Best EV Charging Stations

Review & Comparison, Last Update November 29, 2023
Electric car charging stations make sure you're able to use your electric vehicle every day without visiting gas stations. The best ...Read more
PROS

The 2.4/5 GHz Wi-Fi module will keep the connection stable and secure even when the router is located far from the station. The LED indicator will display the Wi-Fi signal's quality. Using the ChargePoint app, you'll be scheduling charging, setting reminders, and tracking the progress.

CONS

The power cord is a little short. 

OUR VERDICT

The ChargePoint Electric Car Charger gives you excellent mileage, flexible installation, high energy efficiency, and more. The station will be able to recharge all electric cars, including Tesla models S and X, Toyota Prius, Nissan LEAF, Hyundai Kona, Ford Fusion, BMW i3, X5, and 530e, and more.

detailed parameters
Type

Plug-in station (16" power cord)

Power

240 V, 50 A

Charging Speed

Up to 40 miles of range per hour 

Connector Type

SAE J1772™

Cord Length

23 ft.

Extras

Compatible with ChargePoint app (available on iOS and Android), mounting hardware included

Warranty

3 years

PROS

The quick-release mounting bracket will let you easily mount this station onto most walls. The cable rack will provide neat cable storage and keep the plug accessible. The security lock can be used to make sure randos will not be able to use the station. You can utilize voice controls via Amazon Echo and Alexa.

CONS

The app is pretty demanding hardware-wise. 

OUR VERDICT

The JuiceBox 40 Next Generation Smart EV Charging Station is the most complete station we've looked at, bringing top-notch charging speed, remote management via the app, and the construction that lasts ages, with dust-tight and weatherproof polycarbonate casing.

detailed parameters
Type

Plug-in station (28" power cord) 

Power

240 V, 40 A

Charging Speed

Up to 32 miles of range per hour 

Connector Type

SAE J1772™ 

Cord Length

25 ft. 

Extras

Built-in cable rack and security lock, compatible with JuiceNet app (available on iOS and Android), mounting hardware included

Warranty

3 years 

PROS

The housing is waterproof and lightning-proof. The IP67 protection rating means you can use the charger outdoors even on a rainy day. It comes equipped with high-end anti-leakage, overvoltage, overheat, and overcurrent protection mechanisms. The finish is abrasion-resistant.

CONS

The LCD screen uses a small font. 

OUR VERDICT

The MUSTART Level 2 Portable EV Charger will take ~5 hours to give you 100 miles of range. With this device, you'll probably be able to recharge the car once a week and still have enough proverbial gas in the tank to go from home to work and vice versa without any hiccups.

detailed parameters
Type

Plug-in charger

Power

240 V, 26 A

Charging Speed

Up to 20 miles of range per hour

Connector Type

SAE J1772™

Cord Length

25 ft. (including 3 ft. cable from the wall to the charger) 

Extras

LCD screen, J-hook for cable storage, storage bag and mounting hardware included 

Warranty

2 years

PROS

The supplied mounting hardware enables almost effortless installation. The station can handle temperatures between -12 and 122 degrees Fahrenheit. The LED charge status indicators will let you know when the charger's done recharging the vehicle. The housing is flame-resistant. 

CONS

The carry case comes equipped with shoddy zippers. 

OUR VERDICT

The Megear Level 1-2 EV Charger enables selecting between level 1 and level 2 charging, meaning that the unit can work from 110-volt sources. Better yet, the NEMA5-15 adapter that's required for level 1 charging comes with the package.

detailed parameters
Type

Plug-in charger

Power

100 - 240V, 16 A

Charging Speed

Up to 6/12 miles of range per hour (depending on voltage)

Connector Type

SAE J1772™

Cord Length

25 ft. + 3 ft. adapter for Level 1 charging (NEMA5-15) 

Extras

J-hook for cable storage, carry case and mounting hardware included

Warranty

1 year

PROS

The carry case that comes with the charger will let you easily store and bring the device with you. Plus, there's a pocket inside this case where you can put small valuables. The J-hook can hold the cable so that you do not have to think about any permanent storage measures. 

CONS

The connector is tight and hard to get in and out of the car. 

OUR VERDICT

The Zencar Level 1 EV Charger is a good complementary charger or a temporary replacement. It will be enough to keep budget electric vehicles sustained driving from home to work every day but not enough to cover large distances without recharging on the way.

detailed parameters
Type

Plug-in charger 

Power

110 V, 15/16 A

Charging Speed

Up to 6 miles of range per hour 

Connector Type

SAE J1772™ 

Cord Length

25 ft. 

Extras

J-hook for cable storage, carry case and mounting hardware included

Warranty

1 year 

40 Miles of Range per Hour

The ChargePoint NEMA 14-50 is a force to be reckoned with. With this device, you can charge up to 40 miles of range per hour. Needless to say, the model will be saving you ample time. As it is usually the case with the company's stations, this unit is compatible with most electric vehicles, including but not limited to Teslas, Toyota Prius (not excluding Prime), Chevrolet Volt, Bolt EV, Chrysler Pacifica, Hyundai Kona, Hyundai Ioniq, Kia NIRO, Honda Clarity, Nissan LEAF, Jaguar I-PACE, and more.

The one thing that always separates ChargePoint chargers (besides the charging speed) is the ChargePoint app. With this app, you can schedule charging, pick the charging speed, set reminders, and track the progress. Of course, what allows this device to be paired with the app in the first place is the integrated Wi-Fi module that operates on both 2.4 and 5 GHz bands, keeping the connection lag-free and secure. There's also an LED icon on the station that will display the wireless signal's strength.

One disappointing little detail about this product is that the power cord measures 23 feet, a little below the usual length. Nevertheless, the ChargePoint NEMA 14-50 is still leaps and bounds ahead most electric car charging stations.

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price $1,388.00
Stock In stock
ASIN B07WXZDHGV

Supplying the Juice

The JuiceBox 40 Next Generation Smart EV Charging Station will be bringing the juice necessary to make sure electric vehicles run smooth and far. The product's biggest standout feature is the charging speed that will be pumping enough juice per hour to drive 32 miles straight. It is also the little details though, not unlike the cable rack that enables comfortable cable storage and the security lock that will make sure random people are unable to use the device. Aside from that, what's driving the product's value forward is the polycarbonate casing that's both weatherproof and dust-tight, letting you install this station not only indoors but outside too.

Even taking these into account though, what separates full-blown electric car charging stations from basic chargers is usually compatibility with some app. Here, you receive access to the JuiceNet app that will be controlling and monitoring the charging progress remotely, notifying you when the car is fully charged, setting charging reminders and more. You can use Alexa and Amazon Echo voice controls to manage the device too. Plus, the dynamic LED lights will be showing the charging status.

Bottom line, the JuiceBox 40 Next Generation Smart EV Charging Station is that level 2 station that will be able to charge all electric vehicles, including Teslas.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B07ZL41687

Tough as Nails and Twice as Durable

The MUSTART TRAVELMASTER is an excellent name, not just because it sounds funny but also because the name fits the product. Supplying electric cars with 20 miles within 60 minutes, the model enables somewhat long-distance traveling.

But what drives the product's value before that is that the station can automatically detect which adapting plug is plugged in, charging at the maximum charging power that the inserted plug can handle. In other words, with this station, you won't have to calculate how many kilowatt-hours you can charge without compromising safety. While this is the model's biggest strength, its biggest weakness is the small font on the LCD screen, making the values unreadable at ~8-10 feet.

Setting the screen aside though, the station's construction is superb. The finish's abrasion-resistant, so good luck scraping or wearing this one away. The housing can survive direct lightning hits and will be fine even with considerable downpours. In addition, the model adopts reliable anti-leakage, overvoltage, overheat, and overcurrent protection means, meaning that there's practically no chance something will go wrong with the station. So, assuming you want something that lasts, the MUSTART TRAVELMASTER should prove a pretty outstanding choice.

Last updated price $389.00
Stock In stock
ASIN B07RLQXMN5

Level 1 and Level 2 Charging

The Megear Level 1-2 EV Charger comes from a somewhat different angle, the angle that lets you switch between level 1 and level 2 charging. Picking between 100- or 240-volt connections, the model allows you to charge up to 6 or 12 miles of range per hour respectively. Of course, while the NEMA 6-20 connection works from standard 240-volt outlets, level 1 charging requires a NEMA5-15 adapter, which is shipped with the station as well.

What's also shipped with the station is a J-hook, enabling convenient cable storage, a carry case, enabling easy relocation, and mounting hardware, enabling hassle-free installation. While there's nothing wrong with the hook or the mounting hardware, the carry case comes outfitted with shoddy zippers, so we would recommend you err on the side of caution with this one.

You won't have to be cautious with the station though. On the contrary, the unit is fine with temperatures ranging from -12 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. To add more, the model features over-voltage and under-voltage protection mechanisms, so there's no chance you'll damage the EV during charging. In closing, as long as you're okay with middling charging speed, the Megear Level 1-2 EV Charger will give you your money's worth.

Last updated price $199.99
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B075GJK2S9

Good Enough

The Zencar Level 1 EV Charger is affordable and, due to that "level 1" remark, pretty unimpressive compared to the chargers we've reviewed before this one. We would recommend this product to people who have primary means of recharging their electric vehicle and purchase this one more as a complementary solution.

Having said that, if you're using some budget EV, not unlike old Toyota Prius models, Nissan LEAF, Nissan eNV-2000, Kia Soul EV, and others, to go from home to work and vice versa, this product will be enough to sustain them. Its charging speed does not go above 6 miles of range per hour but plug the car when you arrive home and unplug when you go back to work the next day and you'll usually have 60+ miles in the tank, which is much more mileage than people usually cover from home to work and back home.

There's not much to add here. Despite the affordable price, the charger comes with a J-hook that enables neat cable storage, a carry case that will let you bring the charger with you when necessary, and the mounting hardware that you need to install this device at home. The supplied connector is tight and hard to get in and out of the car but you'll get used to it. Plus, the cable measures 25 feet, long enough to reach around most automobiles when necessary.

Last updated price $195.00
Stock In stock
ASIN B077N25YTG

What Is an EV Charging Station?

Electric car charging stations, usually referred to as EV charging stations, where EV stands for electric vehicles, are these implements that support the charger and provide additional convenience benefits. What separates these stations from chargers is sometimes semantics alone, but we like to differentiate them based upon these additional convenience benefits that we've alluded to before.

These benefits can include compatibility with some mobile app that lets you set charging reminders, enable smart grid savings by scheduling charging during off-peak hours when the rates are the lowest, send you notifications when the vehicle is done charging, track the charging history, and more. We might also be talking about small benefits like security locks that prevent random people from accessing the charger and cable racks that, oddly enough, allow you to store the cable.

What does not separate stations from chargers but does separate high-end models from budget products is the charging speed, usually hovering around 10 miles of range per hour with budget chargers and going as high as 30 miles of range per hour when you start approaching more expensive devices.

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