Emporia 48A EV Charger

Should you buy the Emporia 48A EV Charger?

The Emporia 48A EV Charger is the one to buy if you want the fastest charge a home circuit can give you without paying for a badge. It runs 40A on the included NEMA 14-50 plug, or 48A / 11.5 kW once an electrician hardwires it, and the free app handles scheduling and energy tracking with no subscription. It tops our Level 2 EV Chargers list because it matches the Tesla Wall Connector on output at about $300 less.

Where it earns its score

• Full 48A when hardwired. 11.5 kW adds up to about 46 miles of range per hour, and you can start on the plug and convert later.
• Reliability and satisfaction lead the rubric. Reliability scores 91 and Satisfaction 94, the two highest marks in its breakdown.
• Real certifications. UL Listed and ENERGY STAR, with a NEMA 4 enclosure rated for outdoor mounting. That combination also matters for utility rebates.
• Plays with solar. Pairing it with an Emporia Vue enables load management and solar-aware charging.

What to know first

• 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only. If your router splits bands, make sure the 2.4 GHz network reaches the garage.
• 48A needs an electrician. The plug caps you at 40A; the hardwire conversion is a paid job on a 60A circuit.
• Warranty is the lowest factor score. Three years is standard for the group, but the Tesla gives four and the Enphase five.
• Quality trails the leaders. It scores 80 against 92 for Tesla; the plastic housing is fine, just not glass-fronted.

Questions buyers ask