Emporia vs Autel MaxiCharger AC Home

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These two get cross-shopped constantly, and for good reason: both are outdoor-rated smart chargers with long cables, both are sold in a plug-in version for a NEMA 14-50, and both carry three-year warranties. On a 14-50 they are the same speed. The separation is in what each does when an electrician wires it in.

Side by side

The 2 amps at the top

Autel's hardwired version tops out at 50 A against Emporia's 48 A. In practice that is about 0.5 kW, or roughly a mile and a half of range an hour. It is not a reason to choose either unit.

The circuit behind it is a better reason. A 48 A charger is a 60 A circuit, which is the standard top tier in a house. A 50 A charger is a continuous load too, so it asks for more than 60 A of circuit -- Autel's installation manual states what it needs, and your electrician will size it. If your panel is already tight, that is a real difference. Load calculation explains how to find out before you buy.

Cable and reach

Autel's 25 ft cable is a foot longer than Emporia's 24 ft, and both are long by the standards of this class -- the Leviton EV480, for comparison, ships with 18 ft. Either reaches across a two-car garage. Measure the real path, not the straight line: cable length.

Certification, in plain terms

Emporia's charger is UL listed and ENERGY STAR certified. Autel's is tested to UL safety standards by CSA, which is another nationally recognized testing laboratory. Both are genuine third-party listings, which is the thing to check -- ENERGY STAR certification additionally means the unit was tested by such a laboratory and uses less energy when it is sitting idle.

Which one to buy

• Buy the Emporia if you want the most widely used safe default, ENERGY STAR certification and energy monitoring with no subscription.
• Buy the Autel if you want the longest cable of the two, a choice of 14-50 or 6-50 plug, and Bluetooth as a fallback when the Wi-Fi drops.
• Buy neither if you want no app at all -- the no-app roundup covers that case.

The two units

Both NEMA Type 4, both 40 A on a plug, both three years of warranty.

1. A first charger, hardwired

Emporia Level 2 EV Charger (Classic)

Emporia · J1772 · 48 A / 11.5 kW · 24 ft cable

The safe default for a first home charger: 48 amps hardwired, a genuinely long cable, a NEMA 4 outdoor-rated case, and no subscription attached to the app.

What is good

• +48 A hardwired is the fastest tier most homes can realistically support
• +24 ft of cable reaches across a two-car garage without a fight
• +NEMA Type 4 enclosure is rated for outdoor mounting
• +Energy monitoring in the app with no subscription

What is not

• −Drops to 40 A if you use the NEMA 14-50 plug rather than hardwiring
• −The app is the only way to change the amperage setting

Published specifications for the Emporia Level 2 EV Charger (Classic)

Maximum output	48 A / 11.5 kW at 240 V (hardwired)
Plug-in output	40 A with the NEMA 14-50 plug
Connector	SAE J1772
Cable	24 ft
Enclosure	NEMA Type 4, indoor or outdoor
Certification	UL listed, Energy Star
Warranty	3 years

Skip this if: Skip it if you want a unit with no app or network connection at all. The Grizzl-E Classic is the simpler machine.

Specifications above are the manufacturer’s published figures. Source: Emporia Energy. We have not tested this unit — see how we pick.

$449.00 · View on Amazon#ad how we are funded · price as of September 24, 2026

2. Long reach outdoors

Autel MaxiCharger AC Home

Autel Energy · J1772 · 50 A / 12 kW · 25 ft cable

The 25 ft cable is the longest in this group, and the NEMA 4 case plus a cold-flexible cord make it the easiest unit to live with on an exposed outside wall.

What is good

• +25 ft cable, the longest of the wall units here
• +Sold in NEMA 14-50, NEMA 6-50 and hardwired versions
• +NEMA Type 4 enclosure rated for rain, snow, hail and sleet
• +Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, so it still works if the Wi-Fi drops

What is not

• −The 50 A version is hardwired only
• −The app has more features than a first-time owner needs

Published specifications for the Autel MaxiCharger AC Home

Maximum output	50 A / 12 kW hardwired; 40 A / 9.6 kW plug-in
Connector	SAE J1772
Cable	25 ft
Enclosure	NEMA Type 4
Certification	Tested to UL standards by CSA
Warranty	3 years

Skip this if: Skip it if your parking spot is right next to the panel. You are paying for cable you will coil up and never use.

Specifications above are the manufacturer’s published figures. Source: Autel Energy. We have not tested this unit — see how we pick.

$470.00 · View on Amazon#ad how we are funded · price as of September 24, 2026