Project Gear
Best Level 2 EV Chargers for a Permitted Home Installation
Home chargers compared on the paperwork that matters for a permit: safety listing, installation manual, spec sheet, amperage, and outdoor rating.
Updated Oct 4, 2026
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A Level 2 home charger runs on a 240-volt circuit, and adding that circuit is electrical work that most building departments permit and inspect. The charger you buy shapes that permit: its amperage sets the circuit size, and its paperwork is what the installer and inspector work from.
Key takeaways
- Most Level 2 installs need an electrical permit, usually pulled by the electrician. Check the rule for your address before you order.
- Pick a charger whose safety listing (UL or ETL) you can confirm, not just one with a logo on the box.
- A published installation manual and spec sheet make the permit application and the inspection easier.
- Adjustable amperage lets the installer fit the charger to the panel you have.
How we compare chargers
We did not test these chargers. We read what each maker publishes and checked the safety listing in the testing lab's own database, then scored how complete the paperwork is. That is the part that decides how smooth the permit and inspection go, and it is the part most reviews skip.
Our picks
- 1Best overall
Wallbox Pulsar Plus 40A
Model PUP2-U-1-5-N-002
Permit paperwork: CompleteA compact 40-amp charger with the most complete paperwork in this list: installation guide, data sheet, UL listing and warranty all on the maker's site. It can share one circuit with a second Pulsar Plus.
Why we picked it: Every document a permit office or electrician asks for is on Wallbox's own site, it works plugged in or hardwired, and two units can share one circuit.
Permit paperwork
- Yes:Safety listing confirmed (UL or ETL) (UL 2594, file E506750)
- Yes:Installation manual published
- Yes:Spec sheet published
- Yes:Adjustable amperage (16 to 40 A)
- Yes:Hardwired installation option
- Yes:Outdoor enclosure rating published (NEMA Type 4)
- Yes:Load management or power sharing (Power sharing; dynamic load management needs a meter accessory)
Specs
- Amperage
- 16 to 40 A (hardware selector)
- Install
- NEMA 14-50 plug or hardwired
- Enclosure
- NEMA Type 4, indoor or outdoor
- Cable
- 25 ft
- Warranty
- 3 years
Maker documents
Check price on AmazonChecked 2026-10-04 - 2Best for a panel near its limit
Emporia Pro EV Charger with PowerSmart
Model EMC2-B
Permit paperwork: CompleteA 48-amp charger that comes with a monitor for your electrical panel, so it can slow down automatically when the rest of the house is drawing power. That can let it fit a panel that is close to its limit.
Why we picked it: Its panel monitor lets it charge as fast as the house allows and back off when other loads run, which can help an electrician avoid a service upgrade.
Permit paperwork
- Yes:Safety listing confirmed (UL or ETL) (UL 2594, file E528156)
- Yes:Installation manual published
- Yes:Spec sheet published
- Yes:Adjustable amperage (12 to 48 A)
- Yes:Hardwired installation option
- Yes:Outdoor enclosure rating published (Type 4)
- Yes:Load management or power sharing (PowerSmart, with the included panel monitor)
Specs
- Amperage
- 12 to 48 A, set in the app to match the breaker
- Install
- Hardwired (up to 48 A) or NEMA 14-50 plug (up to 40 A)
- Enclosure
- Type 4, indoor or outdoor
- Cable
- 25 ft
- Warranty
- 3 years
Maker documents
Check price on AmazonChecked 2026-10-04 - 3Best plug-in for an existing outlet
Grizzl-E Classic Connect 40A
Model GRS-077-W-14-25J40-A-GW
Permit paperwork: Mostly completeA rugged metal-cased 40-amp charger that plugs into a NEMA 14-50 outlet, with an optional hardwire connection in the manual. A solid plug-in choice when the outlet is already in place.
Why we picked it: Plugs into a NEMA 14-50 outlet, carries a UL listing we confirmed for this exact model, and has a hardwire option if you change your mind.
Permit paperwork
- Yes:Safety listing confirmed (UL or ETL) (UL file E510712)
- Yes:Installation manual published
- Partly:Spec sheet published (Specs on the product page, no PDF)
- Yes:Adjustable amperage (16 to 40 A)
- Yes:Hardwired installation option (Optional)
- Yes:Outdoor enclosure rating published (UL Type 4)
- No:Load management or power sharing
Specs
- Amperage
- 16 to 40 A (DIP switch)
- Install
- NEMA 14-50 plug, optional hardwire
- Enclosure
- UL Type 4, indoor or outdoor
- Cable
- 25 ft
- Warranty
- 3 years (5-year option from the maker)
Maker documents
Check price on AmazonChecked 2026-10-04 - 4Best for two EVs
Grizzl-E Duo Connect 40A
Model GRD-077-W-14-25J40-25J40-A-GW
Permit paperwork: CompleteTwo charging cables on one 40-amp circuit. When both cars charge at once, it splits the power, 20 amps each, so a two-EV household needs only one new circuit.
Why we picked it: Two cables on one 40-amp circuit, with the split between cars documented in the manual, so you add one circuit instead of two.
Permit paperwork
- Yes:Safety listing confirmed (UL or ETL) (UL file E510712)
- Yes:Installation manual published
- Partly:Spec sheet published (Specs on the product page, no PDF)
- Yes:Adjustable amperage (16 to 40 A)
- Yes:Hardwired installation option (Optional)
- Yes:Outdoor enclosure rating published (UL Type 4)
- Yes:Load management or power sharing (Shares power between its two cables)
Specs
- Amperage
- 16 to 40 A total; 20 A each with two cars
- Install
- NEMA 14-50 plug, optional hardwire
- Enclosure
- UL Type 4, indoor or outdoor
- Cable
- Two 25 ft cables
- Warranty
- 3 years (5-year option from the maker)
Maker documents
Check price on AmazonChecked 2026-10-04 - 5Fastest charging
Grizzl-E Ultimate 80A
Model GRU-077-W-HW-25DJ80-A-GB
Permit paperwork: Mostly completeThe fastest home charger in this list, up to 80 amps on a hardwired circuit, with eight lower settings for smaller circuits. It only makes sense where the electrical service has room for it.
Why we picked it: Up to 80 amps, with the lower settings for smaller circuits printed in the manual. Pick it only if your electrician confirms the service can carry it.
Permit paperwork
- Yes:Safety listing confirmed (UL or ETL) (UL file E510712)
- Yes:Installation manual published
- Partly:Spec sheet published (Specs on the product page, no PDF)
- Yes:Adjustable amperage (16 to 80 A)
- Yes:Hardwired installation option
- Yes:Outdoor enclosure rating published (UL Type 4)
- No:Load management or power sharing
Specs
- Amperage
- 16 to 80 A in eight steps
- Install
- Hardwired only
- Enclosure
- UL Type 4, indoor or outdoor
- Cable
- 25 ft
- Warranty
- 3 years (5-year option from the maker)
Maker documents
Check price on AmazonChecked 2026-10-04
Side by side
| Product | Paperwork | Amperage | Install | Enclosure | Cable | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wallbox Pulsar Plus 40A | Complete | 16 to 40 A (hardware selector) | NEMA 14-50 plug or hardwired | NEMA Type 4, indoor or outdoor | 25 ft | 3 years |
| Emporia Pro EV Charger with PowerSmart | Complete | 12 to 48 A, set in the app to match the breaker | Hardwired (up to 48 A) or NEMA 14-50 plug (up to 40 A) | Type 4, indoor or outdoor | 25 ft | 3 years |
| Grizzl-E Classic Connect 40A | Mostly complete | 16 to 40 A (DIP switch) | NEMA 14-50 plug, optional hardwire | UL Type 4, indoor or outdoor | 25 ft | 3 years (5-year option from the maker) |
| Grizzl-E Duo Connect 40A | Complete | 16 to 40 A total; 20 A each with two cars | NEMA 14-50 plug, optional hardwire | UL Type 4, indoor or outdoor | Two 25 ft cables | 3 years (5-year option from the maker) |
| Grizzl-E Ultimate 80A | Mostly complete | 16 to 80 A in eight steps | Hardwired only | UL Type 4, indoor or outdoor | 25 ft | 3 years (5-year option from the maker) |
Plug-in or hardwired?
A plug-in charger connects to a 240-volt NEMA 14-50 receptacle, so the work covers the new circuit and outlet. A hardwired charger connects straight to the circuit. Hardwired units are the usual choice outdoors and for settings above 40 amps. Either way, adding the circuit is permitted work in most places.
How charger amperage sets the breaker
The breaker is sized above the charger's setting, because the charger can run at full output for hours. Emporia's spec sheet, for example, calls for a dedicated 50-amp breaker when the charger is set to 40 amps and a 60-amp breaker at 48 amps. Every charger in this list can be turned down to suit a smaller circuit, which is why adjustable amperage matters.
What if my panel is nearly full?
Your electrician will usually run a load calculation to see whether your service can carry a charger. If it is tight, a charger with load management can help: it watches the home's total use and slows charging when other appliances run. The Emporia Pro does this with its included panel monitor, and the Wallbox Pulsar Plus can do it with an added meter. Whether that satisfies your building department is their call, so ask before you buy.
What to hand your electrician
Send the electrician the charger's model number, installation manual and spec sheet before they quote. They need the amperage to size the breaker and wire, and many permit offices ask for the manual with the application.
Also considered
Products we looked at and left out, as of Oct 4, 2026. No links, because we would not recommend buying them through us.
ChargePoint Home Flex
Strong documentation, but its Amazon listing was sold by a reseller (Spreetail), not ChargePoint or Amazon.
Tesla Universal Wall Connector
The only Amazon listing in stock was sold by a reseller, not Tesla or Amazon.
Enphase IQ 50
No longer listed on Enphase's own site, which now features a newer charger.
Emporia Classic
Not sold on Amazon by Emporia or Amazon. The Emporia Pro in our picks is.
Before you order, check your address
Permit rules change from one city to the next. The free check tells you what your building department requires, the documents to prepare and who to call.
Check my projectFrequently asked questions
- Do I need a permit to install a Level 2 EV charger?
- In most places, yes. Adding a 240-volt circuit is electrical work that building departments usually permit and inspect. Rules vary by state and city, so check your address before you start.
- Did you test these chargers?
- No. We compared what each maker publishes, confirmed each safety listing in UL's own database, and checked that each Amazon listing is sold by the maker. Our ratings describe the paperwork, not charging performance.
- Does a listed charger guarantee I pass inspection?
- No. The inspector looks at the whole installation: the circuit, the breaker, the wiring and how the charger is mounted. A listed charger with complete documents makes that easier, but the install still has to meet the code where you live.
- Can two EVs share one circuit?
- Yes, with the right charger. The Grizzl-E Duo has two cables on one 40-amp circuit and splits the power when both cars charge. Two Wallbox Pulsar Plus units can also share a circuit through their power sharing feature.
- Is a plug-in charger easier to permit than a hardwired one?
- Not usually. Both need a dedicated 240-volt circuit, and that circuit is the part most departments permit and inspect. A plug-in charger also needs the NEMA 14-50 outlet installed to code.
- Why are the prices not listed?
- Prices change often, so the buttons take you to Amazon for the current price. PermitRoadmap earns a commission on qualifying purchases, which does not change our ratings or the permit information.
PermitRoadmap is an independent informational service and is not affiliated with any city, county, state agency, or permitting authority. Results are informational and do not replace confirming requirements with the local permitting authority.