What Is the Best Home EV Charging Station?

When it comes to deciding which is the best home EV charging station for your family, having options can feel a little overwhelming. Do I have the correct electrical connection? How much faster will a Level 2 charging station be vs. Level 1? What do I need if I want to connect it to my electrical utility company? Can I connect it to my home WiFi? Should I invest in a Wi-Fi enabled smart charger? Can I control it through an app? Here are a few things you should consider when you’re choosing the best Level 2 EV charging station for your home.

What Amperage Is Right for Me?

Many different factors can play into what amperage is ideal for a specific installation. The main impacts are whether your home’s electrical panel can handle the amperage you want and if your vehicle is able to accept the amperage.

Ideally, choosing a charging station like the EvoCharge Home 50, which has adjustable amperage, allows you to easily select the amperage that works for your situation while also allowing you to adjust it in the future as needed. It is a truly future-proof home charging solution. 
Our EV charge time tool is a quick way to see what amperage level will work best for your vehicle.

Hardwire vs. Plug-In

Options available with plugins are convenient if you have an available outlet in your garage. However, if you want to have the option for faster charging above 40A (9.6kw), then you must have the charger hardwired. This is per the National Electric Code. 

Hardwired installations also provide a more reliable and safer installation for high-amperage, continuous-use electrical products. Many homeowners opt for hardwired installation, which a certified electrician can help with.

Do I Need to Connect to My Utility Provider?

Depending on your local utility provider’s rebates and incentives program, you may want or need to connect to your utility company to get discounts or rebates. See if rebates are available in your area by checking our tax and rebates resource.

Utility companies also offer discounts for utilizing electricity by time of day. This varies by utility programs around the country. You can enter your utility company’s rates in the EVO mobile app and schedule charge times to be during off-peak hours to maximize your savings.

Do I Need a Smart EV Charging Station?

For home use, having a smart charger isn’t necessary but they are often the best investment. This is because smart home EV chargers provide value-added benefits. The Home 50 is designed to be easily managed through our mobile app or desktop portal. This ability allows you to monitor charging sessions, estimate utility costs, view charging history, schedule charging, provide access to additional users and much more. With smart devices you get more control at your fingertips.

How Can I Improve My Charging Area Experience?

Beyond the convenience of having a smart charging station, where you install it at your home and how you intend to use it makes a difference. You may plan to install the charger inside a garage  or outside your home. 

If you live in a cold climate and charge outside, you’ll want to have a robust, durable station with a certified NEMA-4 rating. This means the charger has a weatherproof enclosure protecting the device from dirt, sleet, snow, windblown dust, splashing water, external ice and more. Having a charger that can withstand the elements outside, including a flexible cable in cold temperatures, will improve your day-to-day charging routine. 

Where you mount and store that cable is also important. Using a remote holster next to your charger provides a convenient way to wrap the cable for storage and dock the charging handle when not in use. This keeps the charging area clean, gets your cable off the ground and it reduces damage. Overall, how you experience using the charging station is just as important as the durability of the charger itself.