Complete review of the ClipperCreek home EV charger

If you’ve bought an electric vehicle (EV) recently or are considering one, you’re not alone! According to McKinsey, if EV sales continue on their current trajectory, they are likely to account for over half of U.S. passenger vehicle sales by 2030. Having an EV charger at your home allows you to more efficiently and quickly charge your EV at home while managing and monitoring your charging and energy usage. (Bonus: if you have solar, you can power your car with the sun!)

ClipperCreek is a trusted EV charging manufacturer, creating EV chargers since 2006, and is a division of Enphase Energy, Inc. They are known for building residential, public, fleet, and workplace EV charging solutions that are reliable, powerful, and “Made in America.” In this article, we’ll focus in detail on ClipperCreek’s popular HCS Level 2 home EV charger line.

Before diving into ClipperCreek’s EV chargers specifically, it’s important to know the different levels of charging you can do at home and how they vary. EV chargers are also known as EVSEs, which stands for electric vehicle supply equipment.

A Level 1 charger just uses a standard outlet at your home. You just need a standard 120-volt wall outlet with a J1772 connector to use this. However, this is very slow, only adding approximately 2-5 miles per hour to your range. Both the HCS and HCS-D lines are Level 2 chargers – the standard for home EV charging. It allows you to charge much more quickly than a Level 1 charger, providing up to 60+ miles of range per hour, depending on which EV you own. Level 2 charging is done with a 240V circuit, similar to what you’d use to power an electric oven or dryer.

The HCS series is a popular home EV charger line that ClipperCreek manufactures, with the HCS-40 as a bestseller. We break down the price range, features, and warranty details here — essentially, prices increase as you increase amperage (charging power/speed).

Key features of ClipperCreek’s EV chargers

Wiring and EV compatibility

The ClipperCreek EV home chargers are compatible with all EV models as long as they can charge with a J1772 charge plug, which most EVs today have other than Teslas. Teslas come with a J1772 adapter, so you can still charge your Tesla with this common Level 2 charge plug.

Convenience

The ClipperCreek EV home chargers are available in a variety of power levels and can be used with most homes’ electrical systems. They are also versatile enough to install either indoors or outdoors in most homes, apartments, and condo complexes. (Do keep in mind that if you live in a multi-unit complex, you will need to confirm with your HOA or complex that you can install an EV charger at your parking spot.) The cables are lightweight and 25 feet long, providing flexibility in where you install it – whether in your garage, carport, or parking lot.

If you have two EVs to charge but don’t have enough power for multiple electrical circuits, you are also able to connect two EV chargers to share power from one circuit while sufficiently charging your vehicles with ClipperCreek’s Share2 Enabled HCS-40 EVSE Bundle (the two chargers are sold together in a bundle for $1,648). There are also dual chargers available from ClipperCreek.

Connectivity & app

ClipperCreek home EV chargers aren’t connected and don’t have an app to manage and monitor charging. However, most EVs have apps where you can monitor and manage at home charging, but the capabilities will vary by make, model, and app.

Warranty

Most HCS series chargers come with a three-year limited equipment warranty. However, certain HCS models (HCS-40, HCS-60, and HCS-80) are available in ruggedized versions and have a longer five-year warranty.

Additional ClipperCreek features

ClipperCreek has a few add-ons, including:

• Wall Mount Retractor: this wall-mounted retractor helps with cable management. It’s an additional $549.

• Travel Bracket: if you want to be able to take your Level 2 HCS charger from home on the road, ClipperCreek offers a bracket for $24.95 that makes it so you can easily mount to it and remove it when you need to head to another location and take faster charging with you.

• ChargeGuard: if you’re installing your HCS charger outside in a high-traffic area, you can also add this on. It’s a simple key-based access control available for $86.

• Ruggedized version for installing outdoors: if your HCS EV charger will be outside, this ClipperCreek option features a version with a rubber over-molded SAE J1772 connector, 4X NEMA rating (which means it's better protected from water), and a five-year warranty. It’s available for a premium of $110.

• Dual-charging: The ClipperCreek HCS-D line offers a dual charger, so if you have two EVs at home, you can charge both at the same time (up to 31 miles of range per hour). Prices range from $1,484 - $1,704 for this line.

ClipperCreek offers various lines and models. The LCS home chargers cost between $379 and $515, and the HCS chargers cost between $622 and $1066. The costs vary depending on the power capacity and added features you select, with prices generally increasing as you add amperage (charging power/speed).

Keep in mind that you’ll also have EV charger installation costs, as you’ll want a trusted, licensed, and experienced electrician to ensure your charger is correctly installed. According to Qmerit, most standard EV home charger installations cost between $799 and $1,999. Additionally, depending on your home’s electrical panel, floor plan, and wiring, you may need additional wiring, so your costs may increase. You’ll also want to check for rebates and incentives available in your area to help offset the cost of installing a home EV charger.

ClipperCreek chargers are a great option for affordably charging your EV at home. However, the chargers lack some additional technological features, such as an app to manage charging and WiFi connectivity.

One of the nice things about driving an EV compared to gas-powered vehicles (outside of avoiding the rising gas prices!) is that you can plug your car in overnight to charge and usually wake up to a full – or nearly full – charge. That said, the speed of your EV charger is helpful to know and consider. The ClipperCreek EV home charger can provide up to 60+ miles of range per hour of charge on average, with up to 15.4 kW/ 64A output, depending on your specific EV’s make and model and the EV home charger's max power level.

Your ClipperCreek chargers can charge at different speeds depending on a few factors, including:

• Which model you select (12A - 64A)

• The home charger model you select is usually based on your home’s circuit breaker or service panel capacity: higher output capabilities generally means quicker charging.

• The specific make, model, and options of your EV: bigger batteries will take longer to charge, efficiency varies by EV, and different EVs have different onboard charging capabilities, which will impact the charging speed

• The age of your EV’s battery: over time, your battery will degrade slightly, and its discharge rate (battery capacity / number of hours it takes to charge) will decrease

As with any EV charger, you’ll want to get a licensed electrician to install your ClipperCreek charger and ensure any additional supporting electrical work is covered, such as adding wiring or upgrades to your electrical panel. While these can add to your cost, covering both the safety aspects and enabling long-term savings (compared to filling up a gas tank) will usually make driving and charging your EV at home financially beneficial.

That said, many ClipperCreek chargers are easy to install and don't require any pre-wiring kit or additional mounting hardware. Also, if you already have a NEMA 14-50 or the proper plug receptacle for your model, you can just mount your charger and plug it in.

If you are looking for a charger that can accommodate multiple types of EVs and charge two at the same time, ClipperCreek chargers are an affordable and well-suited choice. With its comprehensive warranty, long cable length, and multiple additional add ons and features, this charger is created for customers who want a reliable charging experience. However, the lack of a supporting application and WiFi connectivity is where ClipperCreek takes a backseat against some competitors.

There’s sometimes a misconception that home EV charging is expensive. However, it’s substantially less expensive in most areas than gasoline – especially if you’re using solar to power your charging. Your exact comparison depends on the cost of electricity in your area and the make and model of the EV you own (since various models have different ranges).

Going solar is one of the best long-term solutions to lower your home EV charging costs. You can use the EnergySage Marketplace to compare several quotes from pre-screened installers, helping you find a system that fits your needs at the right price. If you’re planning to charge an EV at home, add a note to your profile so installers can right size your solar system to sufficiently power your EV.