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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, you can find one without emptying your wallet.
"Most people know that EVs need chargers to power their driving, but with the public charging station infrastructure still leaving a lot to be desired, data shows us that most people prefer to charge at home," shared Emporia Energy CEO, Shawn McLaughlin. "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 know the challenge of comparing features and hoping that value doesn't compromise quality. There's also the added twist in evaluating your home's electrical system, planning for the cost of installation by a licensed electrician, plus permitting and inspection, and even infrastructure related to the location of the charger.
This probably sounds daunting, but all we're getting at is, when you purchase an EV charger for your home, pay attention to the features that matter for your circumstance:
- Review any scheduling, monitoring, and/or whether you expect to use bidirectional capabilities. These can offer convenience and home energy efficiency that offset product cost.
- Consider whether you need it hardwired or plug-in.
- Cord length! Most chargers have cords 22-feet or longer, but some are shorter, which can compromise where you want to install the charger.
- Scope the price of the product + costs for home upgrades + installation services, if necessary. Keep in mind, panel upgrades are common: about 62% of homes have capacity restraints in their service panels, and 50% have panel ratings lower than 200 A
Benefits of a Level 2 Charger
From faster charging to smart home functionality, there are many reasons for homeowners to consider upgrading their electric vehicle charger to a 240-volt outlet.
- More convenient charging experience, at home
- Better charging speeds than a Level 1 plug-in charger; reduces 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, 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
Should I replace my Level 2 charger with a newer model?
Like most technology in advancing industries, it just gets better with time. While I used the same EV charger for 10 years with no issue, there are legitimate reasons a household might need or want to upgrade their equipment:
- Added more products to the electric load of their house (like, a new heat pump, pool heater, appliances
- Added another EV the household (plenty of EV drivers become loyalists, me included)
- Expired warranties, or difficulty finding replacement parts (as time goes on, companies go out of business. Many discontinued brands, like EvoCharge or Enel X/Juicebox, might be difficult to service)
- Desire to improve visibility into a home's energy use or to improve its electrical management.
The pros get asked this question all the time. "The home is changing," acknowledged Shawn Bonacorsi, Head of Electrification
Solutions, Schneider Electric, North America Operations. "Older chargers may be limited by the way they were installed or by the electrical constraints of the home. A newer charger with intelligent load management can make better use of the home's available electrical capacity by adjusting charging based on overall demand, helping homeowners optimize the capacity they already have."
He continued, "It's also not only about the charger itself, but the technology available to support it. Today's homeowners increasingly expect their energy devices to be connected and manageable from their phones. Scheduling, monitoring, and other smart charging capabilities can make the charging experience more convenient and provide greater visibility and control than what was available with many chargers installed several years ago.
All that said, his POV on upgrading is honest: "I wouldn't say every homeowner with an existing charger needs to replace it," shared Bonacorsi as I admitted I had been using the same product for a decade. "But for homeowners who have added more electric loads, want greater visibility and control over their charging, or are looking to better manage their home's available electrical capacity, there can be meaningful benefits. In some situations, those benefits may even help avoid or defer the expense of a service or panel upgrade."
Bottom line: He recommends that homeowners should take a look at their overall charging installation. "Whether a charger is plug-in or hardwired, the most important consideration is that the equipment and electrical infrastructure are properly sized and rated for EV charging. In some situations, a newer hardwired solution may provide advantages when paired with a professionally designed installation through a company like Qmerit."
Compare the Specs
Schneider Electric Charge
- Price: $695
- SmartAmp load management automatically adjusts charging speed to prevent energy use from maximizing the panel limit
- App-based control and scheduling
- Hardwired with NEMA Type 4 enclosure rating
- Easy install
- Less than 7" wide
- 25-foot charging cable
- Available with J1772 and NACS connectors
Emporia Smart Home EV Charger:
- Price: $449.00
- Charging up to 48 Amps (35 miles of range per hour during a charging session)
- NEMA 14-50 outlet or hardwired installation
- A 25-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
- 2.4 GHz WiFi enablement
- App control to manage a wide range of features including remote start/stop, historical usage, and more.
- Pairs with Emporia Vue energy usage monitor
ChargePoint Home Flex:
- Price: $549+ depending on features
- Charging from 20A-80A amps
- NEMA 6-50 and NEMA 14-50 plug options; can be hardwired, too.
- Chargepoint app allows scheduling and reminders
- 23-foot charging cable
- Available with J1772 and NACS connectors
- A 3-year warranty
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 the electricans who speak the EV language are fewer and further between.
With that in mind, look to your manufacturer, as many belong to vast networks of electrical contractors. Choosing the right partner already prepared with technical expertise comes in handy when you're navigating installation and trying to make the most of available rebates and incentives to further minimize the cost.
