Top EV charger manufacturers in the USA

Purchasing a home EV charging system isn’t a small decision. You’re typically spending a healthy chunk of change on just the charger, and that’s before you even get into the installation. Choosing the right charger for you isn’t rocket science, but because these aren’t necessarily super familiar brand names, we’ll break them down for you.

These US-based charger manufacturers aren’t listed in any particular order, and each has its benefits. So check them all out to determine which is going to be the best for you.

Chargepoint

Chargepoint was founded in 2007 and is one of the bigger names in commercial Level 2 charging stations. They’re also popular with property developers looking for an EV charging solution for apartment buildings, offices and condos. Lucky for residential customers, Chargepoint also offers the Home Flex charger which offers options for charging both J1772-equipped vehicles and those Tesla-style North American Charging Standard (NACS) plugs. The charger is controlled via an app and the wall unit itself is sleek and modern looking.

Tesla

For better or worse, when most people think of electric cars, the name they think of first is Tesla. Luckily, when it comes to wall-mounted chargers, Tesla still makes one of the best. As is typical for the brand, the box looks like it could have come off of a spaceship and the hardware itself is very well-built and robust. The app interface is excellent as well. The only real downside is that unless you have a Tesla or other NACS-equipped vehicle (which will become more common in the near future), you’ll have to pick up a quality charging adapter to make it work with your J1772-equipped vehicle.

ShellRecharge

ShellRecharge is the electric vehicle charging arm of the petrochemical giant, and as you’d expect from a company with such vast resources, its home charging option is pretty decent. The catch is that unlike more traditional level two home charging solutions, the Shell Recharge is a more basic, semi-portable design that retails for under $500. What it lacks in features, it makes up for in eye-searing colors that ensure you’ll never trip over your charging cable.

Leviton

If the name Leviton sounds familiar, it’s probably because you’ve spent some time in a big box home improvement store’s electrical aisle. Leviton is a huge manufacturer of everything from lightbulbs to junction boxes and now EV chargers and charging accessories.

What the Leviton chargers lack in style, they make up for in practicality, ease of use and reasonable pricing. The company offers both smart chargers and, well, dumb chargers and we’d recommend going with the former since the app control and other features will offer a much more seamless home charging experience.

Blink

Blink Charging has been around since 2009 and offers a bunch of great Level 2 charging solutions ranging from the HQ 200 home charger to more advanced commercial charging solutions. The HQ 200 comes with a J1772 plug and will charge at up to 50 amps. It can also be installed indoors or outdoors and has app-controlled smart features.

With a retail price of around $700, it’s a good all around solution for most home charging, although it's also one of the more expensive chargers out there.

Enphase

If Enphase electric vehicle chargers look familiar, it’s because the company merged with Clipper Creek, which has been churning out quality home chargers for over a decade. Enphase home chargers are ready to integrate smoothly into a home solar and energy storage system. That makes them an ideal solution for most EV owners who have also gone solar. And since Enphase sells solar energy inverters and home energy storage solutions, going this route makes it essentially a one-stop-shop.

Enphase chargers may not look quite as futuristic as some others on this list, but they’re solidly built and easy to use.

Electrify Home

As the home charging arm of EV charging giant Electrify America, Electrify Home has a fair amount of brand recognition. This should make the HomeStation L2 charger a popular option for many new EV customers who might have seen Electrify America stations along the highway or in the parking lots of some of their favorite businesses.

The Electrify Home HomeStation offers charging at up to 40 amps and has a very well-designed app that offers over-the-air updates to the charger unit. It comes with a 25-foot cord and while its 40-amp max rating isn’t industry-leading, it should be more than enough for most people. It’s also EnergyStar certified which is a nice bonus.

While just about any Level 2 home charger from a reputable brand will work for most new EV owners, some chargers might work better than others. Some important things to consider when picking out a charger would include whether or not it’s a smart charger. Having smart features will likely mean you’ll spend more money up front, but those features can save you a decent amount of money over the long haul.

Related to smart features are over-the-air updates. Getting new and more efficient software delivered to your wall charger can be great, but just like with some of your other tech devices, it can be a double-edged sword if the update doesn’t install properly.

Next is the charger’s rated amperage. This is a little more technical, but it wouldn’t make sense to have a 50-amp-rated charger when your charging circuit is only rated for 30 amps. If you don’t know what your circuit is rated for, check with the certified electrician who will install your system before buying your charger.

Finally, and this might seem obvious, but make sure you buy the right type of charger for your vehicle. If you have a Tesla, a Tesla charger will be easiest since you won’t need an adapter and vice versa. An adapter is fine if you buy a good one, but it's an extra cost to consider as well as another potential point of failure.