Why is EVSE so expensive?

[Vulnox]

Yeah EVSE pricing is pretty reasonable considering the cabling involved and the lengths, certification, and other items others mentioned.

I would pay double what an EVSE costs because I more than make it up by the time I save not making trips to the gas station every other week. If you could pay $500 to have a gas pump installed at home, that would seem like a dream. I ran to Costco yesterday and topped up the F-150 while I was there and sat in line for about 10 minutes before fueling up. My wife gets home and just plugs in the car and goes inside. $500 is a bargain.

As some mentioned, check with your electric company as well. Ours had a $500 rebate for buying an EVSE, having the wiring run, buying an EV, and switching to ToU. We already had the plug wired and already had the EV. Switching to ToU makes sense with our solar array anyway, so we got our EVSE for about $100 after the electric company sent the check.

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[4sallypat]

Yeah EVSE pricing is pretty reasonable considering the cabling involved and the lengths, certification, and other items others mentioned.

I would pay double what an EVSE costs because I more than make it up by the time I save not making trips to the gas station every other week. If you could pay $500 to have a gas pump installed at home, that would seem like a dream. I ran to Costco yesterday and topped up the F-150 while I was there and sat in line for about 10 minutes before fueling up. My wife gets home and just plugs in the car and goes inside. $500 is a bargain.

As some mentioned, check with your electric company as well. Ours had a $500 rebate for buying an EVSE, having the wiring run, buying an EV, and switching to ToU. We already had the plug wired and already had the EV. Switching to ToU makes sense with our solar array anyway, so we got our EVSE for about $100 after the electric company sent the check.

Agree - I remember 10 years ago, EVSE were very pricey back then - over $1000.

Now, it's very economical to own 1 or 2 in a garage...

 

[Motomax]

Because they can be. Most people don’t realize it’s just a basic relay and some electronics that communicate with the car charger to set amp limits and control on/off. Plus you’re looking at maybe $200 in copper (just a guess I didn’t look up what gauge wire) for the 25ft cable, assuming they used copper and not aluminium.
I think $500 is the sweet spot. Paying double for a “smart” one is pointless in my mind and I have everything smart haha.

 

[generaltso]

Since an EVSE is not really a 'charger', but simply a power supply, why are they so pricey? The low-end ones are $500, and higher-rated ones, like the ChargePoint Home Flex, are $700. For some wires, cables, connectors, and circuitry in a plastic box? Or is it supply and demand?

If it's so cheap and easy, why don't people just build their own EVSEs? Maybe because it's actually not? Just spitballing.

 

[shelnian]

I can't believe Ford is now charging $500 for a 32A mobile charger when you order a 2023 Lightning when it used to be standard equipment on a 2022.

$500 price point for the Ford mobile charger is ridiculous IMO.

Have never opened the Ford mobile charger bag so far...

OTOH, my EVSE is an $450 Emporia L2 UL listed and charges my Lightning at full 48A (11kW) rate even in the blazing hot temps of summer.

It will also charge my incoming MME so well worth a single charger doing double duty...

The Emporia is now $499. When I bought it 6 months ago it was $399.

 

[kltye]

If it's so cheap and easy, why don't people just build their own EVSEs? Maybe because it's actually not? Just spitballing.

Probably because most people don't like dealing with line voltage OpenEVSE is about as close I've seen to a DIY EVSE.

 

[SnBGC]

If it's so cheap and easy, why don't people just build their own EVSEs? Maybe because it's actually not? Just spitballing.

Our R&D team performed this exercise.
It's fairly simple to build a unit that functions when plugged in. The dumber the easier to build.
Add in connectivity, an app, some commerce, some power sharing, waiting lists, utility controls etc etc and it gets quite complicated in a hurry.

 

[Cobra427]

+1 just an observation, but anything that people don't understand, but think they understand seems too expensive.

Maybe, but one thing I do understand is a reply that is insulting and condescending.

 

[KevinS]

Maybe, but one thing I do understand is a reply that is insulting and condescending.

Well, it is the Internet.

 

[OrchidMania]

Well, not quite.

You want the utilities to coordinate TOU discounts. The utility has two ways to do this.

1) Coordinate charging with the car company. My utility has a program to do this. They have "no charge" events lasting 2 hours, in which they tell Ford to prevent my car from charging. Ford does this by lowering the threshold to 50% charge (it appears). 2 hours later, they put it back. They also have "must charge" events lasting 2 hours, in which they have surplus power and want me to charge. They do this by forcing the car to charge via Ford. They also don't differentiate between peak hours, so they do this often during then. By me having a smart charger, I can stop the car from charging during peak hours no matter what Ford tells the car to do.

2) Controlling the EVSE. My utility gave me a $500 rebate to get the data, but they haven't made an attempt to control charging, and I won't agree to that. The rebate was only for the data. They didn't provide any conditions on the rebate except being in a TOU program (which I already was), so they cannot ask to control the charging.

Thats where you live. Where I live there is NO rebate from electric company, NO flex pricing unless you lease the unit from them at 38$ a month with 'free' or discounted off hour charging. And that is a 10 year lease! It has to be garage installed (which I don't have)
So while it may have worked great for you in your state, that's not true for all of us
But do check your local deals..
I have no local deals but looks like the ESVE 30% tax rebate is back on the table...

Still leading toward a Grizzl-e due to the IP67 and NEMA 4X.

 

[alexgorod]

Like everything else - because it can be sold for the asked price. When "they" have too many unsold units, we will see discounted prices.

Supply and demand. Capitalism. Otherwise, there will be deficits and black markets. Pick your poison.

 

[bshaw]

Thats where you live. Where I live there is NO rebate from electric company, NO flex pricing unless you lease the unit from them at 38$ a month with 'free' or discounted off hour charging. And that is a 10 year lease! It has to be garage installed (which I don't have)
So while it may have worked great for you in your state, that's not true for all of us
But do check your local deals..
I have no local deals but looks like the ESVE 30% tax rebate is back on the table...

Still leading toward a Grizzl-e due to the IP67 and NEMA 4X.

In my case, the rebate offered from the utility was LESS than the difference in price between a Grizzl-e and Chargepoint unit that qualified for the rebate.

So, don't automatically take the rebate option unless it's the product you were going to buy anyways.

 

[RickMachE]

Definitely always take the rebate


In my case, the rebate offered from the utility was LESS than the difference in price between a Grizzl-e and Chargepoint unit that qualified for the rebate.

So, don't automatically take the rebate option unless it's the product you were going to buy anyways.

Your two statements don't tie.

I get that the Grizzl-e was less than the difference in price.

But your final statement doesn't match up.

And yes, as stated, the 30% credit is back.

 

[theo1000]

Buy the dumbest off brand listed one... they are quite cheap., well under $200 and will last you decades indoors atleast. ..TBO even the 32 amp one's are more than enough for most people who can charge over night. of my 6 EVSE 4 are 32 amps and 2 are ~ 10 years old. work just fine. The two newest I bought for ~$200. Again work just fine.

After decades of charging it becomes very utilitarian after a while, just plug and go. All the bells and whistles, WiFi, blinking lights, fancy screens, giant cables, turn out to be unnecessary. Also problematic, my $600 juicebox broke three times and became a giant paperweight. Too complex IMO. I would not invest in .high end units Just my thoughts etc.

 

[mjs020294]

The Emporia is now $499. When I bought it 6 months ago it was $399.

Emporia was not UL certified six months ago.

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