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How we rank products

The formula is the same on every comparison: official ENERGY STAR figures, published weights, and no paid placement.

1. Specs come from official ENERGY STAR records

We enter only figures published on the ENERGY STAR certified AC-output electric vehicle supply equipment dataset, and we link the product-finder search and the public dataset under every product. If a figure isn't published we show "Not listed" instead of guessing. Official nameplate output current and official input voltage are shown as extra details when the record lists them. Obvious official unit errors, such as an input voltage of a few volts or a record of 0 outputs, are noted and are not shown as those values. The vehicle connector (J1772 or NACS) and whether a unit is hardwired or uses a NEMA plug are almost never on this dataset, so those facts stay Not listed.

2. Scores use a fixed reference range

Each criterion has a fixed reference range, from a "weakest reasonable" value to a "best in class" value (for example 1.8 kW to 11.52 kW official maximum output power on Level 2 home chargers, or 12 ft to 30 ft official output cord length). A product's figure is placed on that range and clamped between 0 and 1, so scores stay meaningful as products are added. Official output power above 19.2 kW in the high-power table, and official cord lengths above 30 ft, are clamped at those reference bests. Yes/no features count as 1 or 0. The ranges are listed below.

Level 2 home EV chargers

  • Official maximum output power · weight 30 · range 1.8–11.52 kW — The official maximum output power published on the ENERGY STAR certified AC-output EVSE record, in kilowatts. It is the certified nameplate figure, not a charging speed we measured at a vehicle. In this category the reference range is 1.8 kW to 11.52 kW, which covers official Level 2 nameplate figures up to 48 A at 240 V. Official figures above 11.52 kW are not expected here.
  • Official maximum output cord length · weight 25 · range 12–30 ft — The official maximum output cord length published on the ENERGY STAR record, in feet. A record of 0 ft is shown as 0 ft and usually means the certified unit is an inlet or socket without a factory cable. We do not guess a cable length from retailer listings. Official lengths above 30 ft are clamped at the 30 ft reference best.
  • Official no-vehicle-mode input power · weight 25 · range 12–1 W (lower is better) — The official no-vehicle-mode input power published on the ENERGY STAR record, in watts. Lower official standby power is better. This is a certified laboratory figure for the charger when no vehicle is connected, not a bill we measured at a house panel.
  • Official network capability · weight 20 — Official network capability on the ENERGY STAR record, recorded as yes or no when the field is filled in. This is the certified network-capability flag, not a test of the maker's app. If the field is blank it is shown as Not listed.

High-power Level 2 EV chargers

  • Official maximum output power · weight 30 · range 12–19.2 kW — The official maximum output power published on the ENERGY STAR certified AC-output EVSE record, in kilowatts. It is the certified nameplate figure, not a charging speed we measured at a vehicle. In this category the reference range is 12 kW to 19.2 kW. Official figures above 19.2 kW are clamped at the reference best so a rare dual-output 38.4 kW record does not dominate the ranking.
  • Official maximum output cord length · weight 25 · range 12–30 ft — The official maximum output cord length published on the ENERGY STAR record, in feet. A record of 0 ft is shown as 0 ft and usually means the certified unit is an inlet or socket without a factory cable. We do not guess a cable length from retailer listings. Official lengths above 30 ft are clamped at the 30 ft reference best.
  • Official no-vehicle-mode input power · weight 25 · range 12–1 W (lower is better) — The official no-vehicle-mode input power published on the ENERGY STAR record, in watts. Lower official standby power is better. This is a certified laboratory figure for the charger when no vehicle is connected, not a bill we measured at a house panel.
  • Official network capability · weight 20 — Official network capability on the ENERGY STAR record, recorded as yes or no when the field is filled in. This is the certified network-capability flag, not a test of the maker's app. If the field is blank it is shown as Not listed.

Portable and dual-input EV chargers

  • Official maximum output power · weight 30 · range 1.44–11.52 kW — The official maximum output power published on the ENERGY STAR certified AC-output EVSE record, in kilowatts. It is the certified nameplate figure, not a charging speed we measured at a vehicle. In this category the reference range is 1.44 kW to 11.52 kW, which covers official Level 1 figures and official dual-input or portable Level 2 figures up to 48 A at 240 V.
  • Official maximum output cord length · weight 25 · range 12–30 ft — The official maximum output cord length published on the ENERGY STAR record, in feet. A record of 0 ft is shown as 0 ft and usually means the certified unit is an inlet or socket without a factory cable. We do not guess a cable length from retailer listings. Official lengths above 30 ft are clamped at the 30 ft reference best.
  • Official no-vehicle-mode input power · weight 25 · range 12–1 W (lower is better) — The official no-vehicle-mode input power published on the ENERGY STAR record, in watts. Lower official standby power is better. This is a certified laboratory figure for the charger when no vehicle is connected, not a bill we measured at a house panel.
  • Official network capability · weight 20 — Official network capability on the ENERGY STAR record, recorded as yes or no when the field is filled in. This is the certified network-capability flag, not a test of the maker's app. If the field is blank it is shown as Not listed.

3. Missing official figures never beat published ones

When a scored field is Not listed, it receives the category minimum for that criterion. An unpublished number cannot outrank a published one. We do not use prices or customer ratings, even if a retailer later lists them.

4. What the score cannot tell you

Specs don't capture whether the official connector matches your car, whether your panel can support the official nameplate current, or how a maker's app behaves. Official maximum output power is the certified nameplate figure, not a charging session we measured. Official no-vehicle-mode power is a laboratory standby figure, not a household energy bill. Use the score to shortlist, then read the pros, cons, safety notes and sources, and confirm the current official specification with the maker and the retailer. When we add hands-on testing notes, we label them clearly.