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If you decide to buy an electric car, the next thing you'll need is a home charging station. Studies show that the vast majority of electric-car charging is done at home, a convenience that adds greatly to electric cars' appeal. It can be challenging to determine the right charge solution for your needs and budget, but we can offer guidance.
Technically known as EVSE's, these "chargers" are essentially safety devices on electric car charge cords. (Technically, chargers, which convert alternating current wall power to direct current to charge the batteries, are hidden on-board the car.) Mainly, EVSEs disconnect the power to the cord any time the cord is unplugged from the car. Charging an electric car requires too much power for the plug to be live when it's not connected to anything, particularly for an outdoor charger. They also control the amperage of the charge, so you can plug a car with a lower-powered on-board charger into a higher-powered circuit and charge safely. All 240-volt chargers use the same plug, called a J1772 connector, so they can all charge any electric car.
Home chargers are available from at least 10 major companies, and they are easily found at major home improvement and electronics stores, starting at about $500. Added conveniences push up the price rapidly from there.
Here are a few features that might be worth buying.
Here are a few chargers on the market, with prices and retail locations, that exemplify these options. Most are available in several different model numbers with various features. Here we list what features are available. Consumer Reports has not tested any of these chargers. Although we have a number of chargers installed at our offices and Auto Test Center, in Yonkers, N.Y., and East Haddam, Conn., respectively, they serve different purposes, and are not directly comparable. The market for EVSE's is small enough that we don't plan on testing them at this point.
These chargers are sold Amazon.com, Home Depot, or Lowe's; the ClipperCreek model is available at the company website.
Charger | Power (amperes) | Cord length (ft.) | Portability | Remote connectivity |
---|---|---|---|---|
AeroVironment ($799 to $999) | 30 | 15, 25 | No |
No |
Bosch PowerMax ($561 to $936) | 16, 30 | 12-25 | No |
No |
ClipperCreek ($395 to $899) | 15-48 | 22-25 | Optional |
No |
Eaton RLC EVSE ($999) | 30 | 24 | Optional | Yes |
GE Watt-station ($1,099) | 30 | 24 | Optional | Yes |
Leviton Evr-Green ($649 to $1,099) | 16-40 | 18, 25 | No |
No |
Schneider Electric EVlink ($599 to $789) | 30 | 18 | No |
No |
Siemens ($699) | 30 | 20 | Optional | No |
—Eric Evarts
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