When you open the “frunk” of your new electric car, you will find a perfectly coiled Level 1 charger at the ready to fuel your car. The only problem? Level 1 chargers can take well over 24 hours to fully charge your EV.
The solution to faster charging is simple: upgrade your home charging setup with the much faster Level 2 charger. A Level 2 charger displaces 7.5-11.5 8-9 kW, which is up to 11 times faster than a Level 1 Charger.
Need some help finding the right Level 2 charger for your EV? We did some digging to find your 6 best options at an affordable price. Keep in mind that Level 2 chargers require an electrician to install so get a consultation before making a final purchase.
The 6 Best Level 2 EV Chargers Under $700
| Level 2 Charger | Our Top Pick For… | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Tesla Wall Charger Gen 3 | Tesla Charging | $425 |
| Lectron V-Box 40 | Best Value Charging | $449 |
| EvoCharge EVSE Level 2 | Customoziable Charging | $568 |
| WallBox Pulsar Plus 40A | Smart Charging | $649 |
| Clipper Creek HCS-40P | Outdoor Charging | $648 |
| Vevor Level 2 | Supplemental Portable Charging | $185 |
How We Chose the Best Level 2 EV Chargers
When making an expensive and important purchase of any appliance you’re going to use daily, price is an important factor—but not the only factor.
I mean, let’s be honest. You wouldn’t buy a refrigerator just because it’s the cheapest… especially if it didn’t fit a gallon of milk. Like your refrigerator, you may also want to consider these other features before purchasing your Level 2 EV Charger.
- Price: We considered the lowest possible cost of each charger (not including shipping.)
- Amps: How many Amps will each charger draw from your electrical system? This is important to ensure your home’s electrical system can handle the capacity.
- Kilowatt (kW) and Charge Time: For comparison purposes, we estimated the time to charge the 2022 Kia Niro with a 64 kWh battery to 50% or 120-mile range.
- Charge Cord Length: The length of the cord from the charger to the vehicle and if the cord comes with a loom or holder.
- Plug Holster: The mount to hold the EV Charge connector when not in use.
- Smart: Some chargers can be set to a charging schedule to allow it to charge during specific times and it be controlled with an APP or Alexa.
- Weatherproof: NEMA rated or certified weatherproof for outdoor charging
- Lockable: Can your charger be locked or restricted to ensure it is not used without permission?
- Plug: In the US, other than Tesla, the J1772 is the standard. Tesla owners can purchase a J1772 adapter to charge their Tesla using any Level 2 charger.
Now that you know our main considerations, read on for a full analysis of each charger:
1. Tesla Gen 3 Wall Connector [Best For Tesla]
Price: $400 Tesla
Time to 50% Charge (Kia Niro): 3.0 hours
Outdoor Capabilities: Good
With Tesla being the global leader in EVs, there is little doubt that they would have one of the best charges available. The Tesla Gen 3 Wall Connector is rated at 48 amps, one of the highest, and therefore also has the greatest charge rate of any of the Level 2 EV chargers on our list.
The amp draw from the charger can be adjusted in increments of 1 to accommodate nearly any home’s electrical panel. To achieve the fastest charge you will need to have the Tesla Wall Charger hardwired into your home. Fortunately, unlike other chargers, the charger can be removed, repaired, or replaced without requiring an electrician to remove it.
The Tesla Wall Charger’s app will also allow users to customize the charger for charging EVs other than Teslas, restrict access, and allow load sharing if you are using two Gen 3 Wall Chargers at the same time.
The Tesla Wall Charge is also listed for $400 on Tesla’s website while it is selling for $550 on Amazon. There are a large number of negative reviews on Amazon regarding resellers selling open-boxed units as new units. While many reviewers commented that Tesla’s site had the chargers on backorder, it may be best to wait and order from Tesla to ensure you are getting a new unit.
PROS
- Fast charging with 11.5 kW
- Restricted access
- 24-foot cord
- App controlled
- Multi-car compatible “Load Sharing”
- Don’t need an electrician to replace the charger
Cons
- Only NEMA 3 rated
- No scheduled charge capability
- Not Alexa-controlled
- Can only load share with other Tesla Gen 3 Wall Chargers
- No separate holster
- Must use an adapter to charge non-Tesla EVs
2. Lectron V-Box [Best Value]
Price: $480 Amazon
Time to 50% Charge (Kia Niro): 3.7 hours
Outdoor Capabilities: Good
If you’re looking for the best Level 2 EV Charger under $500, you have found it. The Lectron V-Box offers everything you need to start charging your electric car. What we like best about this charger is that it can achieve 9.2 kW allowing you to charge your EV up to 9 times faster than a Level 1 Charger.
Unlike some of the other chargers, where you have to decipher the flashing colored lights, the Lectron V-Box has an easy-to-read LED display that gives you confidence that your charger is operating correctly.
The downside to the V-Box is the lack of “Smart Features”, like an app, Wi-Fi, and the ability to schedule your charge times.
PROS
- Adjustable amperage
- Cost
- LED display
- Separate holster
- 9.2 KW maximum
- Fast charging
CONS
- Not lockable
- No app or Wi-Fi
3. EvoCharge EVSE [Best Customizable Charger]
Price: $568 Amazon
Time to 50% Charge (Kia Niro): 4.4 hours
Outdoor Capabilities: Very good
If you’re looking for a home Level 2 EV charger that can offer customizable features, then look no further than the EvoCharge EVSE. When you order this small wall-mounted charger you can select from a sizable list of options and upgrades.
Picking the options when ordering the EvoCharge EVSE is like ordering a new Mac. The website will ask you to customize your EV charger with upgrades like Wi-Fi, cord management (reel, retractor, or separate holster), cord length, and app. Just be careful these options add up quickly and you can easily spend over $700.
A common complaint from users is the short receptacle cord that runs between the EvoCharge EVSA and the wall installation point. Many users found it frustrating that they had to pay to move the location of the outlet to accommodate the charger. It is also a disappointment that the app and scheduled charging aren’t included with the basic package. Including this may have made it our Best Choice Overall!
PROS
- Optional longer cords, app, and cord management
- Adjustable amperage 16-32
- NEMA 4 weather resistant
CONS
- 32KW maximum charge
- Short receptacle cord
- App (optional)
- Scheduled charging (optional)
4. Wallbox Pulse Plus [Best Smart Charger]
Price: $649 on Wallbox website
Time to 50% Charge (Kia Niro): 3.5 hours
Outdoor Capabilities: Very good
The WallBox Pulse Plus is one of our favorites. It is amazing to us that WallBox fit so many features in this small discrete design. These features include Google Assistant, Alexa, scheduled charging, and 9.6 kW of maximum charging.
The Wallbox is also NEMA 4 weather rated and it’s lockable, so you can feel comfortable mounting it outside. The 25-foot-long cable is also ideal for charging in the driveway or having multiple EVs. Additionally, the Wallbox can load share with another Wallbox if you decide you would like to have two electric cars charging at once.
The negatives are, once again, a short receptacle cord, and no information screen on the charger to tell you if it is operating correctly. The user must use the included app to get current charging data. Reviews state that when the app is updated it cancels the current charging schedule and has left some users unsuspectedly uncharged.
The biggest concern is the multiple reviews stating that the Wi-Fi is difficult to connect or that it frequently loses its connection. Even the 5-Star reviews on Amazon note this complaint. Some even stated that customer service told them that they needed to place the wireless router next to the charger. This seems like a hardware issue that Wallbox could fix in future models.
While these concerns are very real, the overall consensus is that the Pulse Plus by Wallbox is an outstanding Smart EV charger and it’s worth the extra money for the additional features.
PROS
- Load sharing
- 25-foot cable
- Smart app
- Scheduled charging
- Fast charge
- Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
- Alexa and Google Assistant
- NEMA 4 weatherproof
- Separate holster
CONS
- Finicky Wi-Fi
- Updates cause the schedule to reset
- Short receptacle cord
- No screen on the charger
5. ClipperCreek HCS-40P [Best Outdoor Charger]
Price: $648 Amazon
Time to 50% Charge (Kia Niro): 4.4 hours
Outdoor Capabilities: Very good
Simple, reliable, and made in America. This is how I’d describe the HSE-40P by ClipperCreek. ClipperCreek is well known for its commercial chargers, and the HSE-40P is a home version of a commercial-grade charger.
If you are looking for a Level 2 EV charger that will survive harsh outdoor weather conditions, then you may have found your winner. The case of the HSE-40P is NEMA 4 weather rated, with a 25-foot cord, built-in cord reel, and a separate holster. It will also give you confidence with its UL, Energy Star, ELT, and cELT certifications.
You don’t get the extra frills with the HSE-40P by ClipperCreek. There is no app, scheduled charging, or information screen. You get four lights to tell you if the power is on, if it is charging, or if there is a fault with either the power or charging… That’s it!
The HSE-40P is also one of the slower chargers on our list with a maximum 7.7 kW and 32 Amps. Like many of the other chargers we reviewed, the receptacle cord is too short for an easy installation. The strangest feature is the lock. It is just a simple padlock that attaches to the charger plug. Forcing you to carry another key… For your retractable belt keychain, I suppose?
PROS
- UL Certified, Energy Star, ELT, cELT
- NEMA 4
- 25-foot cable
- Handle mount
- Made in America
- Commercial-grade quality
CONS
- Only 32 amps
- Slower charging
- Mounting cord too short
- Larger than other charge units
- No amp adjustment
- No app
- No status screen
- Lock is a basic padlock and keys
6. Vevor Level 2 Charger [Best Supplemental Portable Charger]
Price: $215.99 Amazon
Time to 50% Charge (Kia Niro): 4.4 hours
Outdoor Capabilities: Light conditions
This charger is perfect for an emergency situation when you need a quick charge. The standard 14-50 plug and the 25-foot cord will be ideal for emergency stops at the RV park or even your best friend’s clothes dryer outlet. We wouldn’t recommend this for a permanent charging solution.
The Vevor Level 2 EV Charger can adjust the amp draw from 10A to 32A to ensure you don’t blow the breakers at your friend’s house. It also includes a handy travel bag to neatly store the cable in your “frunk” when not in use and the 25-foot long cord is a perfect length.
A large concern is that since the charger is not wall mounted it will likely remain on the floor while charging. Therefore it would be a bad idea to use this charger outdoors in areas where there is heavy rain or snow.
PROS
- Low cost
- 25-foot cord
- Portable
CONS
- No UL certification
- Not (weatherproof) NEMA rated
- Users have reported that it can get hot when charging
Final Thoughts
There is no one charger that is best for every situation. The cost of installation and potential removal is too high to not spend the extra time to do your homework before you buy and we hope this guide gives you a head start!
Do you have recommendations or cautionary tales to hare? Please share them with us in the comments!
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