Is This The EV Charger For you?

Autel’s MaxiCharger line of EVSE has rapidly turn into one of many top-rated EV chargers in the marketplace immediately. With a big selection of choices, energy ranges and colours, there is a MaxiCharger to swimsuit the desires and desires of most EV homeowners.

Final 12 months I reviewed a 40-amp MaxiCharger Elite and was impressed with its specs, development, and good charging options. It did, nonetheless, have one critical flaw: it was outfitted with the worst-performing cold-weather cable that I’ve ever examined. 

Autel MaxiCharger Lite Key Options

Once I carry out our complete EV charger critiques, one of many assessments I conduct is a cold-weather cable check. The check is designed to check how effectively the cable will carry out whether it is mounted exterior in very chilly climate. I deep freeze the unit in sub-zero temperature for 24 hours after which see how versatile the cable is, in addition to how simple it’s to coil up and retailer after charging. 

The cable on the MaxiCharger we examined final 12 months carried out so badly that I used to be compelled to say I would not advocate the unit for anybody who lives in a chilly climate local weather, notably in the event that they wanted to put in the charger outside. 

Autel reached out to me instantly after the overview and stated they weren’t conscious of the cable’s chilly temperature drawback, however would instantly start the seek for a greater cable and as soon as they’ve one, they’ll ship me one other check unit to overview. 

The Autel MaxiCharger’s chilly climate cable check

I additionally spoke to John Thomas, the then COO of Autel at the New York Auto Show this 12 months and John instructed me they’d sourced a brand new cable and would ship me a overview unit as quickly as they’d them, which he did. 

Since I reviewed a 40-amp MaxiCharger Elite mannequin final time, for this overview I requested a 50-amp MaxiCharger Lite. The MaxiCharger Lite is a barely inexpensive model and does not have the glass panel on the highest of the charger. Nevertheless, the options are all the identical because the Elite.

The Elite used to supply a number of benefits over the Lite, however Autel knowledgeable me that they now embody all the identical options within the Lite, and the distinction is just the glass panel on the entrance, which is not a useful touchscreen, it is only for look. 

Autel does promote a industrial model of the MaxiCharger Elite which does have a working touchscreen, however that is geared toward enterprise use and retails for $989.00.

The MaxiCharger Lite carried out effectively in my excessive warmth check and computerized restart check and I used to be trying ahead to seeing how effectively the brand new cable fared within the deep freeze check. Sadly, the brand new cable nonetheless failed the check and was tough to control when frozen.

Autel MaxiCharger Lite 50-A ChargerRater rating

It was undoubtedly higher than the cable it changed, however I imagine it is nonetheless not ok to advocate to be used in chilly climate climates. That is unlucky as a result of apart from that, the MaxiCharger is an exceptionally good unit.

It has a pleasant connector, the enclosure is NEMA-4 rated, so it is appropriate for outside installations in any local weather. It’s Power Star-certified and CSA accepted and when hardwired can ship as much as 50-amps (12 kW) to an EV. Most EVs are restricted to accepting 48 amps so a 50 amp charger is nearly as highly effective as an EV wants. 

There are a number of EVs with very giant batteries that may settle for 80 amps (F-150 Lightning, Lucid Air, and among the new Ultium-based EVs from GM) however the overwhelming majority of EVs are restricted to 48 amps on AC energy.

All Autel MaxiChargers are good chargers that may hook up with the Autel app by way of wifi, Bluetooth, and ethernet cable. They’ve entry management via the app and prospects may also order RFID playing cards for many who need entry with out utilizing the app. The models can energy share with as much as 6 MaxiChargers, which makes them an ideal alternative for multifamily installations the place there aren’t sufficient circuits to supply full energy to every charger. 

The MaxiCharger Lite 50-amp that I reviewed has a retail value of $569.00 and is out there with an built-in or distant connector holster. The 40-amp model that comes with a NEMA 14-50 plug sells for $459.00, however as of immediately is on sale on Amazon for only $399.00.