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Plug & Pylon

Model review

Leviton EV Series review

A 48-amp hardwired unit from the company better known for the outlets in your walls. Its distinctive features are an optional RFID lock and a long list of published UL standards.

By Sawyer V. · Published September 10, 2026

An electrician working on a wall-mounted electrical installation
The EV Series is hardwired only: an electrician installs it. Illustrative photo.

How this page is funded: we earn a commission if you buy through our Amazon links, at no extra cost to you. It does not change what we recommend, and we say plainly when the honest answer is to buy nothing. Full disclosure.

Leviton makes the heavy-duty 1450R receptacle on our 14-50 outlet page, and its EV Series is the hardwired alternative to needing one at all. We have not tested one; figures come from Leviton's product pages, linked at the foot of this page.

The specs

Published specifications
Leviton EV480
Output48 A, 208/240 V (Leviton quotes 11.6 kW)
Breaker60 A
ConnectorSAE J1772
Cord18 ft
InstallationHardwired only; input cable pre-attached
EnclosureNEMA Type 3R
Operating temperature-22 F to 122 F
Access controlOptional RFID, disabled when shipped
Status lightsPower present, charging, fault
StandardsUL 2594, UL 2231-1, UL 2231-2, UL 2251, among others
ENERGY STARCertified
Wi-FiOn the EV48W version, with the My Leviton app
From Leviton's EV480 and EV48W pages, fetched 2026-09-10.

What 48 amps asks of your panel

The arithmetic

48 A x 240 V = 11,520 W, about 11.5 kW

At 3.5 mi/kWh: about 40 miles of range per hour

Required circuit: 48 x 1.25 = 60 A -- the breaker Leviton specifies

RFID, for a shared driveway

Leviton lists optional RFID access control, disabled when the station ships. On a shared or street-facing driveway, a card-controlled charger keeps the electricity on your bill for your car. Most home chargers do the same job through an app; this one can do it without one. Driveway chargers.

The 18 ft question

An 18 ft cord is shorter than the 24 to 25 ft cables on most 48 A units here. Measure the real distance from the mounting spot to your charge port before you buy. Cable length guide.

Who should skip it

  • You want a plug-in unit. The EV Series is hardwired only. Plug-in chargers.
  • Your charge port is far from the only usable wall. 18 ft is the cord you get.
  • You want an app. That is the EV48W, not the EV480.

The Leviton EV480 in full

Full published specifications, and the case against it.

1. RFID access control

Leviton EV Series 48 A charger (EV480)

Leviton · J1772 · 48 A / 11.5 kW · 18 ft cable

Leviton's hardwired 48-amp EV Series unit: an 18 ft J1772 cord, a NEMA Type 3R enclosure rated -22 F to 122 F, optional RFID access control and ENERGY STAR certification. The EV48W version adds Wi-Fi and the My Leviton app.

What is good

  • Optional RFID access control for a shared or open driveway
  • NEMA Type 3R enclosure rated -22 F to 122 F
  • ENERGY STAR certified, with a long list of published UL standards
  • Pre-attached input cable and mounting hardware included

What is not

  • 18 ft cord, shorter than most 48 A units on this site
  • Hardwired only
  • The app is on the Wi-Fi EV48W, not the EV480
Published specifications for the Leviton EV Series 48 A charger (EV480)
Output48 A, 208/240 V; Leviton quotes 11.6 kW
Breaker60 A
ConnectorSAE J1772
Cord18 ft
EnclosureNEMA Type 3R
Operating temperature-22 F to 122 F
Access controlOptional RFID, disabled when shipped
Status lightsPower present, charging, fault
StandardsUL 2594, UL 2231-1, UL 2231-2, UL 2251, among others
Wi-Fi versionEV48W, with the My Leviton app

Skip this if: Skip it if your charge port is far from the wall -- the cord is 18 ft -- or if you want a plug-in unit. The EV480 is hardwired only.

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

Check price on Amazon#ad how we are funded

FAQ

Questions people actually ask

Is the Leviton EV Series charger any good?
On paper it covers the essentials well: 48 A, a Type 3R enclosure rated -22 F to 122 F, ENERGY STAR certification and a long list of UL standards, plus optional RFID. Its 18 ft cord is the main limitation.
Does the Leviton EV480 have Wi-Fi?
No. The EV48W is the Wi-Fi version, and works with the My Leviton app.
What breaker does the Leviton EV480 need?
A 60 A breaker, per Leviton. It is hardwired only.

Sources

Where these numbers come from

  1. 48 Amp Level 2 Electric Vehicle Charging Station, EV480 — Leviton48 A, 60 A breaker, J1772, 18 ft cable, hardwired only, NEMA Type 3R, -30 C to 50 C, optional RFID, status indicators, ENERGY STAR and the listed UL standards. Fetched 2026-09-10.
  2. Leviton Level 2 Smart EV Charger with Wi-Fi, 48 Amp, EV48W — LevitonThe Wi-Fi version: My Leviton app, optional RFID, hardwired on a 60 A breaker, 18 ft cord. Fetched 2026-09-10.
  3. NEC Article 625: EV charging equipment — WireRefContinuous-load rule behind every circuit figure on this page.

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