According to data published by Statista in January 2024, the EV adoption rate rose from 0.4% to 15.8% between 2014 and 2023. Thus, more people are rushing to find the best EV charger for home charging solutions.
In today’s guide, ChargeEco provides information on selecting the best EV charger for your home, including how it works, types of chargers, factors to consider when choosing a charger, cost, and installation tips.
Before installing any home EV charger, the following are the necessary steps one should take into consideration :
- Site visits from industry experts are required to determine whether your house and its electric infrastructure are suitable enough for installation.
- After the site visit, the experts estimated all necessary equipment and workforce.
- After site visits and estimation, the experts select a final charger based on charging speed, compatibility, location, and portability.
- The installation process can be started after these steps.
How EV Charging Works?
It is so essential to understand the functioning of EV charging before selecting any EV home charger because it affects efficiency, charging speed, compatibility, and Cost. When any charger plug is connected to the EV one end is a circuit and another end is a plug of the EV.
Electric Power flows through the cable and charges the EV via an onboard charger. In addition, AC is converted into DC by the onboard charger After full charging your vehicle is ready to drive.
Different Types of Home EV Chargers
To select the best EV charger for home understanding of different types of EV chargers is also necessary.
EV Chargers
To charge electric vehicles there are multiple types of EV chargers. Each charger is used according to the need, capacity, and budget. In other words, to select the best home EV charger it is essential to know what are the specifications, pros and cons, and use of these chargers.
Three types of chargers are mainly used in the EV space- Level 1, level 2, and level 3 or DC fast chargers.
Level 1 Charger at Home
Level 1 charger is the most basic charger for charging an electric vehicle. It has three pins which are inserted into a standard 120 Volt home outlet. Following are the advantages, and disadvantages of the Level 1 charger.
Pros of Level 1 Charger
- Easy to use
- No extra equipment is required for installation or proves economical.
- Easy to carry anywhere.
- Compatible with almost all EVs.
- Most suitable for less commute individuals.
Cons of Level 1 Charger
- It adds only 3-5 miles of charging per hour due to its slow charging speed.
- Sometimes it takes 20 hours to charge the EV but it depends on the EV battery size.
- Not suitable for people who commute a long distance frequently.
- Slow charging surges the electricity costs.
Level 2 Charger at Home
Level 2 charger is the medium capacity charger for charging an electric vehicle. It has three pins which are inserted into a standard 240 Volt outlet. Following are the pros, and cons of the Level 2 charger.
Pros of Level 2 Charger
- It is faster than level 1 and it chargers the full EV in 4-8 hours.
- It is widely used in parking spaces, supermarkets, and other open areas.
- Easy to access from residential, commercial, and public charging places.
- Compatible with almost all EVs.
- Comes with wifi connectivity, smart charging, and advanced energy features.
Cons of Level 2 Charger
- High installation cost due to expensive electric infrastructure systems makes it less feasible for home use.
- It is bulkier than level 1 that’s why not portable like the level 1 charger.
- Some Locations do not have the accessibility of level 2 chargers.
DC Fast Charger at Home
DC fast chargers to level 3 chargers the advanced chargers which do not use the J-Plug Chargers and bypass the onboarding charger. To be more precise, it charges the battery by directly supplying the direct current.
It uses a high-electric capacity near about 500 KW. Following are the pros, and cons of the Level 3 charger.
Pros of DC Fast Charger
- It charges the battery with ultra-fast charging and full EV charges in 45-60 min.
- It is more convenient for long-distance travel.
- It is designed for high-capacity Electric vehicle batteries.
- It boosts the EV adoption with rapid charging.
Cons of DC Fast Charger
- Expensive installation and operating cost which makes it less feasible for home use.
- Due to Higher energy demand and more carbon emissions, electricity I derived from non-renewable energy sources.
- DC Charger has compatibility issues with various models of EVs.
Top 7 Factors To Select The Best EV Charger for Home
Now you are well aware of the types of electric chargers so, the following are the major determinants to selecting the EV home charger:-
Charging Speed
When choosing an EV home charger Charging speed is one of the major factors taken into consideration. All chargers have different speeds and efficiency. A faster charger is more helpful in cases:
- You have often traveled from one place to another place.
- Often go for long travel distances.
- Having a stipulated time frame to charge an electric vehicle.
Connectors Compatibility
Another important aspect of selecting the best EV charger for your home is whether your Electric car connectors are fully compatible with your EV connectors types or not.
- J-Plug is the most suitable connector which is fully compatible with all vehicles mostly.
- In the case of the Tesla connector, an extra adapter is required.
Amperage Compatibility
At the time of selecting the EV home charger compatibility is also considered with your home charging infrastructure and your vehicle also. Amperage compatibility is required because it tells us how fast the charger can charge any electric battery.
- In-home charger compatibility you have to ensure that your electric infrastructure can be up to the mark according to the amperage rating of the charger.
- If you do not possess information about the electric AMPS capacity of your charging points then contact the certified electricians
- Apart from this, also consider your vehicle amperage to match your charger amperage.
Location for Charging
Another important factor in selecting the best EV charger for the home is the location for charging. However, people mostly charge their cars in their parking spaces, garages, and other possible places.
Hence, while considering the charging location following factors are also necessary:
- Calculate the charging length of cables that possibly reach the car.
- Apart from this waterproof cover for the charger is also required.
- Distance from the panel and charging port location is also considered.
Fixed vs Portable Chargers
Fixed or wall-mounted and portable chargers are also in factor of consideration at the time of selecting the best EV charger for the home.
- A fixed charger is a charger that is fixed or permanent in the walls. This is a common type of charger available in the market.
- These are available in various power levels, on the other hand, the minimum power level is 7KW and it can charge the Tesla with a 60KW/h battery in 7-8 hours.
- Portable chargers are that charger which is mostly suitable for charging the EV when you have to shift your house from one place to another place.
Smart Features
Another determining factor before buying the best EV charger for a home is smart features.
- Wi/Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.
- Automatically shut off at the time of huge power supply.
- Loading balancing could be prevented by the smart features if multiple devices are used at the same time.
Cost and Rebates
Moreover, the most inevitable expense is how much cost is involved in setting up these chargers whether upfront, electricity bills, and much more. In addition to it, rebates also play a pivotal role in selecting your EV home charger.
- If we talk about the upfront expenses then any home chargers might cost up to a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars depending upon which brand and capacity of charger you are buying.
- Electricity cost also matters a lot when choosing any home charger because it is directly linked to costs or chargers that have the option of scheduling their prices are also high.
These are the top factors that should be considered while selecting an EV home charger. However, by adopting the best charger and best practices one could also maximize their EV’s battery lifespan.
Bottom Line
In the end to select the best EV charger for the home, how electric chargers work, what types of chargers they are, and factors like charging speed, connectors compatibility, amperage compatibility, location for charging, fixed vs portable chargers, smart features, costs and rebates have taken into consideration.
FAQ
Why do you need a home charger?
The requirement for an EV home charger is because of the convenience of charging 24*7 and at cheaper rates than public charging stations and reliability from malfunctioning chargers.
What is the cost to install an EV home charger?
The ballpark number for a level 2 charger is $300 to $1500 depending on brand and features and installation cost includes $500 to $200 depending upon electrical sophistication.
Can you get a rebate or incentive for installing an EV home charger?
You can get nearly about 30% tax credit from the Federal Tax credit and many utility companies also offer rebates.
