Complete review of the Emporia smart home EV charger

Emporia is known for its tech-focused approach to energy management. The Littleton, Colorado-based company offers a suite of EV charging and home energy management products, the crux of which is the $399 Emporia EV Charging Station.

Despite its various accessories, Emporia offers a simple product selection if all you want is a charger. You can opt for either a hardwired or a four-prong NEMA 14-50 plug configuration, and either a J1772 connector or a Tesla input. It also comes in either white or black. Regardless of which combination of those core features you choose, the price remains $399.

Before diving into the Emporia EV Charging Station specifically, it’s important to know the different levels of charging you can complete at home and how they vary.

A Level 1 (L1) charger uses a standard 120-volt (V) wall outlet with a J1772 connector that works with most non-Tesla EVs. However, the L1 spec is slow to charge, only adding approximately 2-5 miles per hour to your range.

The Emporia EV Charging Station is a Level 2 charger, the standard for home EV charging. It allows you to charge much more quickly than a Level 1 charger, providing up to 10-20 miles of range per hour, depending on which EV you own. Level 2 charging requires a 240V circuit, similar to what you use to power an electric oven or dryer.

Let’s explore the details on the Emporia EV Charging Station:

Key features of the Emporia EV Charging Station

Wiring and EV compatibility

The Emporia EV Charging Station comes in both J1772 and Tesla varieties, so simply pick the model to match your EV and you're good to go.

Convenience

The Emporia EV Charging Station works with most homes’ electrical systems, provided you have a 240 volt circuit. It has a waterproof, NEMA Type 4 enclosure, so you can install it wherever you have the appropriate electrical connection. The Emporia EV Charging Station cable is 24 feet long, providing flexibility in where you install it.

Connectivity

The Emporia EV Charging Station can connect to your home’s WiFi network to work with the usage data tracking capability.

Warranty

The Emporia EV Charging Station comes with a three-year equipment warranty. They guarantee the charger will be free from defects in materials and workmanship, but the warranty doesn’t cover labor or shipping costs associated with returning the defective product.

The Emporia Energy app

The Emporia EV Charging Station uses the same Emporia app that other Emporia energy management products use. It’s available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store for managing and monitoring your EV charging.

Image source: Emporia

There’s also a web-based app for monitoring and managing your charging and energy usage on your desktop or laptop.

Additional Emporia EV Charging Station features

The Emporia EV Charging Station is one piece of a larger home energy management system from Emporia, integrating with Emporia home energy monitors, smart plugs, and sensors. It offers a lot of innovative features not available on standalone EV chargers, such as automated charging and solar-only charging.

You can monitor the EV charger's energy consumption, enter your utility rate schedule, and schedule charging with no additional components. You’ll need to add the Energy Monitor to monitor your whole home and individual circuit energy consumption and manage energy demand.

The Emporia EV Charging Station costs $399. Add in Emporia's various energy management accessories and the price can climb to $699

You may also incur also have installation costs, and you’ll want to use a trusted, licensed, and experienced electrician to ensure your charger is installed correctly. According to our corporate partner Qmerit, most standard EV home charger installations cost between $799 and $1,999 (excluding equipment).

To help offset these costs, the Emporia EV Charger may qualify for rebates, incentives, and tax credits, such as a credit for installing a home EV charger, called the alternative fuel tax credit. This 30 percent tax credit applies to the cost of the charger and its installation, up to $1,000 (you’ll want to consult your tax professional for more information). You may also have state or local incentives in your area.

Overall, the Emporia EV Charging Station is a very well-priced smart EV charging station. However, you’ll need to purchase or already have some of the other Emporia energy management products to fully benefit from some of the additional energy management features.

The Emporia EV Charging Station can provide 10-20 miles of charge per hour, with up to 11.5 kW / 48A output, depending on your specific EV’s make and model.

Your Emporia EV Charging Station can charge at different speeds depending on a few factors, including:

• Which charging output your electrical setup supports, and the settings you select (6A to 48A)

• Your home’s circuit breaker or service panel capacity: higher output capabilities generally mean quicker charging (usually 40A or 48A)

• Energy use: power may be limited at certain times because of other energy use in your home – limited usage equals slower charging

• The specific make, model, and options of your EV: bigger batteries will take longer to charge, efficiency varies by EV, and different EVs have different onboard charging capabilities, which will impact the charging speed

• The age of your EV’s battery: over time, your battery will degrade slightly, and its discharge rate (battery capacity / number of hours it takes to charge) will decrease

If you’re looking for an affordable option for smart charging, the Emporia EV Charging Station may be a fit for you. It’s priced well and offers the opportunity to connect your EV charging to an energy management system and a solar system.

There’s sometimes a misconception that home EV charging is expensive. However, it’s substantially less expensive in most areas than gasoline – especially if you’re using solar to power your charging. Your exact comparison depends on the cost of electricity in your area and the make and model of your EV.

Going solar is one of the best long-term solutions to lower your home EV charging costs. You can use the EnergySage Marketplace to compare several quotes from pre-screened installers, helping you find a system that fits your needs at the right price. If you’re planning to charge an EV at home, add a note to your profile so installers can right size your solar system to sufficiently power your EV.