s one of the priciest models we tested (750 at this writing), and its NEMA 3R rating (similar to IP14) means it’s not especially weatherproof. It also failed to live up to its amperage claims in our testing (it’s rated for 50 A, but we measured only 44 A with the Volkswagen and 40 A with the Tesla). And if you don’t connect to its mobile app, you’re stuck at a sluggish charging rate of 16 A. However, there’s still a lot to like about this charger. It has a three-year warranty, is UL-listed, and can be hardwired or plugged in via a NEMA plug (either 14-50 or 6-50). It weighs just 18 pounds, and it has a slim, 23-foot cord. It’s relatively sleek and compact, and it comes with handy hook-and-loop cord keepers, a built-in cord holder, and pre-printed sticky labels (so you can easily annotate the circuit breakers on your electrical panel). Notably, this is the only model we tested with a user-replaceable cord, meaning you can easily swap in a new one when it wears out, rather than having to replace the entire unit (because the cord gets handled more frequently than the other components, it’s likely to wear out the quickest). This charger is also the only model we tested that uses almost no plastic in its well-designed packaging, and it can be used in colder climates than most models we tested (with a working range of.40° to 122° Fahrenheit).

If you want a charger the size of a child’s lunch box that has a longer cord than the Grizzl-E: Get the Wallbox Pulsar Plus (48 A). Its nearly 700 price tag (at this writing) is eye-popping, but it has a slightly longer cable than those of our picks (25 feet, which is as long as it can be while abiding by national safety standards), and it’s one of the smallest, most discreet models we tested. Like the Grizzl-E and Emporia chargers, it weighs just 20 pounds, is UL-listed, and has a three-year warranty, and it performed well in our amperage tests (passing 40 A to the Tesla and 45 A to the Volkswagen). Also like those models, it can be plugged into a NEMA 14-50 outlet or hardwired in (though it lacks the Grizzl-E’s NEMA 6-50 plug option). It has a NEMA 4 (similar to IP56) rating, meaning it’s highly protected against the elements, and it’s safe to use in temperatures from.22° to 104° Fahrenheit.

Tesla chargers

If you want something more portable and less expensive than the Tesla Wall Connector (and you can deal with slower charging): The Tesla Mobile Connector is a good option. Unlike the Wall Connector, the Mobile Connector can’t be hardwired into your home’s electrical setup, but it comes with two interchangeable plugs: NEMA 5-15 (for a standard 120 V outlet) and NEMA 14-50 (for a more powerful 240 V outlet). It comes with a convenient mesh zip-up storage case, it’s small and sleek, and, at 5 pounds, it’s lighter than any other contender. Like the Wall Connector, it’s backed by a two-year warranty, is UL-listed, is rated to operate safely at temperatures between.22° to 122° Fahrenheit, and has an IP55 weatherproof rating. It has a lower amperage rating (12 A with the NEMA 5-15 plug or 32 A with the NEMA 14-50 plug) than the Wall Connector (which offers 48 A), and its 20-foot cord is on the short side compared with most we tested. But these tradeoffs might be worthwhile if you want a charger you can keep in your trunk for emergencies or occasional slow-charging. Also, at this writing, it costs just 200, making it the least expensive charger we tested.

Charging adapters

If you want an adapter with a 6-inch cord to charge a J1772 EV from any Tesla charger (except a Supercharger): The Lectron Tesla to J1772 Adapter (40 A) is a good option. We thought most people would prefer a small, compact adapter like our pick in this category. But this adapter adds a half-foot to the end of the charging cord, if you prefer to have some extra length (and you don’t mind that it’s a bit bulkier, making it more cumbersome to store). This model has a lower amperage rating than our pick in this category (40 A versus 48 A). But both models performed the same in our testing by allowing up to 48 A to pass through to the vehicle. (A representative from Lectron told us, however, that even though it’s safe to do so, passing more than 40 A through this adapter will likely hamper its long-term performance.) Both adapters cost the same, at the time of writing, and their plug ends fit snugly into their respective ports. Like the other Lectron adapters we tested, this one has a one-year warranty, is UL-listed, and has an IP54 weatherproof rating.

If you want a weather-sealed, UL-listed adapter to charge a Tesla EV from any J1772 charger: The Lectron J1772 to Tesla Charging Adapter (60 A) is a good alternative to the Tesla adapter we recommend. Our pick in this category is the one that comes free with every Tesla, but maybe you lost that one (or want a backup) and want the added peace of mind that comes with having an adapter that’s UL-listed and has an IP54 weatherproof rating—two features Tesla’s own adapter lacks. In that case, this is the one to get. It has a shorter warranty (one year, as opposed to two) and currently costs 10 more than Tesla’s version, but those aren’t dealbreakers. It also has a lower amperage rating than our pick in this category (60 A versus 80 A), but both models performed the same in our testing, delivering up to 48 A to the Tesla. (This is the highest amperage we’d expect to see, since we didn’t test them with any chargers rated for more than 48 A.)

Sustainability and EV chargers

By most metrics, driving an electric vehicle is much kinder to the environment than driving a gas-powered car. Fossil fuels produce large quantities of carbon dioxide when burned, and in turn those carbon emissions trap heat in the atmosphere and lead to climate change.

In 2020, the largest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions in the US was the transportation sector, primarily from combustion-engine cars and trucks. By contrast, in 2022 the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported that EVs “offer the largest decarbonisation potential for land-based transport.” They have no tailpipe emissions, require much less maintenance than traditional vehicles, and lack many of the components that have historically made cars difficult to recycle. (At the same time, it’s important to recognize that the process for recycling lithium-ion batteries, the kind found in EVs and most other rechargeable devices, is still far from perfect.)

In terms of charging EV batteries, there’s still room for improvement, since about 61% of the electricity generated in the US currently comes from fossil fuels. However, if you’re able to install rooftop solar panels or another energy-efficient electrical system in your home, you could greatly reduce the climate impact of powering your EV charger. Even if you’re not a homeowner, there might be a community solar program that you can take advantage of in your area.

As with most electronic devices, one of the most sustainable things you can do with an EV charger is treat it well, avoiding the need to replace it. If a part breaks or it stops working, the company might offer replacement parts or repairs (especially if the charger is still under warranty). There’s also a growing industry built around maintaining and repairing EV chargers, and many DIY-ers offer free tutorials if you want to try your hand at it (if you have questions, we recommend consulting the community at iFixIt, especially if you’re new to electronics repair).

Even if your charger is running like Usain Bolt (as in, perfectly), you can keep its ticker ticking longer by wiping off any excess dust and moisture that accumulates on its exterior surfaces, since they can degrade metal and plastic over time. Also, to avoid damage, don’t run your charger if the weather is hotter or colder than its rated operating temperature. Keep in mind that a stuffy garage is often hotter than the temperature outside.

Sadly, at some point, even the sturdiest and most scrupulously cared-for EV charger will reach its end of days. When that happens, the best thing to do is recycle it. Recycling facilities salvage usable components from old electronics, which can mitigate the need to mine and manufacture the materials needed to make new ones. So this simple action can help conserve natural resources, reduce emissions, and avoid polluting soil and water systems. (And if you’re unsure how to recycle electronics, here’s a handy guide.)

What to look forward to

The 2023 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) was host to several EV charger announcements, including the following models, which we plan to test as soon as we can:

We’re also planning to test the Blink HQ200, Blink Series 4, and Tesla J1772 Wall Connector, which were unavailable during our most recent round of testing.

The competition

The Blink HQ 150 is small and streamlined, weighs just 16 pounds, and comes with a wall-mountable cord organizer. It’s also UL-listed, backed by a three-year warranty, and has a 25-foot cord (among the longest we’ve seen—and the longest the National Electrical Code (NEC) will allow). However, it has the lowest amperage rating we accepted in our testing pool (32 A), and we were unable to confirm this in our hands-on testing since it can only be hardwired or plugged into a NEMA 6-50 outlet (we used a NEMA 14-50 outlet for our testing, which is more common). The plug has a handy rubber cap attached to keep out dust and moisture, but it’s otherwise less weatherized than most models we tested; it has a NEMA 3R rating (similar to an IP14 rating), which means it’s only somewhat protected from accumulating ice, airborne dust, and falling rain, sleet, and snow.

The Electrify America ‎EA2R040JPA10-00 slightly exceeded its amperage rating (40 A) in our testing, reaching 45 A with the ID.4 and 40 A with the Model Y. It’s large yet streamlined, weighing just 20 pounds, and it has a 24-foot cord, a built-in cable organizer, and a wall-mountable plug holster. It’s backed by a three-year warranty, is UL-certified, and has two installation options: NEMA 14-50 plug or hardwired. However, it’s on the pricey side (650 at this writing), and its NEMA 3R rating makes it one of the least weatherized models we tested.

The Enphase HCS-50 is on the larger side, but it has a slim profile, and, at 14 pounds, it’s one of the most lightweight models we tested. It has a 25-foot cord, a built-in cable organizer, a wall-mountable plug holster, a lock on the plug to prevent illicit charging, and a NEMA 4 (similar to IP56) weatherization rating. It’s also ETL-certified, backed by a three-year warranty, rated to operate safely at temperatures from.22° to 122° Fahrenheit, and available in a NEMA 6-50, NEMA 14-50, or hardwired configuration. However, its amperage rating is on the lower end (40 A), and it’s the priciest model we tested, costing 725 at this writing.

This article was edited by Ben Keough and Erica Ogg.