EV car chargers convert alternating current (AC) power from your home or public charging stations to direct current (DC) energy that can be stored in your battery. You'll also find DC fast charging stations that bypass your car's built-in AC-to-DC converter to directly transfer DC energy into the battery, resulting in ten times faster charging.

The best EV car chargers are designed to work with the charging ports on your electric vehicle, and they can be installed in your garage or an outdoor area adjacent to your parking spot. They can be plug-in or hardwired to your house's breaker box, and they often connect to smartphone apps that let you monitor the charger status and schedule charging. Some of these app-enabled charging units even offer a smart, energy-efficient load balancing feature that prevents the charger from drawing more current than is available, helping you save on your electricity bill.

An EV charging station is also known as an EVSE or electric-vehicle supply equipment. The chargers reviewed here are either Level 2 AC home charging stations or Level 3 DC quick charging stations, and they can be used to power any type of electric car. Most of them are compatible with CHAdeMO or CCS charging standards and are approved for use by Tesla, Chevy's Bolt EV and Volt, Nissan's Leaf and LEAF, BMW i3 and X3, Audi e-tron and PHEV, Hyundai Ioniq, Jaguar iPace, Porsche Taycan and more.

Level 2 AC home charging stations work with the existing power outlets in your garage, but they can also be hardwired to your breaker box for more convenient and permanent installation. These chargers are typically rated at 240v with a max charge rate of 7.6kW, which is roughly the speed that most EVs can achieve when plugged into a home charging station during off-peak hours. They are a good choice for most EV drivers.

If you plan to hardwire an EV charger, it's essential to consult with a professional electrician. The cost of this service may run a few hundred dollars, depending on how far you need to extend your current home electrical system to reach the charging station and whether you choose to have your installer install an in-wall or out-of-ground EV charger.

An EVSE can be plug-in or hardwired, and it requires a dedicated circuit with a maximum of 60 amps. If you prefer a lower-wattage option, you can find some EV chargers that work with a 40 amp circuit. If you choose a higher-end model, it can support four or more phases and deliver up to 22kW of charging power.