Best EV Chargers

So unlike fuel-powered cars, electric vehicles are not taken to a gas station for refueling. Instead, electric vehicles need to be plug into a charging station. Charging stations can be located at your home, the mall, and other convenience stores. Although rising in popularity, charging stations are not yet very accessible compared to gas stations. If you own an electric vehicle you need to have your home charging station. And because charging electric vehicles take a lot of time it is better done at home.

The term charging station is a bit misleading though. Because the charger itself is in the car and what we call EV chargers are just connectors that provide a safe flow of your electricity.

The proper name for EV chargers or charging stations is Electric vehicle supply equipment, EVSE.

Most websites just refer to them as EV chargers and we will be using the same terms in our article.

Europe vs USA differences

Our article is best suited for EV owners’ in America and Canada.

Europe has a different power supply and the 120V used in America isn’t found there.

There is no Level 1 charging in Europe and EV supply equipment there is different from that of cars used in North America.

If you live in Europe some of the charging stations we recommend may be able to work there. The more universal ones allow you to use separator adaptors to match your power supply.

Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3

Electric vehicle supply equipment is of three charging levels.

Level 1 is what you get in our brand new EV and will give you about 3 to 5 miles per hour of charging

They have 110V adaptors and take the longest time to charge your EV compared to Level 2 and 3.

Level 2 EV Charging stations are the most popular electric vehicle chargers. They give a range of 15 to 60 miles per hour depending on amperage and battery health.

A brand new EV won’t have a Level 2 charger and you have to purchase one separately.

Level 3 EV charging stations are what you find at your gas station equivalent to EVs. These are very high amperage ports that will charge your EV in 10 to 30 minutes for a full charge. Level 3 charging stations are not yet very prevalent and it is unlikely that you even live near one now.

The best option is to have a home and portable Level 2 EV charging station.

Top 8 Best EV Chargers of 2021

1.Siemens US2 VersiCharge Universal (VC30GRYU)

Siemens US2 VersiCharge Universal (VC30GRYU)

Siemens is a powerhouse in consumer and other electronics markets. And their reputation precedes them with the Siemens US2.

This charger is a level 2 fast-charging system that easy and quick to install in the comfort of your home. With an impressive power rating of 30 Amps and 240V, this level 2 charger is four times faster than level 1, 120V chargers. You will be getting about 15 to 60 miles per hour of charge with the Siemens US2, whereas a level 1 charge would only give you 2 to 5 miles per hour of charge.

The Versicharge electric vehicle supply equipment is available in two configurations. You can get the indoor-only VC30GRYHW or the universal indoor and outdoor VC30GRYU. Obviously, the universal unit is more versatile and most recommended for out longer journeys.

You can easily fit this Siemens charger into your 240V home wall outlet as its connectors are compatible with the American home electricity output.

Depending on your particular EV, most will be fully charged in about 3 to 5 hours. For convenience, you can delay the time of charge by 2 to 8 hours since the unit charges very quickly.

Because a charging station may not be indoors being able to quickly read the status of the charge without having to come close is a plus. Versicharge has a large display LED Halo that is visible even from a distance so that you can get the reading in a quick glance.

Cables lying all over can be a nuisance as you try to get in your car. With a clean cord management approach, this charger comes with cords that are very easy to handle and won’t get in your way.

If you want to make a permanent fixed charging station you can use the mounting brackets to fix the unit to your wall for a faster start to charging. You can install the charger in your home garage, carport, or parking pad. For hardwire indoor only use we recommend you get the cheaper VC30GRYHW. Even though the universal one can be permanently fixed at home, it’s too limiting to use it indoors only unless you have another portable charger you can carry with you.

This unit is compatible with all-electric vehicles that follow the SAE J1772 international standard which is pretty much every major EV manufacturer.

The Versicharge is one of the best EV chargers for use both indoors and outdoors. It’s an excellent choice if you have more than one type of EV too as it works on most models.

Pros

2.Siemens US2:VC30GRYHW VersiCharge Hard-Wired (VC30GRYHW)

Siemens US2:VC30GRYHW VersiCharge Hard-Wired (VC30GRYHW)

Just like the predecessor, Siemens Versicharge hardwired is a top-quality charging station. It is a very fast Level 2 charger that comes with plug and play quick installation to get you ready in no time.

It is universally compatible with cars that use the J1772 international standard and will charge Tesla vehicles if you have the Tesla’s charging adapter.

The unit offers quick charging with a power rating of 30 Amps and 240V. This makes it four times faster than level 1, 120V chargers that will need as much as 20 hours for a full charge. With the Hardwired charger, you should get a full charge in just 3.5 hours depending on your particular car model.

Even if you live in very cold places where the temperature is below freezing this charger is designed for all-weather types. It will charge your car without any hustles from temperatures as low as -30 degrees Celsius to a warm 50 degrees Celsius.

The pack includes a convenient mounting bracket that so you can permanently fit this charger in your garage or parking pad making your charge station. The connector cables are 14ft long and allow enough mobility and flexibility when charging your EV. If you have no experience fitting EV charging stations with a mounting bracket you may need to call an electrician for a safe installation.

This charger is specifically designed for hardwiring to your home electricity grid and it’s an excellent choice if use your car for short-range daily drives.

It has a Pause charge function that you can press before pulling out the charger directly. Like that you can stop the charging at any time if you need to rush off. Never pull out the cord in a hurry without first pressing the pause button.

You can use the hour delay functions to set the time you want to start charging your EV. This a good time management tool so you don’t miss any opportunities to power up your EV. For maximum efficiency, you should be looking to maintain a humidity of 95% in your garage or parking pad.

Built-in the heart of California, the Siemens Versicharge comes with an unbelievable 3-year warranty for indoor use, giving you a worry-free experience.

All Siemens EV chargers feature a very easy to LED Halo display so you can take a reading without having to go very close to your charging station.

Pros

• Quick charge 3 to 4 hours only for a full charge
• Easy to install

3.PRIMECOM 30 Feet Level 2 (220V/240V) Electric Vehicle (EV) Charger 32 & 40 Amp 6-50P, 10-50P, 14-50P

PRIMECOM 30 Feet Level 2

The Primecom charging station is one of the most powerful EV chargers on the market. It is a level 2 charger with a power rating of 220/240V, 32, and 40 Amps.

The charging station can be installed anywhere in the world with its 100 to 240V range, so no matter the type of electricity wired to your home you can still use this device. It will charge your EV six times faster than the standard level 1, 110V charger that comes with your car.

This charger is also portable and great to have on the go for long-distance journeys.

If you use the 32 Amp model it will power your battery at 7.2 kw/h or 26 miles per hour of charge. The 40 Amp is the more powerful option and charges at 9.6 kW per hour for the equivalent of 33 miles per hour.

The display screen will keep you informed of all the important stats you need. The results are real-time and keep track of your charging amperage and actual charging voltage so that you can easily tell if there is anything out of range or possible malfunction. It will also display the total kilowatts consumed which you can use to see battery efficacy if you compare with the range that you get. There is also a dedicated temperature sensor and display for safety purposes.

Primecom Level 2 charger is a very safe and super secure EV charging station. It has passed strict German manufacturing standards and safety certifications. It has a lot of built-in safety features designed to give you a safe and comfortable consumer-friendly EV charger. Some of the safety features include lightning proof casing so that you can even charge your EV when it’s raining.

Lithium batteries are particularly sensitive to overvoltage and overcurrent situations. The lifespan is significantly reduced by overcharging and may even lead to a deadly explosion. Primecom has industry-leading overcharge and over current protection that cuts off further charge when the battery is fully charged.

And in the case of overheating, the leading cause of battery accidents, this charger lets users easily check the current temperature and will automatically cut when the temperature exceeds 60 degrees Celsius in most cases.

The cord is also flame resistant and its waterproof rating allows for use in any kind of weather.

It is an excellent choice for outdoor EV charging stations compatible with all leading brands.

Pros

• Works both outdoors and indoors

Cons

• It needs an adapter to be used on a tesla.

4. PRIMECOM Level 2 EV Charger 220/240V, 16A, 30ft & 50ft,

PRIMECOM Level 2 EV Charger

The PRIMECOM 16A is the more affordable of Primecom chargers. It has a lower power rating of 16 A compared to the 32 and 40 models.

It’s an excellent home EV Charging station for those for a reliable budget option. It will charge your EV four times faster than the Level 1 charger that came with your car.

This charger is compatible with all the leading EV brands on the market and uses the international standard J1772 connectors for EV supply equipment.

The model can also charge PHEVs and most hybrid cars. The charger delivers power to your battery at a rate of 3.84kw/hour so your car gets around 12 miles of range per hour of charge.

An overnight charge will deliver a full charge ready to get you going when you wake up.

All Primecom chargers are waterproof so you can use them outdoors. If you want a truly affordable high-quality portable EV charging station then this 16A is your best bet.

This unit boasts an intelligent chip exclusive chip design. The company has gone to write and design chips in the USA specifically designed for EV charging optimization. These chips allow for faster and coordinate communication between the car, car battery, and charging station.

The chip delivers the charge according to battery condition and your time constraints. Lithium-ion batteries need a very carefully controlled charging system as they are easily damaged by overcharging. The battery temperature needs to be regulated as well and this chip ensures no overheating occurs.

If you are into portable chargers cord length is important as you don’t know how your next charging station maybe. You need a cord that long enough to reach your car even in the most congested parking pad. This model has super long 40 and 50 feet for you to choose from.

This charger comes with many safety features. Among others, it has to overheat protection. All chargers heat up they are charging, it’s inevitable so you need to stop overheating as it leads to battery explosions. The unit also features impressive overvoltage and current protection.

And lastly, this model features a large display easy to read LED for battery and charge status indication.

Pros

• Portable
• Cheaper to buy than other models

Cons

• Affordable but not the fastest level 2 EV charger

5. Accell AxFAST Dual-voltage Portable EVSE

Title

The Accel Ax is a portable Level 2 charger. It has a dual voltage rating of 120 and 240 V depending on your electricity type.

This charger is compatible with use on several car types as it uses the international standard for EVSE connectors the J1772 standard.it will work perfectly for Hyundai I qoniq , Kona VW e-Golf ,Kia Soul, and Nira Honda among others. Tesla owners will need an adapter to charge their vehicles.

If you have a 240V NEMA6-20 outlet in your house then you can connect it directly but if you have a 120Vnema5-15 you need to use the supplied adapted to connect to power.

The charging gun of this device is made of super impact-resistant thermoplastic. It is very tough and extremely waterproof. You install it permanently outdoors if it suits you without worry about environmental corrosion factors.

The charger has 24.6 ft long connectors enough to allow mobility in congested spots.

Even though most people use it as a Level 2 charger you can also use this charger as a Level 1 charger if you couple it with a 120V adapter.

General this charger is up to 3 times faster than Level 1 when operated at Level 2 240v 3.84 KWH.

This EV charging station is very easy to handle and employs an easy to use latch the unlocks on gentle pressing. The size of the handle will fit all hand sizes and provides a firm comfortable grip. And while you are charging your EV a secure latch locks the connector firmly in your port.

Pros

• Very affordable EV charger
• Can be used for both level1 and level 2 charging

Cons

• Need separator adapter for Level 1

Wrapping it Up

EV car batteries are very expensive to replace and cost as much as $10000 for Tesla. You need to be very careful with charging and only use reliable brands. The brands we have listed are the best in the industry for EV supply equipment, which is more commonly known as EV charging stations.

Each of the models we list has its advantages and may work depending on your situation.

FAQs

I have a tesla will these chargers work?

If you have a Tesla you can still use most of the chargers here. Telsa cars come with an adapter you can use for other types of EV chargers other than Telsa. You have to connect this adapted to your third party EV charging station for you to be able to charger your tesla.

Check your trunk; the adaptor must be there if you have not removed it.

How long will my battery take to fully charge?

Most Level chargers will take 3 to 5 hours for a full charge but that will vary depending on your EV charging station and battery capacity. Generally the more current your EV provides the faster is will charge your car.

Can I bury my EV charging cord underground for outdoors charging?

Yes you can. If you use am outdoors charging station it may make sense for you to bury your cord underground to prevent tripping accidents. Most EV charges are waterproof and will function just as well in the ground.