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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 Ampssort icon Short Description Price (USD) Accessory Images
Mitsubishi Level 1 Cordset
Charge Station, SAE J-1772
1
8
 OEM cordset that comes with the Mitsubishi i.
Credit: mitsubishi-motors.ca
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
Leviton Evr-Green 120
Charge Station, SAE J-1772
1
12
 Plugs into a standard household outlet. Comes with carrying case for use on the road.
$950
Credit: Leviton
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
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
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
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
GM Voltec EVSE
Charge Station, SAE J-1772
2
15
 ETL listed. GM has announced a partnership with Michigan-based SPX Service Solutions to sell and install this 240V home charging station made for the Chevrolet Volt. This station can recharge the Volt battery from depleted to full in about four hours.
$490
GM
Leviton Guide Light GFCI Receptacle
Charge Station, NEMA
1
15
 Single outlet designed for dedicated Level 1 circuit. Includes GFCI and sensor-controlled guide light
$30
Credit: Leviton
EVExtend Commercial Level 1 Charging Station
Charge Station, NEMA
1
15
 An electrical outlet and enclosure designed specifically for electric vehicle charging. Ideal as a lower cost alternative for long-duration (4+hours) charging which may work well at businesses, hotels, airports, bus and train terminals.
$399
Credit: EVExtend.com
    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.