The ChargePoint Home Flex is a Level 2 charger that owners can use to charge electric vehicles at home, but how fast is it? As more consumers switch from gasoline models to EVs, there's been an increased interest in the charging lifestyle. Ideally, a home charger is more convenient to use when compared to a public charger. Public chargers are part of a growing infrastructure striving to meet users' daily demands. Drivers just need to plug in overnight and return to a fully charged car. It's also more cost-effective. In addition, some automakers, in partnership with charging station providers, offer complimentary access to their chargers.
ChargePoint owns a network of public chargers located in North America and Europe. It currently operates in 14 countries. In March of this year, ChargePoint was said to have 174,000 charging spots. Other public charging providers include Electrify America and EVgo. Tesla also owns a web of chargers, and while that's been exclusive to Tesla EVs for a while, other vehicles will have access soon.
ChargePoint isn't the only charging solution provider that sells a home charger. The technology is relatively new, so it's not a surprise that there's already competition. Electrify America offers the Home Station, a Level 2 charger with app integration and more features. Interested buyers can also browse the Wall Connector and Wallbox provided by Tesla and Mercedes-Benz, respectively. Interestingly, the Home Flex happens to be faster than the chargers sold by Electrify America and Tesla. While the Home Station charges EVs up 6.8x faster at 40 amps, the Home Flex charges up to 9x faster using 50 amps. This allows it to add approximately 37 miles of range hourly. Owners can also set the charger to charge at 48 amps, 40 amps, 32 amps, 24 amps and 16 amps.
Home Flex Features, Explained
The Home Flex comes with a 23-foot cable that drivers can easily install indoors or outside. It's compatible with EVs from Tesla, Kia, Nissan, Mazda, BMW, Jaguar and more. Available for $749, it can charge at levels ranging from 16 amps to 50 amps. Buyers can use the ChargePoint app to monitor their charging, control charging speed and connect with smart homes to regulate charging using Alexa, a virtual assistant. Buyers can also access certain rebates on home charging solutions like the Home Flex. A three-year warranty applies to each purchase, plus ChargePoint also offers round-the-clock customer support.
For buyers unsure of which electrician to contact, ChargePoint recommends Qmerit. Qmerit also performs home charger installation for BMW EV owners. To get an estimate, EV owners need to visit Qmerit's website to access its user-friendly installation portal. Afterward, the next step is responding to some questions and uploading some photos. Within five to 10 minutes, a pricing estimate should appear on the screen.
Source: ChargePoint