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Plug & Pylon

Head to head

Emporia vs Grizzl-E Classic

Forty-eight amps with an app, or forty amps with physical switches and a metal case. The right answer depends on whether your car already schedules its own charging.

By Sawyer V. · Published September 8, 2026

A residential garage interior with wall space for a charger

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This is the clearest philosophical split in home charging. Emporia builds a connected device with real energy reporting; United Chargers builds a piece of electrical equipment and refuses to put software in it.

The two units

Ranked for a first home charger. Every row jumps to the full write-up below.

#ProductBest forMax outputPrice
1Emporia Level 2 EV Charger (Classic)A first charger, hardwired. J1772, 24 ft cable.A first charger, hardwired48 A11.5 kWCheck price on Amazon#ad how we are funded
2Grizzl-E ClassicHarsh weather and no app. J1772, 24 ft cable.Harsh weather and no app40 A9.6 kWCheck price on Amazon#ad how we are funded

The specifications

Published specifications
Emporia Level 2Grizzl-E Classic
Maximum output48 A / 11.5 kW hardwired40 A / 9.6 kW
Circuit required60 A50 A
AppYes, no subscriptionNone
Amperage settingIn the appPhysical switches
Cable24 ft24 ft (Extreme Edition)
EnclosureNEMA Type 4Cast aluminum, NEMA 4 / IP67
CertificationUL listed, Energy StarUL certified
Warranty3 years3 years

The tiebreaker question

Can your car schedule its own charging? Most modern EVs can, from the car's own screen or app, using the same time-of-use rates you would program into a charger.

If yes, the Emporia's main software advantage collapses to energy monitoring -- genuinely nice, not essential -- and the Grizzl-E's simplicity and metal case start to look like the better long-term buy.

If no, or if you want household-level energy data rather than the car's own reporting, the Emporia earns its price.

The circuit difference is a real cost difference

60 amps versus 50 amps is not just a number on a breaker. On a panel with limited headroom it can be the difference between adding a breaker and adding a subpanel, and the subpanel is worth $500 to $1,500 on published figures. Check what your panel can carry before you decide this on charger price.

Both units in full

Full specifications and the case against each.

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 output48 A / 11.5 kW at 240 V (hardwired)
Plug-in output40 A with the NEMA 14-50 plug
ConnectorSAE J1772
Cable24 ft
EnclosureNEMA Type 4, indoor or outdoor
CertificationUL listed, Energy Star
Warranty3 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.

Check price on Amazon#ad how we are funded

2. Harsh weather and no app

Grizzl-E Classic

United Chargers · J1772 · 40 A / 9.6 kW · 24 ft cable

A cast-aluminum box with no app, no account and no firmware to update. If you want a charger that behaves like an appliance, this is the one.

What is good

  • Cast aluminum NEMA 4 / IP67 enclosure, built for outdoor mounting
  • No app, no account, no network dependency
  • Amperage is set with physical switches, not software
  • Protections for over-current, over-voltage, ground fault and over-temperature

What is not

  • 40 A ceiling, slower than the 48 A units if your panel can take more
  • No scheduling, so off-peak charging has to be set in the car
  • The cold-flexible 24 ft cable is only on the Extreme Edition
Published specifications for the Grizzl-E Classic
Maximum output40 A / 9.6 kW at 240 V
Adjustable16, 24, 32 or 40 A
ConnectorSAE J1772
Cable24 ft on the Extreme Edition
EnclosureCast aluminum, NEMA 4 / IP67
CertificationUL certified
Warranty3 years

Skip this if: Skip it if you want scheduled charging or energy tracking in an app. The Classic deliberately has neither.

Specifications above are the manufacturer’s published figures. Source: United Chargers, InsideEVs. We have not tested this unit — see how we pick.

Check price on Amazon#ad how we are funded

The verdict

For most people buying a first charger with a healthy panel, the Emporia -- more speed, useful data, still outdoor-rated. For an exposed outdoor installation, a cold climate, a tight panel, or anyone who simply does not want another account, the Grizzl-E.

FAQ

Questions people actually ask

Is the Emporia or Grizzl-E better?
Emporia for speed and energy monitoring; Grizzl-E for a metal weatherproof case and no software. If your car already schedules its own charging, the Grizzl-E gives up very little.
How much faster is the Emporia?
48 A / 11.5 kW against 40 A / 9.6 kW -- roughly six miles of range per hour, or 60 miles over a ten-hour night.
Does the Grizzl-E need a smaller circuit?
Yes: 50 A against the Emporia's 60 A at full output. On a tight panel that can be the difference between a simple install and a subpanel.

Sources

Where these numbers come from

  1. Emporia Level 2 EV Charger specifications — Emporia Energy
  2. Grizzl-E Classic product specifications — United Chargers
  3. Level 2 EV charger installation cost, 2026 — SimpleSwitchPublished subpanel cost range cited above. Fetched 2026-09-08.

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