How to Choose the Best Home Wall Charger for Your Electric Vehicle
If you're thinking of buying an EV, you'll need a place to charge at home. Consumer Reports has you covered with some top choices.
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As electric vehicles gain popularity, Consumer Reports decided to test several popular wall chargers that EV buyers might consider when buying a car.
We also asked a focus group of EV owners about what they need and like in a home charger, known in the industry as electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE).
We evaluated hardwired (permanently installed) and plug-in types, ranging in price from $300 to $700. The eight we list below performed similarly, but we learned about which features matter and which ones you might want to skip—or at least not buy as an extra. We list four staff favorites, too.
The Future of Cars
Watch CR automotive engineer Alex Knizek discuss EV range anxiety on the "CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell."
CR's Take
All of the EVSEs we evaluated did the job and are weatherproof, meaning they can be installed inside a garage or outside. We favor the plug-in type because of the portability; these chargers are easy to take with you when you move or even when you’re on vacation, should you rent a home. Make sure you order the right charger for the plug you have: A four-prong outlet requires what’s called a NEMA 14-50 plug, while a three-prong outlet requires a NEMA 6-50 plug.
We found that a compact design and an easy-to-manage cable that’s long enough can help optimize space and maximize flexibility. First figure out where you want to install your charger. This can also determine how much the installation costs.
The ideal cable can reach to the car’s charge port whether its location on the car is front or rear, left or right. We found that a long, 25-foot cable is handy. (Keep in mind that different EVs have different charging port locations, and what’s convenient for one car might not work on the next.) A design that nicely integrates a hook for the unused cable portion is also convenient.
An app that communicates with you is handy, too, although most EVs allow you to view charging status and get notifications through the car manufacturers’ app. Even though these “smart” chargers tend to cost more up front, many utility companies offer significant rebates on some WiFi-connected models. In Connecticut, where CR’s Auto Test Center is located, a JuiceBox 40-amp smart charger costs less than $200 after rebates.
Finally, don’t be swayed by low-priced chargers that might charge less quickly. If your home’s electrical system can handle it, we recommend at least a 32-amp charger. The higher the amperage, the faster the charge—but you also need to check what kind of a charge your vehicle can accept. For instance, a Hyundai Ioniq 5 has an 11 kW on-board charger, so it can benefit from charging on a 45-amp circuit. A Toyota bz4x only has a 6.6 kW on-board charger, so it won’t benefit from charging on a higher amperage than 30. 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.
EV Home Wall Chargers We Evaluated
The units we evaluated can be bought online and cost between $300 and $800 before any tax credits.
To help guide our evaluation, we asked electric-car owners through a focus group and a survey about their home-charging concerns. Most participants were interested in convenience and usability in a charger, factoring in such things as cable management, ease of plugging/unplugging the connector, and whether or not charging resumes automatically after a power outage. With their feedback in mind, we installed each of these EVSEs to temporary walls at the Consumer Reports Auto Center and used them to charge our growing fleet of electric and plug-in hybrid test cars.