If you require a quick answer, the best home EV charger is the Wallbox Pulsar Plus, which is an aesthetically pleasing charging station that offers excellent performance and complete control via the brand’s dedicated smartphone application. However, if you require a more affordable home EV charger, the Vorsprung Rapid is the best alternative.
To rate the home EV chargers within this article, we based our recommendations upon using multiple with our own EV, plenty of research and a number of factors. The factors that we considered included their power output, type, design, smartphone integration, cable length, weatherproof rating, additional accessories, warranty and value for money.
Best Home EV Charger Overview
- Best Overall: Wallbox Pulsar Plus
- Best All-Rounder: Vorsprung Rapid
- Best Budget: ANFIL Three Phase
- Best Smart: Wallbox Commander 2
Home EV chargers are improving each year with additional features and performance. Our goal is to keep this article updated with the latest charging stations in the UK that offer great performance, affordability and the latest technology.
Below is a list of the best home EV chargers that are compatible with all electric vehicles in the UK.
The Best Home EV Chargers
1. Best Overall: Wallbox Pulsar Plus Home EV Charger
Wallbox are a brand that offer a number of home EV chargers but the Pulsar Plus is their most popular series. The reason for its popularity is due to the fact that it combines performance with value for money.
This particular home EV charger offers an adjustable power output depending upon the installation. For example, the charging output ranges from 1.4 to 7.4kW for single-phase installations or 4.2 to 22kW for three-phase installations.
- Provides ultra fast charging
- Excellent dedicated application that lets you control the charge, set schedules and so much more
- State of the art monitoring and charge management
- Available in black or white to best suit your requirements
- Compact and aesthetically pleasing construction
- Compatible with all EV chargers
- IP54 rated
- Relatively expensive when compared to the alternatives
Although expensive, the Wallbox Pulsar Plus is by far the best home EV charger on the market. The performance along with its dedicated smartphone application sets it apart from the competition and it certainly won’t disappoint.
2. Best All-Rounder: Vorsprung EV Charging Wall Box
Vorsprung are a brand that have a great reputation with their portable EV chargers but recently, they’ve developed a dedicated home EV charger. According to the brand, their charger is compatible with most EV’s and it’s designed to provide ultra fast charging as well as unbeatable build quality.
In terms of the specification, it has a maximum power output of 7.4kW and an IP rating of 65. The charger itself has also been rigorously tested and achieved a CE and TUV certification too.
- Built using hard-wearing materials that are impact and weather resistant
- Backed by a one year guarantee
- Clear reset button at the back to cut power in case of an emergency
- Plenty of built in safety features to ensure your home, vehicle and charger is safe
- Easy to install with all the hardware included within the box
- Compact construction
- Cable length of 5 metres may be too short
- Relatively basic in terms of its design and functionality
To conclude, the Vorsprung home EV charger is an excellent all-round option that offers plenty of performance and great value for the money. Considering its affordability, you really can’t go wrong with this charging station and we highly recommend it as the best all-round option.
3. Best Budget: ANFIL Three Phase EV Charging Station
If you are looking for the best budget home EV charger, the ANFIL brand have the answer. Their EV charger provides a maximum charge output of 11kW and is compatible with all electric vehicles that use a three-phase current. Unlike other similar priced EV chargers, the ANFIL device also has a LCD display that shows the charge status as well as other data.
- Robust construction that's IP66 rated
- Clear and easy to read LCD display
- Easy to install out of the box
- Long 6.1 metre charging cable
- Backed by a one year warranty
- Not as aesthetically pleasing when compared to the alternatives
Overall, the ANFIL EV charger is a great option to consider and a direct competitor of the Vorspung alternative above. Both are similarly priced but they offer different advantages that may better suit your requirements.
For example, the Vorspung is more alethically pleasing but lacks the display and peak charging output. Therefore, if you require the added performance and a display, we would recommend the ANFIL charger over the Vorspung alternative.
4. Best Smart: Wallbox Commander 2 EV Home Charger
Another home EV charger by the Wallbox brand is the Commander 2, which is their flagship model and also the brand’s most expensive offering. Although the specification is similar to the Pulsar Plus listed above (adjustable load capacity up to 22kW), this charger differs because it features an intuitive 7 inch touch screen display. From the display, you are able to use all the functions from the application and it looks great when installed at your home or business.
- Very aesthetically pleasing
- Easy to use touchscreen display (same functions as the dedicated smartphone app)
- IP54 rated for outdoor use
- Option of a 5 or 7 metre long charging cable
- RFID card reader functionality
- Bluetooth, ethernet, 4G and WiFi connectivity
- Ultra fast charging (max charge at 22kW)
- Easy to use smartphone application
- The most expensive charger within our roundup
Although expensive, the Wallbox Commander 2 is the ultimate home EV charger money can buy. The fact that you can control it at your fingertips via the touchscreen is a standout feature that’s worth the investment on its own. However, it’s much more than that because it offers excellent performance and it’s also ideal for multiple users thanks to its password protection, RFID card and smartphone application access.
How We Rated The Home EV Chargers
As we own an electric car as well as many of our family and friends, we have plenty of knowledge with regards to home EV chargers. Therefore, to rate the options within this article, we based our recommendations upon our own experience, research and multiple factors. The factors that we considered included their power output, type, design, smartphone integration, cable length, weatherproof rating, additional accessories, warranty and value for money.
Whilst browsing for your next home EV charger, the cable length is crucial and it’s a factor that we highlight for each of the recommendations above. However, if you aren’t able to park your car close to a socket, we recommend having an electrician install a new outdoor socket at your home so that you can use the EV charger you want rather than compromising on an alternative.
Conclusion
Upgrading to the latest home EV charger not only provides additional charging power but also plenty of new features. All of our recommendations include the latest available in the UK and they are all compatible with the majority of electric vehicles on the road. Due to the sizeable investment required, we highly recommend taking your time to consider each of the features and performance statistics so that you aren’t left disappointed. However, if you require further information with regards to home EV chargers, feel free to get in touch and we will try to provide our assistance where possible.
Home EV Charger FAQ's
When searching for your next home EV charger, you’ll be greeted with type 1 and type 2 charger options. Type 1 connectors use a 5-pin plug and offer faster charging (3 to 7kW) than a standard 3-pin plug.
The later type 2 connectors on the other hand offer the fastest charge (7 to 43kW) via a 7-pin plug and they can be found on most of the latest home EV chargers. However, in order to achieve the increased power output from the type 2 connector, you’ll require a three phase installation.
A tethered home EV charger comes with either a type 1 or type 2 charger cable built-in to the unit. This means that you’ll be able to plug your charger straight into your car from the unit. An untethered unit on the other hand comes without a built-in charger cable. The benefit of this is that you aren’t limited to the cable you use and you can change it at any point to best suit your current electric vehicle.
The two main factors to consider when deciding between the different power options is your budget and whether your car can support a faster charge. With regards to your budget, chargers that offer speeds up to 7kW are relatively affordable and it’ll be compatible with most cars. However, if you want to charge your car as fast as you can, a charger that’s capable of 22kW is a great option but you may want to check to see if your car can actually receive the full 22kW charge.
The cost of installing a home EV charger varies depending upon your location but it can cost anywhere between £300 to £750. However, it’s worth pointing out that the UK government offer grant schemes (OZEV) to help contribute to the cost of installing an EV charger at your home.
