How to Choose an EV Charger on a Budget

Emily Fazio
·6 min read
2

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Navigating the world of Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers on a budget involves finding the right balance between affordability and functionality. The good news is that you can find an electric car charging station to charge your EV efficiently... without emptying your wallet. We connected with Emporia Energy CEO, Shawn McLaughlin about the opportunities for homeowners looking to find an inexpensive, affordable electric car charger.

"The process of buying an electric vehicle (EV) is undoubtedly exciting as more manufacturers are entering the space and competing on feature sets, battery range, and general aesthetics. Most people know that these EVs need chargers to power their driving, and with the public charging station infrastructure still leaving a lot to be desired, data shows us that most people prefer to charge at home," says McLaughlin. "But buying a Level 2 EV charger to increase your power output can be daunting."

It's daunting for many reasons. As an EV owner, I can attest that it's difficult to assess the quality and price of the EV chargers and the value of their features. Additionally, there are other project costs to factor in outside of the actual hardware. You'll need to consider the cost of installation by a licensed electrician, permitting and inspection, the location of the charger in your home, and the electrical capacity of your circuit breaker.

With these things in mind, someone looking to purchase an EV charger on a budget should consider:

  1. Premium specs at an affordable price

  2. A rich feature set designed to lower energy bills including

  3. Installation services and unique features that keep the hidden costs of installation in check

"As this EV charger market continues to evolve, many manufacturers are entering the space to capitalize on an opportunity that reflects a 'because we can' attitude," warns McLaughlin. "Emporia’s reason for producing our EV charger is aligned with 'how can the consumer save' to make it more accessible to those who want it."

Why Upgrade to Level 2?

From being able to charge more miles per hour to smart charger functionality, there are many reasons for homeowners to consider upgrading their electric vehicle charger to a 240-volt outlet.

  • A more convenient charging experience

  • Better charging speeds than a Level 1 plug-in charger so you can get more miles per hour of charging, effectively reducing your overall charge time

  • Smart features that support energy automation, like energy consumption monitors and systems that make it easier to charge during off-peak hours

  • Access to rebates, incentives, tax credits, and a nationwide network of professional electricians to help you save on installation costs

  • 240-volt Level 2 chargers usually include a cord management system and other key features

Related: Why You Should Upgrade to a Level 2 Charger

Compare Pricing and Specs for Budget-Friendly Level 2 Chargers

The Emporia Smart Home EV Charger boasts the technical specs of EV chargers that sell at twice the price. These specs include:

  • MSRP: $399

  • Charging up to 48 Amps (35 miles of range per hour during a charging session)

  • NEMA 14-50 outlet or hardwired installation

  • A 24-foot cord with an SAE J1772 connector to charge any electric car

  • A watertight enclosure that matches NEMA 4 standards for outdoor rating

  • A three-year warranty

  • Built-in cable organizer

  • App control to manage a wide range of features including remote start/stop, historical usage, and more.

Comparatively, the EvoCharge iEVSE Home 32 Amp Smart EV Charger has strong features including:

  • MSRP: $699

  • Charging to 32 Amps (25 miles of range per hour during a charging session)

  • NEMA 6-50 Plug (Removable for Hardwire Connection)

  • 18-foot cable cord (Optional upgrade to a longer 22- or 30-feet with cable management)

  • NEMA 4 Enclosure for Indoor/Outdoor Installation

  • A 3-year warranty and optional two-year extended warranty

  • Mobile phone app and web portal

  • Smart assistant compatible; Alexa, Google, & Siri

ChargePoint Home Flex is another option that often turns heads. Its features include:

  • MSRP: $659

  • Charging from 16 to 50 amps (9x faster than a standard wall outlet)

  • NEMA 6-50 and NEMA 14-50 plug options; can be hardwired, too.

  • Chargepoint app allows scheduling and reminders

  • 23-foot charging cable

  • Alexa-compatible

  • A 3-year warranty

Another Level 2 charger that's gaining ground is the Wallbox Pulsar Plus. Its features include:

  • MSRP: $649-$699

  • Available as 40A or 48A

  • NEMA Type 4 rated

  • 25-foot charging cable

  • Voice control via Alexa and Google Home

  • Load balancing enables power sharing, so you can charge multiple vehicles at once

  • 3-year warranty

Home Depot carries the VEVOR 16 Amp Level 2 Portable Charger. If you're looking for a portable solution, this might be it:

  • MSRP: $172.99 (but we've seen it up to 40% off — $103.79)

  • 25-foot charging cord

  • Provides a fast charging option for J1772 vehicles

  • Maximum power: 1.5kw

  • NEMA 6-20 plug

  • Universal compatibility

  • LED indicator lights show charging status

  • Intelligent chip protects against issues including lightning, leakage, grounding, overheating, etc.

  • Includes a carrying bag

Be on the Lookout For Automation Advantages

Emporia's POV on electrical consumption and energy efficiency takes its product up a notch, IMO.

The Emporia app can automate the EV Charger based on time-of-use rate schedules. It can be paired with an Emporia Vue energy usage monitor (starting at just $85) further expanding its features. Together, the Emporia charger and Vue energy monitor allow you to set a Peak Demand Goal for your home and automatically adjust your charge rate to meet this goal. This makes overnight charging a breeze. Also, if your home has solar panels, you can set your Emporia EV Charger to only charge when you’re generating excess solar energy. These powerful features can help you save on your monthly energy bill.

Related: How to Get Level 2 EV Charging Without an Electric Panel Upgrade

Referral Networks for EV Charger Installation Cut Costs

Any electrician can help you add a 240-volt circuit and assist you with the installation of your new charging station, but those who speak the EV language are fewer and further between.

Emporia offers premium professional installation services from a vast network of hundreds of thousands of electrical contractors. Their technical expertise comes in handy when determining the best place for the wall connector and navigating available rebates and incentives to further minimize the cost.

And as for an older household circuit that already carries a lot of high voltage appliances (e.g. clothes dryer, hot tub, air conditioning), an electrician can help make recommendations if they suspect there may not be enough capacity or space in the existing electrical panel to accommodate a level 2 EV charger. One common solution for this is for an electrician to work with the utility company to upgrade the service panel, but the average cost can be between $2,000 and $4,000. However, Emporia has designed its ground-breaking Load Management solution that can address this issue for a mere $200. Instead of having to pay for an expensive and time-consuming electrical service upgrade, Load Management allows the Emporia EV charger to be installed in a low-capacity electrical circuit by dynamically adjusting its charge rate via software to get you the lowest cost while adhering to the National Electric Code standards.