It's possible to recharge your EV or plug-in hybrid by simply using the supplied cable that came with the car and a nearby 120-volt outlet, the kind found in most North American homes and garages. But this method is very slow; every hour of charging will add only about 3 miles of range.

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For drivers who use their EVs daily, a 240-volt Level 2 wall charger'sometimes called electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE)'is practically a must. It increases charging speeds to 25 miles of range per hour or more depending on the vehicle and charger combination. We think it's also a worthwhile investment because charging at home is usually much cheaper than plugging in at public charging stations. And it's clearly more convenient.

Owners of plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) may not need a 240-volt charger because PHEVs can run on gasoline when they run out of charge. And our tests have found that many PHEVs can recharge fully overnight on a 120-volt outlet. But models with larger batteries, such as the BMW X5, take more than a day; 120-volt charge times for PHEVs can be found in the Ratings and Specs section for each model.

Make sure the charger you buy has a connector that fits your vehicle. Most non-Tesla EVs manufactured before have what's called a J connector, while Tesla vehicles come with a NACS connector, short for North American Charging Standard. Converters are available, although there are currently far more options to convert from a J cord to a vehicle with a NACS outlet than in the other direction. Starting thisyear, more non-Tesla vehicles will come standard with a NACS plug, so keep that in mind if you're planning to buy a new EV in the near future.

No matter which charger you buy, make sure it has a UL and/or ETL certification mark on the unit itself. This shows that it meets safety and quality standards. Be wary of brands you haven't heard of, and avoid those with low ratings from owners. If something goes wrong with a charger, it could damage your vehicle or even cause a fire.

With that said, most chargers are pretty reliable. Fewer than 3 percent of survey respondents told us they had problems with their home chargers. The most common were the inability to connect to an app and chargers that stopped charging before the vehicle battery was full.

When shopping for a home charger, consider the following factors, roughly in descending order of importance:

Amperage: We've used 40- and 50-amp chargers, but some homes can accommodate 80-amp chargers. Although they cost more, they can nearly double the speed at which some cars charge at home.

Cable length: The length of the charging cable affects where you can mount the EVSE and how easy it will be to reach the car's charging port. Remember that your next EV may have a charging port in a different location, and you'll want to be able to reach it. Most cables are between 20 and 25 feet long, and we recommend going for the longest you can afford, usually 25 feet.

Cable management: It's handy to have a hook to wrap the unused portion of the cable around. Otherwise, if the cable is scattered, it adds clutter in the garage, collects dust, and might cause someone to trip over it. The ability to place the holster for the connector away from the unit might add flexibility in a tight single-car garage. If your connector doesn't come with a hook, a wall-mounted holder for a garden hose will do the trick and can be found at any hardware store. 

Ease of plugging/unplugging: We like to see a high-quality, substantial coupler that lets you smoothly and effortlessly plug and unplug into and out of the car's port. A solid and secure holster is an advantage, and it gives you confidence that the coupler will stay secure. One is usually included with top brands. 

Location: Where you install your charger could determine how easy it is to plug in your car and how much the installation costs. If you have to dig a trench for wiring, even a few feet can add hundreds of dollars. Even indoors, you can save money by installing a charger closer to where electrical service already exists. Ideally, you'll want to install your charger so that a cable can easily reach the car's charge port whether it's on the front, rear, left, or right of the vehicle. Otherwise, you might have to drag the cable across the car's roof. Consult an electrician before getting your heart set on where a charger can go.

Size: Once you've determined where a charger should go, measure to see how much space you have. A wide wall charger or a thick one that sticks out far from the wall may encroach on space or your flexibility in placing it in the garage. Look at all placement options. For instance, a narrow unit might fit on the small strip of wall between two garage doors. 

Ability to delay charging via app: Many cars allow you to control the charging time from within the car or via an app, so you can benefit from cheaper off-peak electricity costs, depending on your utility company. If your car doesn't have this feature, consider a charger that does. Remember that this functionality may not work if the company that manufactured the charger discontinues support. (That's what happened when the company that made JuiceBox chargers left the U.S. Owners could still charge their cars, but they lost access to the JuiceBox app.

Weatherproofing (optional): For those without a garage, look for a charger that can stand up to inclement weather. Most are claimed to be weatherproof by manufacturers. If you plan to install yours outside, we recommend finding a charger with a NEMA rating of 3, which is a standard set by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association that defines how resistant a product is to environmental hazards. A NEMA 3 rating, which is common on most home chargers, means they're resistant to nearly all ambient temperatures in addition to the rain, sleet, and snow that the average U.S. consumer would face. The Grizzl-E has a NEMA 4 rating, which means it's even more watertight. Note that a charging cable can become brittle in extremely cold weather.

How Many Amps Do You Need?
The higher the amperage of a home charger, the faster the charge, but just how fast depends on the electrical system of your car and your home. First, you need to determine how much amperage your home's electrical system can handle. An electrician can help you figure that out. We recommend at least a 32-amp charger.

Then check to see what kind of charge your vehicle can accept, a spec that can be found on CR's vehicle model pages. For instance, a Hyundai Ioniq 5 has an 11 kW onboard charger, so it can benefit from a 48-amp charger. A Toyota bZ4X only has a 6.6 kW onboard charger, so it won't benefit from charging at higher than 30 amps. Several newer EVs are capable of charging at 60 to 80 amps. For applications above 48 amps, it's recommended that the EVSE is hardwired as opposed to plugged into an outlet like a clothes dryer. Don't be swayed by low-priced chargers that might charge less quickly. We recommend avoiding 16-amp chargers entirely. Onboard charger size and amperage information can be found in the Ratings and Specs section for the EV you're interested in.

Should You Hardwire or Plug In Your Charger?
It depends. A plug-in type benefits from portability. These chargers can be readily replaced as needed, and they're easy to take with you when you move or even when you're on vacation if you rent a home. But a plug-in charger may not be able to run at as high an amperage as a hardwired model, so it may charge a little bit slower. Some high-amperage chargers require hardwiring.

Should You Buy a Smart Charger?
Not necessarily. Most EVs, like those from Nissan shown below, allow you to view charging status and get notifications through the car manufacturer's app, and smart WiFi-connected chargers tend to cost more up front. But many utility companies offer rebates only on WiFi-connected models, which can cover the added expense. 

Do You Have Frequent Power Outages?
If you live in an area that has frequent power outages, charging might not resume once the power is back on, and you could be surprised to find out that your EV isn't sufficiently charged when you're ready to drive. Some chargers and vehicles require the user to manually restart the charging session after a power outage. In those situations, it may be helpful to get a smart charger that can send an alert to your if charging is interrupted, or buy an EV with a similar feature. If you have a generator for your home, consult an electrician to make sure it can handle charging an EV when the power is out.

kW: Kilowatt, or one thousand watts. This is the unit for electrical power. Multiply volts (240) by the amperage rating of your charger and divide by 1,000 to determine how many kW can be sent to your vehicle.

kWh: Kilowatt hour. A unit of energy that's stored inside a battery, expressing the battery's capacity. Think of a battery's kWh capacity as the equivalent of how many gallons of gas a tank can hold.

For more Type 2 Ev Charging Stationinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

Level 2 charger: A 240-volt charger that can be installed at home or in a public place. It adds 20 to 40 miles of charge per hour and can fully charge an EV's battery overnight. Public versions can be free or cost money depending on the location and provider.

NEMA: National Electrical Manufacturers Association. A trade group that sets standards for electrical products, such as types of plugs.

Type 1 connector: Also called J, this is a type of charger plug used on many American and European EVs and PHEVs that aren't made by Tesla.

NACS (North American Charging Standard) connector: Also called J, this is a combination AC/DC charging plug used on Tesla vehicles that's being introduced on EVs from other brands. Adapters exist to convert between NACS and CCS.

UL Listed: It's wise to pick an EVSE that's UL or ETL (Edison Testing Laboratories) listed, which indicates it complies with safety standards established by nationally recognized testing labs. Every charger featured here has such a safety rating, indicated by a seal on the box, the owner's manual, or the unit itself.

Voltage: A measure of the force that moves electrical current. At the same amperage, a 120-volt outlet moves electricity more slowly than a 240-volt outlet, so an EV will charge less quickly when plugged into a 120-volt outlet. That's why you have to install a special kind of outlet to plug in a Level 2 EV charger.

How to Choose an EV Charger That is Right for You

4 Min. Read

EV (electric vehicle) charging is increasingly becoming a daily part of life for many Americans, Canadians and drivers elsewhere around the globe. Understanding the basics of chargers will help ensure a smooth experience of owning and using an EV.

Understanding EV Charging

One advantage for EV owners is never having to purchase gasoline again. Instead, they rely on a seemingly unlimited supply of electricity to fuel up wherever a charging station is present. Most owners charge up their vehicle while they are asleep or at work. While more cost-effective and better environmentally than gasoline-powered vehicles, such advantages depend heavily on the EV charging equipment itself. Home charging accounts for approximately 80% of all charging done for non-commercial electric vehicles.

Let's look at charging solutions:

Level 1. Most manufacturers include a Level 1 EV charger with the purchase of a new car, which can be plugged into any standard 120-volt outlet. It takes a Level 1 approximately 20 hours to charge a car enough to go 124 miles and 43 hours to go 249 miles. For someone with a typical commute of 20 miles each way, using a Level 1 charger overnight may be adequate. However, most EV owners want to use their vehicle without range anxiety and downtime. So, they opt to purchase a stronger charger or use a public one and keep the Level 1 in the trunk for emergency use.

Level 2. These chargers are purchased separately from the EV but are up to 10 times faster than a Level 1. They require an experienced electrician or certified installer to set up. Level 2 chargers require a 240-volt outlet, such as the type required for an electric clothes dryer. Thus, you might have to upgrade your home's electric panels or circuits. As with many Level 2 chargers, it takes approximately five hours to charge enough to drive 124 miles. Level 2 chargers have a specific connector for 240-volt charging.

Level 3. These charge EVs quickly, juicing up a vehicle for a range of 100 miles in only a half-hour. There are things to be aware of regarding Level 3 chargers:

• Not all EVs can use a Level 3 charger. Knowing your vehicle's capability is important.
• They are fast when a vehicle's state-of-charge (SOC) is low. However, after a battery is at least 80% charged, a Level 3 charger slows down. So, topping off a car to be fully charged may make more sense with a Level 2.
• You pay for the expediency. A fast charge is more convenient, but also more costly.
• The connectors are not the same as the ones you use with a Level 1.

Charging in Public

Public charging allows EV users to travel longer distances than allowed by relaying on charging their EV at home. Public chargers can often be found near shopping centers, large parking lots and business parks. They will become increasingly available along highways as the EV charging infrastructure expands. Much like gas station chains emerged, there are companies, including ChargeHub, Electrify America and Electrify Canada, which have established networks of charger stations that can be located and paid for using smartphone applications.

Most stations have Level 2 chargers, but you can now locate Level 3 chargers using smartphone apps. Many apps indicate whether the charger is in use before you get there. Public EV charging costs vary greatly based upon equipment, as EV users pay more for the convenience or utilizing faster chargers.

Public charging assists EV owners who cannot rely on charging at home or work, but it does cost more. Studies have shown that it's approximately 30% less expensive in many areas to charge at home and pay for the electricity than paying at a public charge station.

Popular EV Charging Options for Residential Use

The number of charger types for home installation continues to grow along with the number of EV models. Different drivers, vehicles and installation locations present different charging needs.

Here are some popular current Level 2 choices for home use:

• The ChargePoint Home Flex is a compact, powerful option. It can give you 37 miles of range per hour at maximum amps, which may require electric panel upgrades. It features a connector holster that swivels and is back-lit, making it easy to use. It's WiFi connected and you can use the ChargePoint app to control it.
• The JuiceBox EV charger powers an EV nine times faster than a Level 1 charger. The J plug is compatible with all EVs, including Teslas. It can be installed indoors or outdoors and is designed for all weather conditions. Its 25 feet of cable gives users more freedom than some other options.
• Wallbox offers its Pulsar Plus 40A It can power up to 40 amps, and the unit works with all EVs. It can be controlled, including scheduled charging, using Alexa and Google Home commands, as well as the myWallbox app. Water resistant, it can also be installed outdoors.
• The sleek, modern-looking EVoCharge comes with an adjustable outlet that works at three different amperages.
• The Grizzl-E Charger is also for indoor/outdoor use. The unit provides up to 10 kilowatts of power and can be adjusted for four levels of Amp output. Made in Canada, it's designed to withstand harsh weather conditions. Its 24-foot cable remains flexible on freezing cold days.

Getting Expert Advice and Installation Help

With so many EV charging options available, it can be difficult to determine the right Level 2 charger to purchase for home installation. Auto manufacturers can make recommendations, but turning to a third-party who can independently evaluate your needs, the type of car and your residential situation is invaluable.

About Qmerit

Qmerit is the trusted EV charging installation partner recommended by automakers. Rated #1 in customer satisfaction, we've installed over 269,000 charging stations across North America!

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Portable Ev Charger. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.