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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
Legrand Level 1
Charge Station, SAE J-1772
1
12
 Legrand's cordset allows selection of charge rate, which increases flexibility and reduced the chance of blowing a circuit breaker on a limited-amperage circuit.
$499
Credit: Legrand
ClipperCreek PCS-15
Charge Station, SAE J-1772
1
15
 UL listed (see notes). In-cord EVSE. Now available for direct purchase by consumers.
$595
Photo Courtesy of ClipperCreek
ClipperCreek LCS Series
Charge Station, SAE J-1772
2
25
 UL, ETL listed. Designed for residential use. This station features some of the same features found in other ClipperCreek units, like the Service Ground Monitor, Automatic re-closure, and contactor monitoring.
$595
Credit: ClipperCreek
ClipperCreek ACS Charging Station
Charge Station, SAE J-1772
1
20
 Wall-mountable Level 1 cordset. Works on 85-132VAC supply voltage. Available in three models with different power levels (ACS-15, ACS-20, and ACS-25).
$595
Credit: ClipperCreek
EV-Charge America EV2100
Charge Station, SAE J-1772
2
32
 Easy to install unit.
$649
EV-Charge America EV2100
Legrand Level 2
Charge Station, SAE J-1772
2
16
 Level 2 station from a major manufacturer of consumer electrical goods. Features auto reset.
$749
Credit: Legrand
Nissan Level 1 Cordset
Charge Station, SAE J-1772
1
12
 UL listed. Made by Panasonic. This is the Level 1 EVSE cordset that comes standard with the Nissan LEAF.
$760
CC By Richard Kelly, 10/2/2010, Alt Car Santa Monica
Schneider Electric Square D Indoor
Charge Station, SAE J-1772
2
30
 UL listed. Schneider's indoor model designed for residential use.
$799
Credit: Schneider Electric
Liberty Plugins Inc Secure Access System
Other
 LPI manufactures a system which can be added to common charge stations to control access. The system is designed for operators of pay station and gated pay lots to allow them to just control access, and use their existing payment collection system.
$800
LPI system installed on ClipperCreek charge station. Credit: LPI
GoSmart ChargeSpot RF
Charge Station, SAE J-1772
2
50
 GoSmart Technologies offers two Level 2 units, one offering 30A charging, the other 50A.
$900
Credit: GoSmart Technologies
    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.