It’s possible to recharge your EV or plug-in hybrid by simply using the supplied cable that came with the car and a nearby 120-volt outlet, the kind found in most North American homes and garages. But this method is very slow; every hour of charging will add only about 3 miles of range.
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For drivers who use their EVs daily, a 240-volt Level 2 wall charger—sometimes called electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE)—is practically a must. It increases charging speeds to 25 miles of range per hour or more depending on the vehicle and charger combination. We think it’s also a worthwhile investment because charging at home is usually much cheaper than plugging in at public charging stations. And it’s clearly more convenient.
Owners of plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) may not need a 240-volt charger because PHEVs can run on gasoline when they run out of charge. And our tests have found that many PHEVs can recharge fully overnight on a 120-volt outlet. But models with larger batteries, such as the BMW X5, take more than a day; 120-volt charge times for PHEVs can be found in the Ratings and Specs section for each model.
Make sure the charger you buy has a connector that fits your vehicle. Most non-Tesla EVs manufactured before have what’s called a J connector, while Tesla vehicles come with a NACS connector, short for North American Charging Standard. Converters are available, although there are currently far more options to convert from a J cord to a vehicle with a NACS outlet than in the other direction. Starting thisyear, more non-Tesla vehicles will come standard with a NACS plug, so keep that in mind if you’re planning to buy a new EV in the near future.
No matter which charger you buy, make sure it has a UL and/or ETL certification mark on the unit itself. This shows that it meets safety and quality standards. Be wary of brands you haven’t heard of, and avoid those with low ratings from owners. If something goes wrong with a charger, it could damage your vehicle or even cause a fire.
With that said, most chargers are pretty reliable. Fewer than 3 percent of survey respondents told us they had problems with their home chargers. The most common were the inability to connect to an app and chargers that stopped charging before the vehicle battery was full.
When shopping for a home charger, consider the following factors, roughly in descending order of importance:
Amperage: We’ve used 40- and 50-amp chargers, but some homes can accommodate 80-amp chargers. Although they cost more, they can nearly double the speed at which some cars charge at home.
Cable length: The length of the charging cable affects where you can mount the EVSE and how easy it will be to reach the car’s charging port. Remember that your next EV may have a charging port in a different location, and you’ll want to be able to reach it. Most cables are between 20 and 25 feet long, and we recommend going for the longest you can afford, usually 25 feet.
Cable management: It’s handy to have a hook to wrap the unused portion of the cable around. Otherwise, if the cable is scattered, it adds clutter in the garage, collects dust, and might cause someone to trip over it. The ability to place the holster for the connector away from the unit might add flexibility in a tight single-car garage. If your connector doesn’t come with a hook, a wall-mounted holder for a garden hose will do the trick and can be found at any hardware store.
Ease of plugging/unplugging: We like to see a high-quality, substantial coupler that lets you smoothly and effortlessly plug and unplug into and out of the car’s port. A solid and secure holster is an advantage, and it gives you confidence that the coupler will stay secure. One is usually included with top brands.
Location: Where you install your charger could determine how easy it is to plug in your car and how much the installation costs. If you have to dig a trench for wiring, even a few feet can add hundreds of dollars. Even indoors, you can save money by installing a charger closer to where electrical service already exists. Ideally, you’ll want to install your charger so that a cable can easily reach the car’s charge port whether it’s on the front, rear, left, or right of the vehicle. Otherwise, you might have to drag the cable across the car’s roof. Consult an electrician before getting your heart set on where a charger can go.
Size: Once you’ve determined where a charger should go, measure to see how much space you have. A wide wall charger or a thick one that sticks out far from the wall may encroach on space or your flexibility in placing it in the garage. Look at all placement options. For instance, a narrow unit might fit on the small strip of wall between two garage doors.
Ability to delay charging via app: Many cars allow you to control the charging time from within the car or via an app, so you can benefit from cheaper off-peak electricity costs, depending on your utility company. If your car doesn’t have this feature, consider a charger that does. Remember that this functionality may not work if the company that manufactured the charger discontinues support. (That’s what happened when the company that made JuiceBox chargers left the U.S. Owners could still charge their cars, but they lost access to the JuiceBox app.
Weatherproofing (optional): For those without a garage, look for a charger that can stand up to inclement weather. Most are claimed to be weatherproof by manufacturers. If you plan to install yours outside, we recommend finding a charger with a NEMA rating of 3, which is a standard set by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association that defines how resistant a product is to environmental hazards. A NEMA 3 rating, which is common on most home chargers, means they’re resistant to nearly all ambient temperatures in addition to the rain, sleet, and snow that the average U.S. consumer would face. The Grizzl-E has a NEMA 4 rating, which means it’s even more watertight. Note that a charging cable can become brittle in extremely cold weather.
How Many Amps Do You Need?
The higher the amperage of a home charger, the faster the charge, but just how fast depends on the electrical system of your car and your home. First, you need to determine how much amperage your home’s electrical system can handle. An electrician can help you figure that out. We recommend at least a 32-amp charger.
Then check to see what kind of charge your vehicle can accept, a spec that can be found on CR’s vehicle model pages. For instance, a Hyundai Ioniq 5 has an 11 kW onboard charger, so it can benefit from a 48-amp charger. A Toyota bZ4X only has a 6.6 kW onboard charger, so it won’t benefit from charging at higher than 30 amps. Several newer EVs are capable of charging at 60 to 80 amps. For applications above 48 amps, it’s recommended that the EVSE is hardwired as opposed to plugged into an outlet like a clothes dryer. Don’t be swayed by low-priced chargers that might charge less quickly. We recommend avoiding 16-amp chargers entirely. Onboard charger size and amperage information can be found in the Ratings and Specs section for the EV you’re interested in.
Should You Hardwire or Plug In Your Charger?
It depends. A plug-in type benefits from portability. These chargers can be readily replaced as needed, and they’re easy to take with you when you move or even when you’re on vacation if you rent a home. But a plug-in charger may not be able to run at as high an amperage as a hardwired model, so it may charge a little bit slower. Some high-amperage chargers require hardwiring.
Should You Buy a Smart Charger?
Not necessarily. Most EVs, like those from Nissan shown below, allow you to view charging status and get notifications through the car manufacturer’s app, and smart WiFi-connected chargers tend to cost more up front. But many utility companies offer rebates only on WiFi-connected models, which can cover the added expense.
Do You Have Frequent Power Outages?
If you live in an area that has frequent power outages, charging might not resume once the power is back on, and you could be surprised to find out that your EV isn’t sufficiently charged when you’re ready to drive. Some chargers and vehicles require the user to manually restart the charging session after a power outage. In those situations, it may be helpful to get a smart charger that can send an alert to your if charging is interrupted, or buy an EV with a similar feature. If you have a generator for your home, consult an electrician to make sure it can handle charging an EV when the power is out.
kW: Kilowatt, or one thousand watts. This is the unit for electrical power. Multiply volts (240) by the amperage rating of your charger and divide by 1,000 to determine how many kW can be sent to your vehicle.
kWh: Kilowatt hour. A unit of energy that’s stored inside a battery, expressing the battery’s capacity. Think of a battery’s kWh capacity as the equivalent of how many gallons of gas a tank can hold.
Level 2 charger: A 240-volt charger that can be installed at home or in a public place. It adds 20 to 40 miles of charge per hour and can fully charge an EV’s battery overnight. Public versions can be free or cost money depending on the location and provider.
NEMA: National Electrical Manufacturers Association. A trade group that sets standards for electrical products, such as types of plugs.
Type 1 connector: Also called J, this is a type of charger plug used on many American and European EVs and PHEVs that aren’t made by Tesla.
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NACS (North American Charging Standard) connector: Also called J, this is a combination AC/DC charging plug used on Tesla vehicles that’s being introduced on EVs from other brands. Adapters exist to convert between NACS and CCS.
UL Listed: It’s wise to pick an EVSE that’s UL or ETL (Edison Testing Laboratories) listed, which indicates it complies with safety standards established by nationally recognized testing labs. Every charger featured here has such a safety rating, indicated by a seal on the box, the owner’s manual, or the unit itself.
Voltage: A measure of the force that moves electrical current. At the same amperage, a 120-volt outlet moves electricity more slowly than a 240-volt outlet, so an EV will charge less quickly when plugged into a 120-volt outlet. That’s why you have to install a special kind of outlet to plug in a Level 2 EV charger.
Whether you’re looking to furnish your business properties with EV charging stations or want an efficient way to charge your EV at home, it pays to do your research before you buy. With this guide to the best residential and commercial EV charging station providers, you’ll be able to narrow down your choices without even stepping out of your door.
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The Top Residential EV Charging Station Providers
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Buying an EV represents a significant investment of your resources. Charging at home can help you offset that expense by saving money on refueling. After all, as US News and World Report‘s Warren Clarke points out, it costs almost 30% less to charge your car at home with a Level 2 charger than a DC fast charger.
So, it only makes sense to purchase an EV charger that can charge your car the most efficiently – one that can hold up over the years. Here are a few of the top home EV charging station providers and their top EV chargers.
1. ChargePoint: The Home Flex EV Charger
As the world’s largest commercial EV charging station provider, ChargePoint offers businesses a broad range of charging options, However, it is one of the top names in home EV charging companies as well.
One of the best examples of the company’s residential options is its Home Flex EV Charger. A big advantage of this charger is that it links to ChargePoint’s public charging network through the same app, as Car and Driver’s Dave Vanderwerp advises. So, if you use ChargePoint stations while you’re out on the road, you can easily keep track of your overall charging costs, whether you’re at home or traveling. It is, though, one of the more expensive residential EV charging options.
Featuring a 23-foot cord with a built-in notch to hang your cord neatly, the charger is rated for outdoor as well as indoor use. The app is easy to use, allowing you to schedule your charging times during off-peak hours. It helps you track your charging costs easily — a must if you use your car for both personal and business tasks.
The charger has variable output capability (50/48/40/32/24/16 amps), which translates to 12.0/11.5/9.6/7.7/5.8/3.8 kW. However, you must hardwire the charger if you use one of the lower output settings.
2. Tesla: The Wall Connector EV Charging Station (2 options)
Tesla gives users two options for home charging – both compatible with Teslas and non-Teslas, which is great if you have EV-driving houseguests who might drive a different brand of car. The first features a NACS Tesla plug but requires an adapter to charge non-Tesla vehicles, while the second option has the new J plug, which can charge other brands without an adapter. At around $450, the NACS-equipped charger does cost about $100 less than the J model — if your budget cannot stretch to accommodate the more expensive charger. Both models come with a 24-foot cord and built-in cord management and are rated for outdoor use as well. Their output capacity is 48/40/32/24/16/12 amps, which translates to 11.5/9.6/7.7/5.8/3.8/2.9 kW. Also, both come with a user-friendly app but lack the capability to track energy use.
3. Emporia: The 48-Amp EV Charger
With a charger that both Car Talk’s John Goreham and Car and Driver’s Vanderwerp (cited earlier) rated among their top picks, Emporia emerges as an excellent choice for EV owners, especially those on a budget. Since Emporia specializes in home energy management solutions, its flagship charger features a load management system that can save homeowners from costly electrical upgrades in many cases. At around $400, the charger features a 24-foot cord, built-in cable management, and an output that ranges from 48 to 6 amps (11.5-1.4 kW). It, too, is rated for outdoor use and easy to set up.
4. Lectron: The V-Box EV Charger
A company that specializes in simplicity, Lectron produces quality, app-free EV chargers that make it easy to mount, set up, and use from the get-go, as Car Talk’s John Goreham (cited earlier) shows. With an easy-to-read display panel that provides all the information you need without frills, the company’s V-Box EV Charger is the perfect solution for owners who want a plug-and-play option. It features a 20-foot cord and a setting option that enables owners to dial down the power if their home’s electrical system has less than a 50-amp capacity.
5. The EVIPOWER Home EV Chargers by EVIQO
The EVIPOWER Level 2 EV chargers by EVIQO are among the most versatile and user-friendly options on the market, earning multiple “Best EV Charger” awards from trusted sources like InsideEVs, ZDNet, and State of Charge. The Gen1 model offers industry-leading flexibility with a 25-ft output cable (the legal maximum), a heavy-duty J connector, and an adjustable dip switch for 16A to 48A output—ideal for customizing your charging speed. It also includes smart app features like scheduling, energy tracking, and over-the-air firmware updates via the EVIQO app.
The upgraded Gen2 builds on this foundation with an enhanced Wi-Fi antenna, a unique mainboard shielding design for added reliability, and a sleek ergonomic enclosure for easier cable management. It also features an external reset button for quick troubleshooting and a newly optimized holster. Both models are ETL, Energy Star, and FCC certified, compatible with all EVs. EVIQO has recently released a NACS connector version as well. With over 1,090 Amazon reviews and a 4.9* rating, EVIQO continues to deliver outstanding performance and customer satisfaction.
The Top Commercial EV Charging Station Providers
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Whether you own a standalone EV charging station or want to add EV charging as an amenity to your tenants, employees, customers, and guests, it’s becoming more critical for businesses to branch out into EV charging to build additional revenue streams. Commercial needs vary from the Level 1 and 2 chargers offered at airports, hotels, and shopping centers to the lightning-fast DC fast chargers that commercial charging stations and fuel stops need to stay competitive. Use this list of the nation’s top commercial EV charging station brands to inform yourself and your team before you buy.
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1. EVBox
One of the world’s major suppliers of commercial EV chargers, EVBox makes it easy for businesses to add EV charging to their revenue streams. Whether you need public charging stations, private EV charging for customers and employees, or a charging solution for your fleet EVs, EVBox can accommodate your needs with both level 2 and DC fast chargers. Additionally, they will install and maintain your chargers and provide user-friendly charging management software so your team can manage the business side, no matter how many chargers you have.
2. Tesla
Apartment complexes, shopping centers, and other businesses can benefit from Tesla’s selection of commercial chargers. Whether you need Superchargers for your fuel stop or wall chargers for hotel guests or tenants, Tesla can provide you with a hassle-free experience, including automatic updates, seamless payment, and notifications when you need more chargers. Even better, with Tesla now making its charging technology available to non-Tesla owners, Tesla is well worth your consideration.
3. EVgo
If your company needs DC fast chargers, EVgo is a great choice for business owners. Customers can find your charging stations with the user-friendly EVgo app, view their real-time availability, and choose a variety of payment options to charge their cars, making it convenient for EV owners traveling through your area. For even more customer-pleasing service, drivers can even reserve chargers through their public network.
4. Enel X Way
Enel X Way also offers commercial EV charging stations — their JuiceBox Pro line. Suitable for a wide variety of businesses, government facilities, and non-profit institutions, Enel X Way provides “turnkey installation and support” for its commercial customers, including site evaluations, project management, the installation itself, centralized billing, and maintenance support. The company offers both Level 2 and DC fast chargers, making it easy to choose the right charging stations for your facility.
5. Blink
This worldwide EV charging company offers its commercial customers industry-specific EV charging solutions, enabling you to tailor your EV charging stations to your organization’s exact needs. With Level 2 and DC fast chargers and compatibility with both CCS and NACS plugs, Blink has the technology and support to provide your customers with a superb experience, building loyalty with every charge.
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