Plug In America |

Home › Accessories

Accessory Tracker

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 / Modelsort icon Type Level Maximum Amps Short Description Price (USD) Accessory Images
Fuji FRCH50B-2-01
Charger, CHAdeMO
DCQ
125
 This is Fuji Electric's 50 kW model, and was one of the first models chosen by EVOasis in California.
Credit: CHAdeMO
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
General Electric WattStation
Charge Station, SAE J-1772
2
30
 Designed by industrial designer Yves Behar. Now available.
$1,000
Source: GE
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
Go Smart ChargeSpot PS
Charge Station, SAE J-1772
2
50
 This charging station allows the owner to set fee collection. The station provides the consumer with options depending on the length of time they will be charging.
$2,200
Go Smart ChargeSpot PS
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
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
GRIDbot UP-100J
Charge Station, SAE J-1772
2
30
 ETL listed. Commercial unit can handle simultaneous Level 1 charging via a NEMA 5-20 receptacle or Level 2 charging using the J-plug.
Credit: GRIDbot
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
Kanematsu Ultra Fast
Charger, CHAdeMO
100
 Fast charger with built-in battery buffer. Designed to limit input power to 20kW while providing 160kW burst charging.
$80,000
Credit: evcollective.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.