Best Home EV Chargers Of 2024 (2024)

Updated: Jan 5, 2024, 7:07pm

Anyone who owns or is thinking about buying an electric vehicle also needs to factor in a home charging station. While you can charge at public stations, that quickly grows tiresome as you deal with chargers already in use, chargers that are constantly out of service and the necessary trip planning. You can avoid all of that with a home EV charger.

Level 2 home chargers are slower than commercial DC fast chargers, but more than quick enough to charge your car during the hours you’re at home, which may coincide with your electric company’s off-peak pricing (many of these chargers allow scheduling). Automakers sell their own branded 240-volt Level 2 chargers for the home, but apart from Tesla, all EVs use the Common Charging System (CCS), giving you more economical alternatives in the aftermarket. Some chargers are designed for outdoor use, while others are best suited for garage installation. Many of these charging units also connect to smartphone apps so that you can monitor the charging status from anywhere. The variety in capabilities of these various chargers makes them an attractive alternative to the dedicated automaker chargers. Prices of these third-party chargers range between $400 and $800.

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Maybe You're Interested In Home EV Charges Available On Amazon

Maybe You're Interested In Home EV Charges Available On Amazon

How many amps do I need to charge my EV?

Every EV has an onboard charger that restricts the total input power the vehicle’s battery can accept on Level 1 (110/120 volts), Level 2 (220/240 volts) or Level 3 (480 volts) charge levels. At Level 2, many non-Tesla EVs cannot accept the maximum power output of most home chargers. Typically, they’ll peak just under 8.0 kW. But as future EVs accept Level 2 inputs greater than 10 kW, you’ll be better off investing now in a home charger (and an electrical connection) that is more capable.

Do I need a smart EV charger?

It depends. Smart chargers offer a lot of capabilities in addition to charging functions. Perhaps the most important function that smart chargers provide is the ability to notify you if a charging session is interrupted. You can also set charging times and receive notifications when charging is complete. A smart charger allows you to participate in a demand response program, but if you don’t care to do so, then you can also save money simply by opting for a potentially more affordable non-smart charger.

Is a Level 2 home charger worth it?

Level 2 can charge an EV three to 10 times faster than a wall-style Level 1 outlet. If you own a plug-in hybrid, Level 1 charging may be fine for short driving distances. Level 2 charging ensures most new EVs can be completely recharged overnight, making them the smartest choice.

Does the Nissan Leaf use a different connector?

For Level 1 (120-volt) and Level 2 (240-volt) EV charging, all EVs in North America use the industry standard J1772 connector – except for Tesla which uses a proprietary connector. Therefore, a Nissan Leaf can use any home charger available today except for the Tesla units. The Leaf does use a different connector for DC fast charging (CHAdeMO), which is not available for home use.

Why can’t I just use an extension cord?

A car requires a steady flow of high-amp current that can overheat an ordinary extension cord or cause a ground fault. No manufacturer recommends plugging an EV into any extension cord for that reason. Most outdoor-rated extension cords with thicker gauge wiring can handle a Level 1 charge on occasion, but they are not designed to transfer an EV’s current for eight hours a night, every night. It is the same situation with a standard 240-volt extension cord. When you plug an EV into a charger, there is digital communication between the charger and the vehicle. This is what ensures there are no surges and no flaws in the connection that could potentially start a fire. This digital “handshake” also provides information that can be used by smart chargers, such as informing the user if charging has been interrupted. These vehicles are also under warranty, and automakers are not going to risk that so someone can use an old cable from their shed.

Can I use the charger that came with the car?

You can still plug an EV into a standard 120-volt wall outlet using the standard charging cable that has been provided by the automaker. This is Level 1 charging and is painfully slow. It will only add about two to five miles of range for every hour of charging. It can be helpful in an emergency, but a full charge from ten percent would take days. If you aren’t traveling for a few days or have a plug-in hybrid (where you aren’t relying exclusively on the electric battery) Level 1 is fine, but if you daily-drive an EV, you’ll absolutely need a 240-volt Level 2 charger.