Glossary

Every term you'll encounter when researching home EV chargers, defined plainly.

AC (Alternating Current)
The type of power delivered by home outlets and Level 2 chargers. The car's onboard charger converts AC to DC for the battery.
Amperage (Amps / A)
The rate of electrical current flow. Higher amps = faster charging. Chargers range from 16A to 50A for home use.
BMS (Battery Management System)
Electronics in the EV that monitor and control charging — prevents overcharge, manages temperature, limits charge rate in cold.
CCS (Combined Charging System)
J1772 AC pins plus 2 DC pins for fast charging. CCS1 = North American version. Only used at DC fast chargers, not relevant for home Level 2.
DC Fast Charging (DCFC)
Level 3 charging that delivers DC power directly to the battery, bypassing the onboard charger. Much faster than Level 2 but only available at public stations, not for home use.
EVSE
Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment — the technical name for what most people call a "charger." The wall unit that supplies AC power to the car's onboard charger.
Hardwired
A charger permanently connected to a dedicated circuit without a plug. Requires an electrician. Allows higher amperage (40–50A) than plug-in installations.
J1772
The SAE standard connector for North American Level 1 and Level 2 AC charging. Used by all non-Tesla EVs; works with Tesla via included adapter.
kW (Kilowatt)
Power output. Used to rate charger speed. 240V × 40A = 9.6kW. Higher kW = faster charging. Charger kW is limited by whichever is lower: the charger or the car's onboard charger.
kWh (Kilowatt-hour)
Energy unit. Your electricity bill is in kWh. EV battery capacity is in kWh (e.g., "82 kWh battery"). Charging cost = kWh used × your electricity rate.
Level 1 Charging
120V AC charging via a standard household outlet. ~1.4kW, adds 3–5 miles/hr. Adequate for plug-in hybrids and low-mileage EV drivers only.
Level 2 Charging
240V AC charging. 3.3–19.2kW depending on charger and car. Adds 10–44 miles/hr. The standard for home EV charging.
Matter
A smart home connectivity standard (formerly Project CHIP) backed by Apple, Google, Amazon, and others. The Wallbox Pulsar Plus is currently the only Matter-certified home EV charger.
NACS (SAE J3400)
Tesla's connector design, now an SAE standard. Smaller than J1772, handles AC and DC. Used natively by all Teslas and increasingly by Ford, GM, Rivian (2025+).
NEC (National Electrical Code)
The standard for electrical installation in the US. Requires EV charger circuits to be sized at 125% of the charger's rated current (e.g., 40A charger → 50A breaker).
NEMA 14-50
The standard 240V/50A 4-prong outlet used for home EV charging. Allows plug-in chargers up to 32A continuous. Common in garages and RV hookups.
Onboard Charger
The AC-to-DC converter inside the EV that converts power from the wall into the DC current the battery needs. Its kW rating is the ceiling for how fast your car charges at Level 2.
OCPP
Open Charge Point Protocol — an open standard for communication between chargers and energy management systems. The Autel MaxiCharger supports OCPP, making it compatible with third-party energy management systems.
TOU (Time-of-Use)
A utility pricing structure where electricity costs more during peak hours (e.g., 4–9pm) and less during off-peak hours. Smart charger scheduling can shift EV charging to off-peak, saving significantly on monthly bills.
UL Listed
Underwriters Laboratories certification that a product meets US safety standards. All chargers reviewed on Charger Chooser are UL listed — it's a baseline requirement, not a differentiator.