Complete review of the Lectron V-BOX home EV charger

If you’ve bought an electric vehicle (EV) recently or are considering one, you’re not alone! According to McKinsey, if EV sales continue on their current trajectory, they’re likely to account for over half of U.S. passenger vehicle sales by 2030. Having an EV charger at your home allows you to more efficiently and quickly charge your EV while managing and monitoring your charging and energy usage. (Bonus: if you have solar, you can power your car with the sun!)

Lectron is one of the leaders in the home EV charging space, with several affordable models of EV chargers that you can install in your home. In this article, we’ll cover the V-BOX 40 and 48 Amp (A) chargers, the newest chargers in Lectron’s lineup. There are other Lectron chargers which we’ll mention briefly as well.

Before diving into the V-BOX EV chargers specifically, it’s important to know the different levels of charging you can do at home and how they vary. EV chargers are also known as EVSEs, which stands for electric vehicle supply equipment.

A Level 1 charger is just using a standard outlet at your home. To do this, you just use a standard 120-volt wall outlet with a J1772 connector. However, this is very slow, only adding approximately 2-5 miles per hour to your range. A Lectron V-BOX is a Level 2 charger: the standard for home EV charging. It allows you to charge much more quickly than a Level 1 charger, providing up to 46 miles of range per hour, depending on which EV you own.

The Lectron V-BOX is a Level 2, 240V flexible amperage home EV charger with charging speeds up to 46 miles per hour. It comes with a 20-foot charging cable and is easy for an electrician to install indoors or outdoors.

Key features of Lectron’s V-BOX EV chargers

Wiring and EV compatibility

The Lectron V-BOX EV home charger is compatible with all EV models as long as they can charge with a J1772 charge plug, which most EVs today have other than Teslas. Teslas come with a J1772 adapter, so you can still charge your Tesla with this common Level 2 charge plug. Lectron also offers a Level 1 and Level 2 Tesla-compatible 16A/32A charger for $379.99.

Convenience

The Lectron V-BOX EV home charger can be used with most homes’ electrical systems. It has a bright LCD screen with a clear display of your charging status, temperature, and other technicalities. It also can change and customize amperage settings for a wide range of charging functions. It is versatile enough to install either indoors or outdoors in most homes, apartments, and condo complexes. (Do keep in mind that if you live in a multi-unit complex, you will need to confirm with your HOA or complex that you can install an EV charger at your parking spot.) The Lectron V-BOX’s cable is lightweight and 20 feet long, providing a fair amount of flexibility in where you install it, though it is three to five feet shorter than many other home EV charger cables.

Connectivity & app

Most chargers can connect to your home’s WiFi network to receive over-the-air firmware updates, remote diagnostics access, and usage data tracking capability; however, the V-BOX has no connectivity or smart features. There’s also no app to charge and manage your charging.

Warranty

The Lectron V-BOX comes with a 1-year equipment warranty, which is shorter than the industry standard of 3 years. Lectron also offers a 30-day refund policy if the charger is unused and returned in the packaging it was purchased in.

Additional Lectron V-BOX features

The Lectron V-BOX is designed to self-regulate and self-correct. Thus, when small problems like short current occur, the charging station automatically restarts to repair and continue charging. This reduces the need for constant maintenance.

Additionally, this charger is rated pretty highly (IP55) when it comes to withstanding the elements — including rain and dust.

The Lectron V-BOX EV home charger costs between $449.99 and $499.99 depending on the model, though Lectron also seems to offer discounts regularly on their site. You can also get a Lectron V-BOX bundle, including a Tesla adapter with the 40A and 48A models.

Keep in mind that you’ll also have EV charger installation costs, as you’ll want a trusted, licensed, and experienced electrician to ensure your charger is correctly installed. According to Qmerit, most standard EV home charger installations cost between $799 and $1,999. Additionally, depending on your home’s electrical panel, floor plan, and wiring, you may need additional wiring, so your costs may increase.

The V-BOX has a sleek design and gun-metal gray finish, but offers no smart features or high-tech features.

One of the nice things about driving an EV compared to gas-powered vehicles (outside of avoiding the rising gas prices!) is that you can plug your car in overnight to charge and usually wake up to a full – or nearly full – charge. That said, the speed of your EV charger is helpful to know and consider. The Lectron V-Box EV home charger can provide up to 38 miles of charge on average, with up to 9.2 kW/ 48A output, depending on your specific EV’s make and model.

Your Lectron V-BOX charger can charge at different speeds depending on a few factors, including:

• Which option you select (40A or 48A, or if you select a lower output)

• Your home’s circuit breaker output: higher output capabilities means quicker charging.

• Energy use: power may be limited at certain times because of other energy use in your home – limited usage equals slower charging

• The specific make, model, and options of your EV: bigger batteries will take longer to charge, efficiency varies by EV, and different EVs have different onboard charging capabilities, which will impact the charging speed

• The age of your EV’s battery: over time, your battery will degrade, and its discharge rate (battery capacity / number of hours it takes to charge) will decrease

As with any EV charger, you’ll want to get a licensed electrician to install your V-BOX and ensure any additional supporting electrical work is covered, such as if you need to do added wiring or upgrades to your electrical panel. While these can add to your cost, covering both the safety aspects and enabling long-term savings (compared to filling up a gas tank) will usually make driving and charging your EV at home financially beneficial.

If you are looking for an affordable home EV charger without any smart features, the V-BOX may be a good fit for you. It provides simplicity in a charger and withstands extreme temperatures well. Lectron also offers other Level 1 and Level 2 chargers ranging from a 16A priced at $199.99 to a 40A priced at $514.99, including some specifically for Tesla owners. Overall, their products get great customer reviews.

There’s sometimes a misconception that home EV charging is expensive. However, it’s substantially less expensive in most areas than buying gasoline – especially if you’re using solar to power your charging. Your exact comparison depends on the cost of electricity in your area and the make and model of EV you own (since various models have different ranges).

Going solar is one of the best long-term solutions to lower your home EV charging costs. You can use the EnergySage Marketplace to compare several quotes from pre-screened installers, helping you find a system that fits your needs at the right price. If you’re planning to charge an EV at home, add a note to your profile so installers can right size your solar system to sufficiently power your EV.