To be able to easily switch among the units, we ordered the NEMA 14-50 plug-in variant of each charging device. I was able to add a 40-amp circuit to the existing electric service in my house without a pricey upgrade to run additional capacity, so that's why I landed on a 40-amp outlet versus a 50-amp setup.
#JUICEBOX ELECTRIC CAR CHARGER DRIVER#
We of course have charging at the Car and Driver office, but I needed a proper setup at home to support all of the EVs we're reviewing these days. I went down the same path a new EV owner would when putting together this story, starting with installing a dedicated 240-volt outlet in my garage. The cover also has to be removed to reset the Wi-Fi connection, which we did at least a half-dozen times when trying to get ours to connect. But it can also be preordered to a specific setting to save that hassle. Like the other units, the Grizzl-E can adjust among various output levels, but it's most difficult to accomplish in the Grizzl-E, where rather than change it via the app, you have to take off the front cover and toggle DIP switches.
EVs are designed to be able to charge safely in rain, snow, or ice. It also had the thickest cables, making them the most resistant to hanging back on the included wall mount. Grizzl-E touts the ruggedness of its beefy aluminum enclosure, with videos on its website showing a small off-road vehicle running over it (which seems completely unnecessary for a thing that's mounted on a wall in your garage).
#JUICEBOX ELECTRIC CAR CHARGER UPDATE#
It appears that Grizzl-E has streamlined the connection process considerably since we first tried using this unit, and we were eventually able to get our unit a firmware update and get it connected to the ChargeLab app. Initially, Grizzl-E said its unit could work with either AmpUp or ChargeLab apps, but now it's only the latter. Unfortunately, it took months to get ours to connect. The promise of the Grizzl-E Smart is that it can theoretically pair with any EV charging app that uses the OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol) 1.6 and, at $539, it's one of the cheapest smart units. Finicky app integration, thickest cable is the hardest to manipulate, changing output or Wi-Fi connection requires removing the faceplate.In no particular order, here are the best of the rest: Tesla Wall Connector EV Charger The ChargePoint app has the most nuanced cost tracking, allowing us to select from among dozens of possible rate plans from our local utility to pinpoint the actual cost down to the penny. It also gives the ability to set charging times to take advantage of variable-cost electricity during off-peak hours (most EVs also allow this to be configured in their settings menu). You can see charge-rate graphs and the charge time and total energy output during each charge. But ChargePoint's vehicle database isn't as comprehensive or up-to-date as the one from Juice Box. Through the app, you can add your vehicle then the app tailors the percentage of the battery replenished and number of EPA miles added to your specific vehicle. Its Home Flex unit tested here integrates into the same app used to connect to the company's public units.
Output capability: 50/48/40/32/24/16 amps (12.0/11.5/9.6/7.7/5.8/3.8 kW)ĬhargePoint is one of the largest providers of public charging, with thousands of units nationwide.Most expensive in the test, vehicle database less extensive than JuiceBox's, lower output settings require hardwire installation.Many of these have different variants (hardwired or plug, different output capabilities, and varying cord lengths) with slightly different prices. The more expensive ones have Wi-Fi connectivity, which gives the ability to monitor charging, receive alerts, and control the unit via an app. We've gathered five charging options to connect your house to your electric car that range in price from $300 to $1000, all of which are compatible with any EV on sale today.
There are three major factors to consider: the output of the household circuit you're connecting to, the output of the EV charging equipment, and the rate of charging that your vehicle can handle. See all of amazon's early access deals for ev chargers This has two significant benefits: Charging can be accomplished when the vehicle is otherwise parked, and home charging is substantially cheaper (roughly one-third the cost) of DC fast-charging. Now what? There are a number of ways EV ownership will be different than that of a vehicle with an internal-combustion engine, but a big one you need to figure out immediately is charging.įirst, you want to be charging at home as much as possible. Okay, so you bought your first electric vehicle.
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