Charging Stations

Installing an EV Charging Station is not a DYI job so you will need a knowledgeable electrician and the right charging station.  Permits are required for EV Charging station installations and many municipalities require detailed drawings and load calculations.

First, however, we need to be familiar with some of the terminology. The unit installed on your garage wall is not actually a “charger,” although it is commonly called that. Modern electric cars actually have charging units built-in. 

​​​​​​​The unit on the wall is called “Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment” (EVSE).  If you’re looking to install something to charge your electric car in your garage, carport, or elsewhere, a “charging station” or EVSE is what you want.

Consider asking your electrician to install the appropriate wiring and  dedicated circuit that carries at least 50 amps. It will likely only cost slightly more but will save you significant money when you buy your next EV that can charge at a higher rate than today’s offerings.

Getting an EVSE with a plug means your electrician can install an outlet without having the actual charging station there at the time of installation. You will simply plug it in when it arrives. It also means that if the EVSE ever fails, or you want to upgrade to a more powerful station (within the limits of your wiring) you can swap them out yourself. The plug on the EVSE also serves as a “service disconnect”,  potentially eliminating the need for a local sub-panel installation or a separate disconnect box that may be required by code if your main circuit box is not within sight of the EVSE. The plug on the EVSE also allows you to quickly dismount it and take it to another location if you move or rearrange your garage.

Not all EVSEs labeled “40 amps” are the same. Some EVSEs are advertised that way because they are designed to be connected to a 40-amp breaker even though they actually only output 30 or 32 amps. Other units are advertised as 40-amp because they output 40 amps, which means that they actually need to go on a circuit with a 50-amp breaker.

Some charging stations are remarkably large and bulky. The Leviton unit, for example, is 24 inches tall and 16 inches wide. Some are quite heavy too. Most garages have room for this on a wall, but the unexpectedly large size has still caught some owners by surprise. If you are looking for something small, consider the JuiceBox which is only 10 inches high by 6 inches wide.

Many charging stations come with a 240-volt plug on them. Others are set up to be permanently hard-wired with either a “pigtail” (a wire with bare copper ends) or a “knock-out”  where a wire will run into the interior of a box or panel which is then connected to your power. Either approach works, but you should know the pros and cons of each before you Buy.

A hardwired charging station that fails will require an electrician to come out to remove the defective unit and possibly schedule a second visit to install the new one. The same scenario plays out for upgrading to a new unit. On the other hand, hardwiring can yield a cleaner installation. There is no junction box or plug to clutter things up or interfere with wrapping the cord around the EVSE after use. In the end, there is no right or wrong approach (unless your local code specifically requires hardwiring); it is a matter of personal choice.

All EVSEs listed below are either NEMA 3 or NEMA 4 rated for either indoor or outdoor installation. The difference is that NEMA 4 can be hosed down and is a little more weather resistant. For an outdoor installation, it is probably best to have your electrician install a holster to protect the J1772 connector at the end of the charging cable from the elements.  It may even be worth having a carpenter build a little roof over your outdoor charging station, just so that it gets some love (this could be your DYI part of the job!).

There are a lot of EVSE choices on the market –  almost too many; the good news is that they all seem to work well so no matter which brand you choose, you are unlikely to regret it.

Note:  Often the same manufacturer offers multiple units and variations. Where possible, we choose the charging stations with a 25-foot cable, a plug connection, and 30 amps or more of current. Many companies offer less-expensive 16-amp versions of their product, but buying one of these is slightly short-sighted. For only $100 more, you can get faster charging capacity and are future-proof hardware.

Pricing

Received wisdom says EVSEs are ridiculously expensive for what they do; this is likely true and as a result prices are trending downward. For the moment, the choices for a new electric-car owner come down to:

• Pay $400 to $800 for a good Level 2 EVSE,
• Stick with slower 120-volt overnight charging, or
• Find a lower-cost open-source EVSE option.

Including installation, the Level 2 charging station is likely to set you back somewhere around $1,000. We feel that this is well worth the investment in order to get the best use out of your electric vehicle. After reading hundreds of reviews and talking to many people about their EVSEs not a single person expressed regret for having spent the money.

Rebates, tax credits, incentives

The Federal government offers a 30-percent credit on your income taxes for the purchase and installation of an electric-car charging station at a personal residence, up to a maximum amount of $1,000. (There are separate rules for businesses.) As always, consult your tax professional about your specific situation. Still, this incentive might take some of the sting out of the cost of an EVSE. Some states and localities have offered various incentives to install EVSE, as well. Be sure to  check with a tax professional after you do your research.

Conclusion

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This review is long, so here’s some quick advice if you don’t want to spend too much time reading the details. If you don’t want to think too much about your choice of a charging station, get a ClipperCreek HCS-40. The reliability and the company’s customer support, both verified with long-time owners, make this unit our go-to choice. If you want a more fully-featured unit with internet connectivity and the ability to schedule your charging (to take advantage of overnight rates) the ChargePoint Home 25 is likely your best choice. If the price is your main consideration, the $399 GE DuraStation is going to be tough to beat—and despite its low price it is a reliable product that gets the job done.

Kenny D.​​​​​​​

Berkeley, CA