One of the advantages of owning an electric vehicle is that you can enjoy the convenience of powering up your car at home. No need to go to a gas station nearby to "fuel up" your EVs - all you need is a dedicated electrical outlet in your house.
Nonetheless, the rate of charging your electric cars depends on the quality of your EV charger. Here are the top 5 best home EV chargers, all with the right balance of quality performance and affordability.
ChargePoint HomeFlex EV Charger
ChargePoint is a familiar brand name among EV owners because there are dozens of ChargePoint EV charging stations across the country. Some ChargePoint stations are free to use, while some require payment to power up your electric car. The charging station can be operated by any user with ChargePoint's easy-to-use app.
ChargePoint has found its way to every EV owner's house with its HomeFlex EV charger. There are two variations of this charger available in the market today, namely the NEMA 6-50 and the NEMA 14-50 plugs. Their charging amperage can be set between 16 and 50 amperes, but that will still depend on the capability of the house's circuit. For a ChargePoint home EV charger, a 23-foot cable is enough to install the charger.
According to ZDNet, the ChargePoint HomeFlex EV charger is a great choice because of its easy-to-use app. It also has great compatibility with most EV models available today. Although, its WiFi requirement could be a downside, especially for households with no WiFi connections installed at home.
Juicebox 40 Home EV Charger
The clean energy company Enel X is the creator of the Juicebox Home EV chargers. Their chargers come in three sizes. The mid-tier Juicebox 40, however, is the most popular among EV car owners because it is flexible to use and can be plugged into a standard 240V circuit. Users also have the option to hardwire its connection.
Nonetheless, all Juicebox home EV chargers can be configured for multiple simultaneous car charging on one circuit. Furthermore, Juicebox chargers can be accessed with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
Juicebox 40 home EV charger boasts up to 7 times faster charging rate compared to other widely used chargers today. You can also avail of a tax credit rebate after purchasing a Juicebox EV charger. However, if you choose to have a hardwire installation, you will need a professional to install the charger properly and safely.
United Chargers Grizzl-E Classic
Another home EV charger that is worth every dollar is the United Chargers Grizzl-E Classic. It boasts fast-charging capability. It is also lightweight home charger so it wouldn't be a hassle to install this in your garage. The United Chargers Grizzl-E Classic comes with a 24-foot cable.
According to NYTimes, the United Chargers Grizzl-E Classic is a tried-and-tested weatherproof model with a proof rating high enough to protect the charger from dirt, dust, oils, rain, snow, and moisture. The charger is capable of handling a maximum current of 40 amperes. There are two plug-in configurations you can choose from, and you also have to option for hardwire installation.
The United Chargers Grizzl-E Classic offers a faster charging rate over Level 1 EV chargers that come with the EVs. It also has a three-year warranty, which is a long duration for a warranty offered by other EV charger brands.
Related Article: What Are the Pros and Cons of Using Electric Cars?
Blink HQ 150
The Blink HQ 150 might be a basic model for a home EV charger, but it is the best one of its kind as per ZDNet. This charger is can handle currents up to 32 amperes. Some EV owners might see this as a disadvantage since it might not power up their cars fast enough. Although, the difference in charging rate between a 32-ampere charger and the 50-amp one is not too noticeable, especially if you are charging your EVs overnight. Lastly, the Blink HQ 150 home EV charger is known to be among the affordable charger models.
Lectron 32 NEMA 14-50 Level 2 Charger
The Lectron 32 home EV charger is another great option for electric car owners who are looking for something affordable, as per Car and Driver. It might not be a smart home charger, but it displays the important info on its small LCD screen clearly. You can view the voltage, amperage, charging time, energy and temperature.
