There are many different electric vehicle (EV) home chargers available for purchase. Each has varying features, capabilities, and price points. While shoppers will look for particular features like smart/Wi-Fi capable, it is critical to consider the EV that will be plugged into.
Since plug-in hybrids electric vehicles (PHEVs) have much smaller batteries than all-electric cars, or Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), the home EV charger for plug-in hybrids do not need to have a lot of power output.
In other words, despite the charger, the PHEV can fully recharge in just a few hours. Therefore, rather than paying a premium for a high powered charger with a rating of 9.6 kW, PHEV drivers can save a few hundred dollars and get a lowered powered charger with a rating of 3.8 kW.
To help shoppers and owners find the best home EV chargers for plug-in hybrids, here is a list of some of the best ones available.
To clarify, these chargers are all Level 2 (240 Volt). As the name implies, Level 2 is faster than Level 1 (120 Volt), but slower than Level 3. Level 3 chargers, more commonly known as DC Fast Charging (DCFC), are only found at public charging stations.
Best Home EV Chargers for Plug-in Hybrids:
1. Amazing E
Powered by Clipper Creek, the highly portable Amazing E EV charger is perfect for PHEV drivers. With a power output of 3.8 kW, this little charger can fully recharge any plug-in hybrid in just a few hours. In other words, this charger provides around 13 miles per hour of charging.
The Amazing E charger features a 20 foot cord that can easily reach the charging port no matter where it is located on the EV. Lastly, the Amazing E is UL Listed and indoor/outdoor rated.
At a price point of $329, this EV charger is one of the best for plug-in hybrids.
2. ClipperCreek LCS-20
Clippercreek is notorious for their simple, rugged chargers. Like Chargepoint, Clippercreek make public charging stations, however, Clippercreek’s chargers are not smart/WiFi capable. Instead, they are straightforward without any bells and whistles.
Like the Amazing E, this ClipperCreek model has a power output of 3.8 kW. Also like the Amazing E, the ClipperCreek LCS-20 is UL Listed and indoor/outdoor rated. One feature better than the Amazing E is the cord length is 25 feet rather than 20 feet.
One final note–it is made in America. For the price of $395, the ClipperCreek is another great home EV chargers for plug-in hybrids.
3. Blink HQ
Blink may be better known for their public charging stations, however, the company also offers a home EV charger.
The Blink HQ provides a little bit more power than the previous chargers. With a rating of 7.2 kW, this home charger will provide around 25 miles of range per hour. Additionally, unlike the other EV chargers, the Blink HQ enables drivers to select if they wish to delay charging to take advantage of time of use electricity rates.
And as a Blink product, Blink honors a $100 credit to their public charging network. Users will simply need to create an account with Blink to activate.
For $399, the Blink HQ is another formidable home EV charger for really any EV no matter if PHEV or BEV.
Closing Thoughts:
Each one of these make great home EV chargers for plug-in hybrids. For PHEV drivers, a lower powered charger is all that is needed. By doing so, drivers can save a few hundred dollars off the cost of the home charger.
These lower cost chargers, of course, do not have smart/Wi-Fi capability, therefore, they are not able to schedule charging, control access, or display various data. If smart/Wi-Fi capability is something that is wanted, the Chargepoint Home Flex or Enel X Juicebox Pro 40 are the ones you may want to look at. Check out this article on the best smart EV chargers. The article details some of the smart functions and other charger features.
Hi there! I’m the founder and project manager at Charged Future: the EV charging consultancy. Charged Future helps businesses achieve their EV charging goals. Specifically, I serve as the project manager for your EV charging project, which can save you both time and money! Additionally, I can search and apply to all eligible rebate applications, which can typically cover a large portion of the project cost.
