At-home charging: What to look for in the best EV chargers

If you're looking to bring an electric car home, chances are you're thinking about installing a charger, too. In some ways, this may seem like an even more daunting decision. After all, most dealers will let you take an electric car out for a test drive if you're serious about buying one, meaning you can get a taste of the experience before you commit.

But there aren't many charger companies out there that have test drives available, and while it's easy enough to figure out how much range and performance you need out of an EV, figuring out what you need from a charger is a lot more nuanced.

Don't worry. We've got your back. In this article, we will run you through some of the most important (cable length) and least important (WiFi controls) things to consider when buying an at-home, Level 2 charger for your new (or potential) EV.

Let's start with the fundamental part: Where will you install it? EV chargers are generally weatherproof to some degree, which means they can be installed indoors or out. After all, even if you do mount it to a wall inside, it still needs to stand up to things like humidity or a wet floor if your EV tracks in some snow or water.

However, there are some substantial differences between a charger rated to survive the outdoors and a charger optimized to be used outdoors. 

Proper outdoor chargers, like those from Grizzl-E, have specific design considerations for the great outdoors. In the case of the Grizzl-E, this includes cables made of rubbers that will remain flexible even in low temperatures. Trust us: If it's cold out, you won't want to spend any more time than is strictly necessary to un-coil that cable.

Beyond that, plastics can get brittle in the cold, and if that plug isn't protected, water can collect inside and freeze. At best, this will prevent charging. At worst, it can crack and ruin the plug.

Additionally, many of these chargers are also designed for pole or pedestal mounting, like the Enel X JuiceBox chargers, which can be mounted on the company's JuiceStand pedestals. A mount like that provides the greatest flexibility for positioning the charger exactly where you need it. 

So, if you're mounting a charger outside, look for something that's designed to survive the great outdoors and can be mounted where you need it. If, however, you're lucky enough to be able to charge in your garage, then don't feel the need to spend the extra money for these features. Your charger will be subjected to far less punishment, and will likely last a lot longer, too.

A cable that stays flexible in cold temps is important if it's mounted outside, but regardless of where your charger lives, having a long enough cable is vital. A cable that's too short is an obvious deal-breaker, but even one that's barely long enough can be a nuisance. 

This isn't a measurement you want to guess at. You must figure out exactly how long a cable you need. Once you've figured out where you're mounting your charger, take a piece of string or, better yet, some extension cords and run them from there to the absolute furthest point that you might plug in.

This is trickier than you might think. There's no standard for charge port placement right now. On some cars, you'll plug it in right on the nose. On others, charge ports are found at the rear. Unless you're willing to go through some parking theatrics to position your car perfectly, assume that the charge port on your next EV will be on the farthest corner of the car and measure accordingly.

And even then, add on a few extra feet. You do not want a cable under tension between the charger and your car. Ideally, it'll go from the charger straight to the ground, run across the ground to your vehicle, and then straight up to your charging point. This reduces the stress on both the charger and the cable.

Once you've figured that out, you can start looking at chargers that meet your needs. Remember that longer cables mean more resistance, so aim for a higher amperage charger and higher diameter cable if you're going a long way, say 20 feet or more.

Even if you're permanently mounting your charger to the wall, consider a charger that does not require permanent installation. That is, instead of getting a charger that is hardwired to your home's electrical system, consider one that has something like a NEMA 14-50 plug on the end.

Plugging rather than wiring it in directly means that the charger can come with you. This can be handy if you're renting or planning to move. 

Or, if you frequently vacation with your EV, you might instead invest in a portable charger, which can easily go with you.

A charger with a plug, whether portable or wall-mounted, can also be easier to install and replace. If you've chosen your electrician but not your charger, you can have them install a Nema 14-50 outlet in a convenient location. At that point, installing the charger itself is a simple matter of hanging it on the wall and plugging it in. Just be aware that some higher-amperage chargers, like Tesla's Wall Connector, are only available as hard-wired. 

Finally, if your charger ever develops issues down the road, or simply needs to be replaced due to shifting plug standards, upgrading will be much easier if it's not hardwired.

Speaking of evolving standards, plug type is one of the more complicated decisions to make right now. In this case, we don't mean the plug on the end of the charger connected to your home's wiring. We're referring to the plug you'll use to connect your car.

Regarding cars on the road today, there are basically two standards for level-two charging. The first is SAE J1772. J1772 is found in virtually every vehicle on the road that was not built by Tesla. 

The other plug is called NACS, SAE J3400, or simply "the Tesla plug." It's the connector on every American Tesla made after the original Roadster. It's even thinner and lighter than J1772. 

Which plug should your charger have? Right now, the answer is straightforward. Are you buying a Tesla? Get one with a Tesla plug on it. Are you buying something else? Get one with the J1772 plug.

However, this decision is becoming more complicated. Virtually every major manufacturer that serves the U.S. market has pledged to shift from J1772 to J3400 plugs found on Teslas. In four or five years, that'll mean there's no more decision to make; just about everything will be using the newer plug.

It's the time between now and then that'll be tricky. The good news is that there are adapters going both directions, so no charger will be obsolete. Given that, we'd still recommend buying a charger with the plug that's found on your EV today.

There's also the question of charger amperage, which effectively dictates the maximum speed at which a charger can power up your car. 

Chargers typically range from 15 amps on the low end up to 48 or 50 amps on the high end. Higher amperage at a fixed voltage means more current, which equates to faster charging. A 15-amp charger will take somewhere north of 20 hours to fill up a typical car. A 48-amp charger, on the other hand, would complete the same task in under eight. 

You'll want the maximum amperage available from your home's wiring, a figure that's best determined by a licensed electrician. Once you know that, you can determine whether you want a charger with either fixed or adjustable amperage. 

• Adjustable chargers can work with a variety of different amperages. They're easily adjusted to match whatever your home supplies.

• Fixed chargers only operate at a set amperage. That's fine in most situations, but should you upgrade your home's wiring at some point or move and take your charger with you, having an adjustable unit means you'll take advantage of that change down the road. 

If in doubt, go with an adjustable charger.

The final factor to consider when buying a Level 2 charger are so-called "smart" features. In this regard, we mean chargers that can connect to your home's internet connection. These chargers can then be set to only operate at certain times of day or days of the week. In theory, this could be great, as many utility companies provide lower-cost rates during off hours. You would not only be reducing demand but also minimizing the overall running cost of your EV.

But when you're looking to buy the ultimate Level 2 charger, we recommend you don't pay extra for "smart" chargers like this for one simple reason: There's a good chance your car will do a far better job managing things on its own. 

Virtually all modern EVs can limit their maximum charging amount and charging speed or only recharge during certain days and hours. These settings are simply easier to manage in most cars than on most chargers. 

Doing it on your charger will probably mean installing yet another app on your phone and figuring out how to use it, which almost certainly won't be as easy as simply sitting in your car and tapping on the touchscreen or, indeed, using your car's app, which you probably already have installed. Your car will probably do a better job of optimizing its charging behavior than the charger could, anyway.

So, stick with a simple charger and rely on your new EV's smarts.

Photo courtesy: Tesla