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How Will You Charge Your Ride?

Some common add-ons to plug in vehicles will be electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), chargers, and software. Please see the bottom of the page for an explanation of these items and a glossary of commonly used terms.

This tracker focuses on latest revision SAE J-1772 and CHAdeMO compliant units that are designed for North American commercial and residential end-users. Prices shown are base (no options) equipment only (some vendors require that installation be done by their own contractors) and are before any applicable credits or rebates.

Make / Model Type Level Maximum Amps Short Description Price (USD)sort icon Accessory Images
Schneider Electric EVlink Outdoor
Charge Station, SAE J-1772
2
30
 UL listed. Schneider outdoor model can be used in both residential or commercial applications. Optional advanced metering functionality to collect and monitor energy and demand profile data is also available. Advanced versions feature additional networking and communication features.
$2,772
Credit: Schneider
Shorepower SC2-120
Charge Station, SAE J-1772
1
16
 Shorepower's units are unique in that they take 240 volt input, but provide four Level 1 outputs, handling four EVs at once.
$2,900
Station installed at Portland's "Electric Avenue", Credit: Craig Vinton
Gridtest Systems EV Emulator Tool
Other
 Designed for EVSE installers and lab testers, this tool allow you to verify and track the installation of SAE J1772 Level 1 and 2 EV charging stations. Provides a simple pass/fail result or detailed explanation of the failure mode through its touch screen interface.
$3,000
Credit: Gridtest
Enginer Auxiliary Battery Pack
Other
 An add-on battery back for OEM vehicles like the Nissan LEAF designed to extend vehicle range.
$3,495
4 kWh pack. Credit: Enginer
Shorepower ePump
Charge Station, SAE J-1772
2
30
 Highly configurable commercial/public multi-head unit. Payment system does not require use of proprietary network.
$3,900
Credit: aeesolar.com
General Electric DuraStation
Charge Station, SAE J-1772
2
30
 UL listed. Company has over 100 years experience in the design and manufacture of electrical distribution systems.
$4,500
Station installed at Portland's "Electric Avenue", Credit: Craig Vinton
Green Garage Associates Juice Bar
Charge Station, SAE J-1772
2
 Designed by BMW Group DesignworksUSA. This is a free-charging only station.
$5,000
Credit: PR Newswire
Nissan Quick Charger
Charger, CHAdeMO
125
 Smaller size, and lower-cost quick charger.
$15,500
EVS26. Richard Kelly
Nissan NSQC-44 Series
Charger, CHAdeMO
DCQ
125
 Nissan's own quick charger. Standard model. Nissan plans to install 2,200 units at dealers nationwide.
$19,088
Credit: Nissan
EVTEC MobileFastCharger
Charger, CHAdeMO
DCQ
60
 20kW (18.3kW output) portable CHAdeMO-compliant charger. Swiss made. Also available in a 10kW (9.2kW output) version.
$20,278
Credit: evtec.ch
    Glossary:
  • CHAdeMO
    A quick charging method backed by various automakers. The Nissan LEAF and Mitsubishi iMIEV use the TEPCO port and the CHAdeMO protocol.
  • Charger
    A charger converts AC supply power to DC and uses it to charge the vehicle batteries.
    Many modern plug-ins have their own on-board charger. This can be it's own discrete unit, or the electronics can be integrated into the drivetrain or another component. Chargers can also exist off the vehicle, as in the case of DC quick chargers.
  • DC Quick Charger
    An offboard charger that connects directly to a vehicle's high-voltage battery bus. Allows for high power transfer and can charge a battery to 80% or so in minutes instead of hours. Quick charging should be done according to vehicle manufacturers specifications, as this charge method can be damaging to the battery if done too often.
  • Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE)
    Not to be confused with chargers, this term refers to any off-board equipment used to supply charging energy to the vehicle. EVSE can take the form of a cord, a station mounted to a wall, pedestal or pole, and even the different outlets and plugs that make up the circuit.
    This equipment should prevent energizing of the charge plug until it is seated in a vehicle port. It should monitor for safety hazards. It communicates to the vehicle the amount of current that can be provided by the circuit and gets information about area ventilation requirements.
  • Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL)
    Testing facility that provide product safety testing and certification services to manufacturers.
  • SAE J-1772
    A Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) standard that covers AC Level 1 and 2 and DC Level 1 and 2 charging. J-1772 is the standard for AC charging in the United States. The latest revision was published in October of 2012.

Plug in America makes no representations or warranties as to the suitability of this information for your particular purpose, and that to the extent you use or implement this information, you do so at your own risk.