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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 Typesort icon Level Maximum Amps Short Description Price (USD) Accessory Images
Voltec Charge Cord
Charge Station, SAE J-1772
1
10
 ETL listed. Able to fully charge the Volt in 10 hours. This cordset comes standard with every Volt.
$360
Voltec Charge Cord
Ford Focus Electric Charging Station
Charge Station, SAE J-1772
2
32
 Ford is working with Best Buy to offer a charging station for owners of the Ford Focus Electric EV. Best Buy will sell the station and offer consultation and installation services through its Geek Squad tech support services unit.
Credit: Ford
OpConnect EVCS (with J1772)
Charge Station, SAE J-1772
2
30
 ETL listed. Allows four vehicles to charge at same time. Combination Level 1 and 2 unit.
Station installed at Portland's "Electric Avenue", Credit: Craig Vinton
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
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
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
Toyota Level 1 Cordset
Charge Station, SAE J-1772
1
12
 UL listed. Stock Level 1 cordset for the Toyota Plug-in Prius.
2011 Alt Car, Santa Monica, Credit: Richard Kelly
Siemens VersiCharge
Charge Station, SAE J-1772
2
70
 Available in 30A and 70A models. Units are adjustable via an amperage dial or via communication with utility. Four supply wiring configurations are possible.
$1,000
Credit: Siemens
Leviton Evr-Green Installation Kit
Charge Station, SAE J-1772
20
 Pre-wire kit that allows easy install of Leviton Evr-Green or selected other charging stations. Allows easy future upgrades of charging station. May reduce the need for special local permitting.
$79
Credit: Home Depot
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
    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.