Buying a new EV charger can be very confusing, especially with so many specs and options on the market. That’s why we’ve narrowed it down for you. Let’s go over the 7 best EV chargers in the market and how you can choose the best one for you
| Chargers | OHME | OHME Home Pro | Wallbox Pulsar Plus | SYNC EV | EASEE One |
| Costs | start from £553 inc installation | start from £656 inc installation | start from £599 inc installation | start from £591 inc installation | start from £619 inc installation |
| Finance Options | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Finance Begins From | £ 8.12 | £ 9.63 | £ 8.79 | £ 8.98 | £ 9.23 |
| OZEV Approval | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Connectivity | 3G/4G | 3G/4G | Bluetooth/WiFi | WiFi | WiFi and 4G |
| Power Lead | Included | Included | Included | Not Included | Not Included |
| Type | Type 1 and 2 | 2 | Type 2 only | Universal socket | Universal socket |
| Earth Rod | Needed | Not needed | Not needed | Not needed | Not needed |
| Output of Charger Power | 7.4kW | 3.4kW | 7.4kW | 7.4kW | 7kW |
| Dimensions | 89x53x239 mm | N/A | 163x82x166mm | 112x90x187mm | N/A |
| Color | No Options | Black | Black/White | No Options | Black |
| Cable Dock | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Charge Scheduling | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Security | Via charge schedule | Via charge schedule | Via app | Via app | Lock via app |
| Tariff Compatibility | Yes | Yes | No | Coming soon | No |
| Power Adjustment | Not available | Not available | Via app | Via app | Yes |
| Charger Power Output | 7.4 | 7.4kW | 22kW version available | 7.4kW | 7kW |
| Solar Functionality | No | No | Coming soon | No | No |
| Untethered | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Tethered Option | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Load balancing | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Warranty | 3 years | 3 years | 3 years | 3 years | 3 years |
| Manufacturer support rating | 5/5 | 5/5 | 3/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 |
5 Things To Consider Before Buying An EV Charger
If this is your first time buying an EV charger, things can get a little confusing. There are a lot of numbers and ratings going around, and it’s hard to make sense of it all. Without proper research, you might end up buying the wrong kind. So let’s take a look at the things you should consider before buying an EV charger.
Home Charging Options
While you can just opt to charge your electric car at public charging services, it might involve a lot of waiting around and is simply inconvenient. Home chargers are much more efficient and easy to use.
The regular three-pin sockets that you might have around the house do work, but they are very slow. It’s better to have a dedicated wall box charging point in your home instead.
- Plug Types For Your Car
Depending on the kind of plug type you have, the type of charger that will work with your car will vary. There are usually two kinds: type 1 and type 2. If you have a Type 2 plug, you can use a charging station that comes with a permanently connected charging cable.
But a Type 1 plug type cannot be charged using this same station. You’re going to need a special adapter, which is pretty expensive. It’s usually better to get the Type 2 plug if you have the option.
- Charging Power And Speed
The next thing you have to worry about is the wattage of your charger. There are three different kinds: 3.6kW, 7kW, and 22kW chargers. The higher the wattage, the faster they charge your car, and also the more expensive they will be.
The 3.6kW charger will usually charge just a little bit faster than a domestic socket, so it doesn’t make much of a difference. But it’s okay if you have low daily mileage. If you use a hybrid model that doesn’t require a lot of time to charge, that’s okay too!
The 7kW one is a lot faster, and it’s almost twice as fast as a domestic socket. This is usually the best option for most people, as it’s not extremely expensive and it doesn’t take a toll on your home electricity line.
The 22kW charger, on the other hand, is the fastest option. This is great if you’re planning on buying more EVs in the future, as it’ll last you so long. But this does put a lot of load on your home power lines. So be careful about whether your house can handle it.
- EV Grant
You might need to apply for a grant to have a wall box or charger socket for your EV at home. Since you can only apply for the grant once for every EV you own, it’s a little complicated.
Applying for a grant allows you to significantly reduce your costs. For instance, you might need to pay about 1,200 pounds for a 22kW charger without a grant and only 850 pounds or less after the grant is applied.
- Plug-in Or Tethered Cables
When it comes to cables, you have two options: you can either permanently attach the cable to the charger or use one where you plug in a regular Type 2 cable. These are known as tethered and plug-in cables, respectively.
If you consider getting a tethered unit, you don’t need to get a cable out of the boot every time. Instead, you can just plug the other end of the cable into your car. But, not all EVs are compatible with the same cable, and you might need adapters if you use a tethered cable. So the choice is up to you.
Who Can Install Charging Stations For Your EV?
You should get a qualified electrician with experience in installing charging stations to do this work. Not all electricians know how to properly do it. You should never attempt to do it yourself, as there are high voltages of electricity involved and you might get shocked.
There’s a lot to check before setting up a station, including ensuring that your home can handle the charger’s power needs. So it’s always best to get a professional to do it.
Last Words
So now that we’ve gone over the 7 best EV chargers in the market, you can make your decision. You’ve gotten some ideas about how to choose the right one, so think carefully about which wall box will be compatible with your EV and work best for you.
We hope this helped in making your decision easier. Good luck!