The Best Home EV Chargers for 2023, Tested by Experts

When putting together this story, the Gear Team went down the same path a new EV owner would, starting with installing a dedicated 240-volt outlet in the garage. They also hooked up a 40-amp circuit to the existing electric service without a pricey upgrade to run additional capacity. To be able to easily switch among the units, they ordered the NEMA 14-50 plug-in variant of each charging device.

The Gear Team used each charger on a Tesla Model 3 numerous times over a period of months. They then compared the electricity output from the wall to what the Model 3 reported made it into its battery pack, using the (very cool) TeslaFi software.

For this update, the Gear Team tested a few new units along with our favorites from before using a Rivian R1T, verifying the energy delivered to the vehicle an inline electrical meter.

What are the different types of EV chargers?

Not all home EV chargers are the same! Charging capability is categorized into three tiers, starting with Level 1 using 120-volt AC electricity. Level 2 charging uses 240-volt AC electricity. AC electricity is what your house is wired for, therefore Level 1 and 2 charging doesn’t require any special fitment to your home.

Level 3 charging, also known as DC fast-charging, is high-voltage (400 to 800 volts) DC charging that produces a much quicker rate of charge and is typically only available at public EV charging stations. DC fast-chargers are generally incompatible with home wiring and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to install.

What’s the difference between Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 charging?

The phrase “levels” generally refers to the rate at which each style of chargers. Level 1 is rudimentary and extremely slow, meaning it could take days to produce a full charge. Level 2 is the sweet spot for daily EV drivers, given that level 2 charging is attuned for at-home use and usually provides a full charge overnight. Level 3 is the fastest.

To be specific, the levels designate the voltage that is input into the EV. Level 1 means 120 volts, like a typical household outlet, with a typical charging rate of 1.4 kilowatts. Level 2 is 240 volts (think electric clothes dryer) and, depending on the amperage of the circuit, can range between 5.8 and 19.2 kW. Level 3 is DC fast-charging, operating between 400 or 800 volts, and the rates can be as high as 350 kW.

Are all home electric vehicle chargers the same?

Well, sort of. Technically, the chargers are really electric vehicle supply equipment, which supplies power to the charger inside the electric vehicle. A charger’s main function is to funnel the electricity in your house to your car, which makes the main function of each charger identical.

Differences arise in their output capability, however, expressed in either amps (e.g., 32, 40, 48 amps) or power (e.g., 7.7, 9.6, 11.5 kW). Higher output chargers allow for increased charging speed, while lower output chargers take more time. W

i-Fi connectivity is another big difference. Typically, Wi-Fi-enabled chargers allow charging to be monitored and controlled remotely, hence the name smart chargers.

These smart chargers can make a significant difference in cost analysis, due to the extensive data they produce. Of course, smart chargers are a luxury in the world of EV chargers, seeing as a non-smart charger will charge your EV just the same. However, it’s hard not to recommend a smart charge, because of their ease of use and cost-tracking potential.

What’s the difference between a vehicle’s on-board charger and an EV charger?

Again, the home EV chargers you see here aren’t really chargers but rather suppliers. The electric vehicle supply equipment, or EVSE, provides the vehicle’s onboard charger with AC electricity from your house.

Once the EV’s onboard charger has been provided with AC electricity, it converts it to DC energy to be stored in the battery. Even if the electrical output of your household is greater than that of the vehicle, you won’t be able to exceed the charge rate limited by the onboard charger.

Do I need to buy EV charging equipment?

It depends on your vehicle. Obviously, you need a device to connect the electricity from your house to your vehicle. That said, some EVs come with portable charging equipment that, in some cases, plugs into a 240-volt circuit and provides perfectly acceptable charging speeds. However, using the provided standalone cable and power is a slightly more laborious technique.

Are there tax breaks for electric car owners who buy a home charger?

Yes. The sweeping Inflation Reduction Act reinstated a federal tax credit of 30 percent of your total costs (capped at $1000). That includes money spent on electrical upgrades and wiring to your house, in addition to the charging unit itself. This credit is currently set to be in place through 2032. In addition, there are often additional state or regional incentives, so make sure to check what's available in your area.

How do I wire my house to charge an EV, and how much does it cost?

Having the right circuit is vital; a 40- or 50-amp circuit will be able to charge most EVs overnight. Depending on your setup, charging equipment will either connect via a plug or be hardwired into your home's electricity.

We suggest going with a NEMA 14-50 outlet; that way the charging equipment simply plugs into an outlet, similar to any other household device. Given the price of EV charging equipment, it’s important that owners can easily move and take the equipment with them. Other 240-volt needs can also be fulfilled by the charger, such as an electric heater or heavy power tools.

There’s one other important piece to the EV home charger puzzle: a dedicated electrical line. Starting at your breaker box and fed to the garage or exterior location you want to install the charging equipment, the electrical line will provide the constant power needed to keep the charger running.

Qmerit is a company that specializes in these installs and has a nationwide network of electrical contractors to do the work. The costs associated with this installation will depend on your household’s electrical capacity.

If you have the spare electrical capacity, the process is as easy as installing the new line and paying a few hundred dollars. If you’re lacking in power, you’ll be required to add additional electrical capacity, which can cost thousands of dollars.

Which plug type should I choose for my charging equipment?

Although several automakers have announced a switch from a J1772 connector to Tesla's North America Charging Standard (NACS) design in the 2025 time frame, whether you buy a J1772 or NACS unit today doesn't limit its future compatibility. There are adapters to go from NACS to J1772 or vice versa, and with the mixed ports both on the vehicles and the public-charging infrastructure, EV owners will need to get used to keeping adapters in their vehicles to be prepared for whichever plug type they encounter.

Can charging equipment be mounted outside?

Generally, yes. Each charging unit we tested has an outdoor-grade rating according to either the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) or Ingress Protection (IP) standards. A NEMA 3R rating, like the ChargePoint and Tesla Wall Connector have, is intended for outdoor use, but does not mean watertight; under certain circumstances, moisture could potentially enter the enclosure. The NEMA 4X rating of the JuiceBox 40 and Grizzl-E is superior. The IP ratings are two digits, the first representing the unit's resistance to solids (in this case dust) and the second number representing water protection. An IP66 rating means the unit is intended for outdoor use, with complete protection from dust or high-pressure water. But an IP67 goes one step further and can be immersed in water up to three feet deep.

Another thing to keep in mind with charging equipment mounted outside is that the electrical feed line to that location must also be in an outdoor-rated enclosure and, if you’re using a plug-type unit like we tested, that the outlet's enclosure must also be rated for outdoor use.

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