Power Up Your Ride at Home With These Editor-Approved Electric Vehicle Chargers

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Charging access is everything when you own an electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid. While charging stations may be available at workplaces and retail spaces, and cities are establishing dedicated charging networks, it doesn't get more convenient than having an EV charging system in your garage.

The market for home electric vehicle chargers is quickly expanding, allowing hybrid and electric car owners to power up while they cook dinner or do the laundry. While these setups don’t typically charge as fast as dedicated stations, they help ensure you leave the house with a sufficiently energized vehicle.

The Best Electric Vehicle Chargers

• Best Overall: JuiceBox 40 Smart Charging Station

• Best Midrange: EVoCharge Electric Vehicle Charging Station

• Most Affordable: Megear Level 1+2 Charger

• Best Premium: Wallbox Pulsar Plus Ultra Compact Charger

• Best Wall Mount: Grizzl-E 40 Amp Charger

What to Consider

Types of Chargers

There are two basic types of plug-in charger available for sale in the United States: 120-volt “Level 1” chargers and 240-volt “Level 2” quick chargers. Electric vehicles usually ship with a Level 1 charger, but it's wise to invest in a Level 2 charger to install at home for faster performance.

The EU and many other countries worldwide run on a 240-volt power grid, so all that's required for fast electric car charing is a basic adapter. Because the U.S. runs on a 120-volt grid, Level 2 charging requires specific outlets, fitting NEMA 6-20, 6-50, or 14-50 plugs. These may be found on dryer hookups in laundry rooms, or in some garages. If there isn't a compatible outlet nearby, custom installation is an option, or an electrician can hardwire the device to your home’s power line. Some EV chargers give you the option of outlet or hardwiring, like our top pick.

Tesla vs. Universal Chargers

Universal mount chargers are compatible with just about any modern electric vehicle, except for Tesla’s. If you want to use a Tesla charger, a Lectron J1772 adapter is required purchased separately to fit their proprietary charging port.

There are 480-volt fast chargers that perform similarly to Tesla’s trademark Superchargers. The catch is that they have specific power requirements, demanding installation of a dedicated power line by an experienced electrician. For this reason, 480-volt chargers are much more likely to be found in commercial spaces than in private homes.

Amps & Charging Time

In addition to voltage, each charger has a specific amperage rating, or a few selectable amp settings. Generally, a higher amperage will charge a battery faster. However, small batteries won’t take as many amps as large ones. For instance, a Chevy Volt is limited to about 15 charging amps, while a Tesla Model S can take 80 on a 240-volt line. The Tesla will charge much faster on an 80-amp circuit than a 15-amp one, but the Chevy will take just as long with either. Be sure to consult your car’s manual for recommended energy specs.

Also be aware that electricity can be very dangerous in inexperienced hands. If you have any additional questions or concerns about the installation and charging process, it’s best to consult a professional electrician.

How We Selected

As an auto journalist for over five years, I’ve tested a variety of vehicles and automotive accessories, including electric vehicles. In addition, I have relevant knowledge of home electrical grids in the United States, such as voltage requirements, amperage draws, and types of plugs that are typically used in electric vehicle charging systems. During the research phase, things like overall design, built-in Wi-Fi and cord management, scheduling features, and cord length were just a few factors that helped inform our selection, along with price point. All the electric car chargers covered below are universally compatible with modern production electric vehicles, Tesla being the exception.

40 Smart Charging Station

The JuiceBox has a lot going for it and wins our top spot for best features and overall design. It offers adjustable 40-amp capacity, has integrated cord storage, and a locking security mechanism. We also appreciate app-control via built-in Wi-Fi, so there’s no need to mess with ethernet cables or SIM cards.

The app monitors battery status, gives estimated charge times, sets amperage, and schedules future usage. Another plus is that you can pair it with an Amazon Echo device to easily activate it using voice commands in your home.

Power can be supplied by either a 14-50 outlet, or a hardwire kit option. The charger is weatherproofed, Energy Star-certified, and includes a three-year warranty.

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

This wall-mounted box has a clean and modern look that is low profile enough to fit on any space where your car is parked. It's also weather-resistant, so you don't have to worry about it getting damaged in the rain or snow. The charging station comes with an adjustable outlet that satisfies three different amperages.

The EvoCharge is manufactured in the United States, and includes a three-year factory warranty. The standard charging c0rd only spans 18 feet, but a 25-foot version is also available for about $200 extra. Another upgrade option is Wi-Fi connectivity, which allows the user to control charging remotely via the EvoCharge mobile app.

Level 1+2 Charger

This rudimentary electric vehicle charger comes with a 240-volt dryer plug, as well as an adapter to fit it to any grounded 120-volt household outlet. Additional features are lacking, but it does come with a 25-foot cord in case you need to reach a long distance from your power source.

It’s also weather-resistant, which is something we want out of any long-term charging source. The only display is a control box with LED indicators to keep you updated on the charging status.

Current is limited at only 16 amps, which means bigger batteries will be slow to charge even with a 240-volt connection. This device would be best suited to lower range EVs and plug-in hybrids.

Pulsar Plus Ultra Compact Charger

This Wallbox Pulsar packs plenty of features into a small package, including smartphone controls through both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. When not connected to a network, the base can auto-optimize charge settings.

Multiple versions of the Pulsar can even wirelessly sync to each other, allowing two or more vehicles to charge efficiently at once without the risk of tripping circuit breakers. It boasts a 40-amp max output, and can be throttled down to 16 amps.

The device is also weather-resistant and watertight, with a three-year manufacturer warranty.

40 Amp Charger

This 40-amp unit comes not only with a cutesy name, but with a convenient mounting kit to tidily stow its 24-foot cord on a garage wall. Both 6-50 and 14-50 plugs are available, along with white, black, and camo color options. It’s rated not only for weather resistance, but also fire resistance and surge protection.

The Canadian manufacturer provides a three-year service warranty. The Grizzl-E box comes with no display other than a single power indicator, but thankfully selects the correct amperage output automatically. Other automated features include a shut-off function in cases of extreme temperature, and one that allows it to resume charging once power is restored after an outage.

Home Flex 50 Amp Charger

The ChargePoint Home Flex boasts some of the most impressive charging speed on the market, rated up to 50 amps, but there is one catch. Versions are sold that include both NEMA 6-50 and 14-50 plugs, but the system will need to be hardwired in order to access the highest speeds. Using either plug, the charger is locked at 40 amps max, which is still solid performance.

There is very little in the way of display or controls on the body of the Home Flex. All that is handled by the ChargePoint smartphone app, which connects over Wi-Fi. Using the app, you can set charge speed, schedule ahead of time, and look at estimated dollar costs for its power consumption. You also get a three-year manufacturer’s warranty.

HQ150 Level 2 Charger

This thin wall-mounted charger sports a sleek matte black finish.

The low-profile body does also mean that there are only a few LEDs for display options. The commercial version of HQ-150 can connect to the internet through either cable or an optional SIM card. The retail model, however, is missing this functionality.

Amperage peaks at 32, and can automatically adjust itself for smaller batteries. The body is weather- and heat-resistant, operating in temperatures from -22 degrees Fahrenheit all the way up to 122 degrees. If you purchase this product, Blink will throw in a one-year warranty against defects.

Duosida 16 Amp Portable Charger

This simple 1+2 charging kit could be very convenient for trips on the road, when a dedicated charging station may not be accessible. It comes with a small duffel bag to hold the charge port and cords, making it easily stowed away in the vehicle’s storage compartment. Power is supplied by either a NEMA 6-20 outlet, or a 120V household outlet using the included adapter.

The compact nature of this kit does however limit charging capacity, which caps out at 16 amps. This device will charge slower than home systems, and much slower while using the 120V plug. While traveling, slow power is still better than no power at all. A two-year defect warranty is also included with purchase.

Level 2 Charger + Tesla Adapter

This Lectron 240-volt cord is similar to other basic chargers, with one notable extra. It comes with a SAE J1772 adapter included, which gives it the ability to dock with any current Tesla models. With the adapter removed, it can also be used to charge most other plug-in vehicles.

As far as display goes it only has four rudimentary LEDs reading “power,” “connected,” “charging,” and “fault.” The charger is rated at 16 amps, likely making it slower than higher-rated 240-volt devices. 21 feet of cord gives a good amount of reach between a 10-30 outlet and the vehicle. The assembly is also made for operating temperatures ranging from -22 degrees to 122 degrees Fahrenheit.

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