If you are an electric vehicle (EV) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) owner, odds are you want something stronger than the Level 1 home charging cord your vehicle likely came with. Why? A Level 2 home charging station (also called electric vehicle supply equipment or EVSE) is at least twice as powerful and more affordable. Plus, there are many to choose from. With a Level 2 charger, you should be able to fully charge just about any EV battery while you sleep. You can even program some to start charging later in the night, during off-peak hours.
The list below contains the 10 best models from the top five charging station manufacturers. All are Level 2 chargers and have the universal SAE J1772 connector that works with any EV charging port (Teslas need an adapter). Tesla owners should purchase the Tesla charging station from the company, but these stations will also work with an adapter you purchase from Tesla. Before you buy a charging station, keep in mind that Level 2 chargers cannot be plugged into a standard 120-volt outlet, so a larger 240-volt outlet is required. You also have to make sure your home’s electrical system can handle the charging station. Manufacturers should provide instructions on how to determine that. Keep reading to find out which station is best for you.
Enel X JuiceBox 32 and JuiceBox 40
The Enel JuiceBox comes in 32 ampere or 40 amp models and is Wi-Fi-enabled, allowing you to monitor and schedule charging with the JuiceNet mobile app or web portal. The charging station features a built-in cable rack and security lock. You can choose to buy the model that hardwires into your house or the plug-in model that comes with a NEMA 14-50 plug or the optional NEMA 14-30 or 10-30 plugs.
The charging station can be controlled and monitored with Amazon Alexa or Google Home, and it’s the only one on the list that can. Indoor or outdoor use is possible because the unit is weatherproof, dust-tight, and made of polycarbonate. Also, you are able to connect two or more JuiceBox charging stations to the same circuit, in case you have multiple EVs. The JuiceBox’s Energy Star certification is currently pending.
Price: $599.00 and $609.00
Hardwired or plug: Both
Amp rating: 32 and 40
Wi-Fi capability: Yes
Cord length: 25 feet
Indoor/outdoor: Both
Warranty: 3 years
Siemens VersiCharge and VersiCharge Smart-Grid
Siemens VersiCharge stations are rated at 30 amps. They aren’t as powerful as the above JuiceBox, but the model without Wi-Fi is the second most affordable on the list. Until recently, you couldn’t get a VersiCharge with Wi-Fi, but you can now with their latest Smart-Grid model. However, it’s one of the most expensive on the list. Like with most Wi-Fi-enabled charging stations, you can use a smartphone app to monitor, adjust, schedule, and stay up to date on your EV charging.
With the non-Wi-Fi model, you can program it to start charging as soon as you plug in, or set a delay of two, four, six, or eight hours to avoid pricey peak hours. It can be used outdoors, thanks to its NEMA 4 enclosure. The unit also has a 20-foot cord and comes with a NEMA 6-50 plug (like the Wi-Fi model). However, the hardwire unit only has a 14-foot cord and should be used indoors.
Price: $437.88 (hardwired), $459.99 (plug), and $755.78 (Smart-Grid)
Hardwired or plug: Both
Amp rating: 30 amps
Wi-Fi capability: VersiCharge does not, Smart-Grid does
Cord length: 14 feet for the hardwired model and 20 feet for the plug-in and Smart-Grid
Indoor/outdoor: Both
Warranty: 3 years
ClipperCreek HCS-40 and HCS-50
ClipperCreek is one of the original EV charging station companies and still sells some of the most durable and powerful units on the market. The 40 model is rated at 32 amps and the 50 model at 40 amps, but there is also a 24 amp model that is slightly cheaper. With its NEMA 4 enclosure, the unit can be used outdoors, and there is also a “ruggedized” model for more money that’s designed for extreme weather conditions. For about double the cost, you can get a dual charging station that includes two connectors, but only for the 32 amp model. You also have the option of connecting two units to the same circuit.
ClipperCreek stations can be hardwired or plugged in with either NEMA 14-50 or 6-50 plugs. There is a drawback if you want to remotely control your charging, though — Wi-Fi is not offered on any model. Also, you can’t set a charging delay to avoid peak hours; charging starts as soon as you plug it in. For additional money, you can also opt for the more powerful 48 and 64 amp models.
Price: $565.00 and $635.00
Hardwired or plug: Both
Amp rating: 32 and 40 amp
Wi-Fi capability: No
Cord length: 25 feet
Indoor/outdoor: Both
Warranty: 3 years
ChargePoint Home 32A and Home Flex
ChargePoint, also known for its network of public charging stations, offers two models for home charging. The base model is rated at 32 amps, is Wi-Fi enabled, and works with Nest and Amazon Alexa. The ChargePoint app used to control and monitor charging can also be used to locate and pay for public charging stations. The plug-in model is only for indoor use and uses a NEMA 6-50 plug. However, the hardwired model can be used outdoors.
The company’s latest model, Home Flex, offers adjustable amperage up to 50 amps so owners can match their electrical panel’s or car’s capacity. The plug-in model can be used outdoors (unlike the Home 32A) and comes with a NEMA 14-50 or NEMA 5-50 plug. Home Flex can also be used with the ChargePoint app, Nest, and Amazon Alexa. Both models are Energy Star certified, making them the only ones on this list. Interestingly, the older Home 32A plug-in model is currently more expensive than the newer and more powerful Home Flex model.
Price: $559.27 (32 hardwired), $776.00 (32 plug), and $699.00 (Flex plug or hardwired)
Hardwired or plug: Both
Amp rating: 32 amps, and adjustable up to 50 amps with the Home Flex
Wi-Fi capability: Yes
Cord length: 18 or 25 feet with Home 32A, and 23 feet with Home Flex
Indoor/outdoor: Yes
Warranty: 3 years
Zencar 16A and 32A
Zencar charging stations are by far the most affordable on the list, and they are still good products. The Zencar units also differ from the rest because they’re only available as plug-ins, can only be used indoors, and come with the shortest warranty of one year. Also, neither model is Wi-Fi enabled. The 16A is the least powerful on the list with a 16 amp rating, and the 32A is rated at 32 amps — currently the company’s most powerful. The 16A can be optioned with a wide assortment of plugs, so if you have an old or rare outlet, this might be the charger for you. The newer 32A model has fewer plug options, but a NEMA 14-50 plug is one of them. Also, the amperage can be adjusted on the 32A model.
Price: $199.99 (16A) and $349.99 (32A)
Hardwired or plug: Plug
Amp rating: 16 amps and 32 amps
Wi-Fi capability: No
Cord length: 25 feet
Indoor/outdoor: Indoor
Warranty: 1 year
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