Best Electric Car Chargers: Manufacturers. Features & More

Electric cars are popular due to all the benefits they offer. The UAE government is already working on increasing the number of charging stations across the country. There are many Tesla charging stations in the UAE. However, a home electric car charger further adds to the convenience.

Installing an EV charger at home proves helpful if you don’t have an EV charging station near your residence or you want to avoid long queue and save time. However, you can follow tips to minimise boredom when charging your EV at a station. With an electric car charger installed at home, you can recharge your vehicle whenever required. You can save a lot of time by charging when you don’t need to drive.

Many EV chargers are available in the market, but choosing the right one is not an easy task. Different electric car charger manufacturers offer chargers with distinct features. Here we have discussed some of the best electric car chargers, specifications and other details to help you decide wisely.

Best Electric Car Chargers for Home

Every EV home charger has different specifications, therefore, some of the best electric car chargers from well-known brands are detailed as under:

Siemens Versicharge

Siemens VersiCharge range also includes home electric car chargers. These chargers are among the most flexible ones, introduced in the market. These are Level 2 residential electric vehicle chargers that are affordable, safe and easy to use. Also, Siemens VersiCharge EV home chargers come with a three-year limited warranty. Its distinct features are as under:

Features

Delay Charging Button: The delay charging button helps you charge your vehicle during off-peak hours, due to which you are able to save on your utility bills. Simply press this button to delay charging for about eight hours.
Weather Proof Enclosures: Siemens VersiCharge residential EV chargers can be mounted outdoor and indoor. These chargers come with NEMA 4 enclosures.The NEMA 4 enclosures are basically solutions for electrical appliances/devices to be safely mounted outdoors. The chargers having NEMA 4 enclosure are actually weather proof.
20ft Charging Cord: The 20ft charging cord helps you plug into a socket that’s further from the parking area. When not in use, the cord can be wrapped around the enclosure.
Amperage Adjustment: The power output of this EV home charger is adjustable to match the electric supply in your residence. You can adjust the power to a maximum 7.2 kW to a minimum 1.8 kW.
Compatibility: The Siemens VersiCharge electric car charger is compatible with all vehicles that comply with SAE J1772 standard. Also, Tesla vehicles can be charged using the Tesla’s adapter.

Chargepoint Homeflex

ChargePoint is one of the popular brands that manufacture public charging stations. Those looking for the best home car charger can invest in its compact HomeFlex. ChargePoint HomeFlex is a Level 2, 240-volt, Wi-Fi enabled home electric car charger. This residential charger comes with a 3-year warranty.

Features

Safety and Efficiency: HomeFlex is listed with Underwriters Laboratories (UL). It is, therefore, among the best electric car chargers. UL listed EV chargers are those that comply with the safety standards. It is also certified by ENERGY STAR for efficiency.
23ft Charging Cord: ChargePoint HomeFlex comes with a 23ft charging cord to facilitate charging through a socket installed at a distance from the parking area.
Amperage Adjustment: HomeFlex electric car charger can supply a maximum power of 50 amps. The fastest charging capacity is 48 and 50 amps, but you may need to upgrade the electrical infrastructure and install hardwire.
Weatherproof: This EV home charger can be installed indoors and outdoor via hardwired connection or a NEMA 6-50 plus and 14-50 plus.
Chargepoint App: Since HomeFlex is Wi-fi enabled, you can easily track your vehicle charging remotely.

Juicebox Pro 40 with Juicenet

JuiceBox Pro 40 is another Wi-Fi enabled and one of the best electric car chargers. This charger comes with a smart charging feature that recharges your vehicle about seven times faster at home. JuiceBox Pro 40 is a Level 2 home charger, manufactured on J1772 universal standard. Furthermore, it has an aftersale 3-year warranty.

Features

EV home charger — Vehicle charging can be monitored via smart apps and web portals

Smart App & Web Portal:: Through the JuiceNet app on smartphones, vehicle charging can be easily monitored and even scheduled.
Smart Grid Savings: JuiceBox Pro 40 comes with the functionality to schedule your vehicle charging when electricity consumption rates are low.
Notifications: When the car is completely charged, a notification is sent through the JuiceNet app. Also, the app notifies users whenever there is a need to recharge the vehicle.
Easy to Use and Install: This electric car charger installation is simple as it comes with a quick-release mounting bracket and built-in cable storage.
Voice Control: JuiceBox Pro 40 can be controlled, monitored and managed by communicating through voice on Google Home, Alexa and Amazon Echo.
Universal Compatibility: Since JuiceBox Pro 40 home electric car charger is designed as per the universal standard SAE-J1772, it can charge all EVs. Even Tesla can be charged with it using an adapter.
Energy Star®-Certified: JuiceBox Pro 40 is Energy Star certified for its efficient performance.
Flexible Installation: The EV home charger can be installed with a hardwired input whip or 240V plug, compatible with NEMA 14-50. It is mandatory to have NEMA 14-50 outlets at your residence.
Weatherproof: JuiceBox Pro 40 is weatherproof and designed for both indoor and outdoor usage. The polycarbonate casing offers further protection against environmental elements.

Bosch Level 2 EV Charger

Bosch is one of the leading brands in the automobile industry. Its Level 2 electric car charger is manufactured as per the universal SAE J1772 standard. This Bosch home electric car charger comes with a three-year warranty. Furthermore, you can separately buy a coupler and replacement charging cord for this Level 2 EV charger, if required.

Features

Compliance with Safety Standards: Bosch Level 2 EV chargers are Underwriters Laboratories (UL) listed, as these charges comply with the set safety standards.
Weatherproof: The Bosch car charger comes with a NEMA 3R enclosure to keep it safe in the outdoors as well as indoors.
Installation: The Bosch Level 2 EV charger can be used as a plug-in with NEMA 6-50 plug. This plus has a thermal sensor that prevents it from overheating. Also, it can be installed with a hardwired input whip.

How to Choose the Best Electric Car Charger

There are some important elements that you should consider when buying a home electric car charger. Listed below are a few of them:

There are two levels of chargers, i.e. Level 1 and Level 2. The Level 1 chargers are slower than Level 1. However, Level 2 EV chargers need a different outlet, which is not usually installed at home. So, you will have to get it installed by an electrician if you choose a Level 2 electric car charger.
The electric car charger manufacturers now offer plug-in and hardwired type. You need to decide which one is more suitable for your vehicle. However, the plug-in type is a portable electric car charger and can be installed conveniently. Therefore, this type is recommended.
On the other hand, hardwired type chargers are installed permanently with the help of an electrician. But, a proper power outlet and a 240-volt line is to be installed for either of the two types.
Go for a weatherproof electric car charger, if you are going to install it in the outdoor area other than the garage. Look for the one that can bear the extreme weather, water, sun and wind. Many manufacturers claim that they produce weatherproof chargers, make sure you buy the outdoor-rated one.
The electric car charger types also include smart and dumb. The smart EV home chargers are those that can be connected through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi using a smartphone app. You can schedule and monitor the charging of your vehicle, view different stats, schedule energy metering and keep track of other important tasks via the smartphone app.

When you opt to buy a smart home vehicle charger, make sure your Wi-Fi connection is strong. The signals should reach the charger completely so that communication over the Wi-Fi is possible.

The dumb charger type is manual.

A large number of public charging stations for electric vehicles are established across the UAE. However, buying one of the best electric car chargers will offer the convenience to recharge your vehicle at home as well.

Other than the fact that EVs are eco-friendly, these are also easy to maintain. Hence, an array of the cheapest electric cars in the UAE are available in the market to cater for the increasing demand for EVs. Besides, many used Tesla electric cars in the UAE are also available for sale online. Since these are comparatively affordable, motorists may first invest in the used models. A few of the Tesla models in the UAE are up for sale on dubizzle that includes:

If you opt to buy a Tesla, then you don’t have to worry about its dedicated charging stations as there are many Tesla car charging stations in the UAE operational. Besides, those who wish to buy other EVs in Dubai have easy access to electric car charging stations across Dubai.

Stay tuned to UAE’s top auto blog for the latest updates on electric vehicles, auto accessories, tools and more.