Leviton EV480 vs Wallbox Pulsar Plus

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Neither of these is a plug-in charger, so both assume an electrician and a 60-amp circuit. Once that is settled, they solve different problems: the Pulsar Plus is the small one with the long cable, and the EV480 is the one that can be locked to an authorized user.

Side by side

Cable: 25 feet against 18

Seven feet is the biggest practical gap between these two. An 18 ft cord is fine when the charge port parks within a few feet of the wall, and frustrating when it does not -- and you cannot extend it later. Cable length walks the measurement, and the answer is nearly always longer than people guess.

Heat and cold

Both are rated to -22 F, so cold is a tie. Heat is not: Leviton publishes 122 F against Wallbox's 104 F. In a closed garage in a hot climate, that headroom is worth having -- chargers for hot weather covers why chargers derate when they get hot.

Access control, and who needs it

The EV480 offers RFID access control, shipped disabled. It is a real answer for a charger on an open driveway, in a shared parking area or at a small business, where an app-based lock is clumsy. For a charger inside a private garage it is a feature you will never enable. Chargers with access control covers the category.

Which one to buy

• Buy the Pulsar Plus if wall space is tight or your parking spot is far from the wall. It is the smallest 48 A unit here and carries the longer cable.
• Buy the EV480 if you need RFID access control, your garage gets hot, or you want the longest published list of UL standards plus ENERGY STAR certification.
• Buy neither if you cannot support a 60 A circuit. The 40-amp tier is the sensible fallback.

The two units

Same 48 amps, same 60 A circuit. Cable, heat rating and access control decide it.

1. Tight wall space

Wallbox Pulsar Plus

Wallbox · J1772 · 48 A / 11.5 kW · 25 ft cable

The smallest 48 A unit here at roughly 7.8 by 7.9 inches, which matters more than it sounds when the only free wall is beside a door.

What is good

• +Smallest body of the 48 A units, under 8 inches square
• +Current configurable in steps from 6 A to 48 A
• +NEMA Type 4 enclosure, rated down to -22 F
• +Weighs 4.4 lb without the cable, so mounting is simple

What is not

• −Hardwired only at 48 A, with no plug-in version at full output
• −Setup runs through the app, which some owners find fussy

Published specifications for the Wallbox Pulsar Plus

Maximum output	48 A / 11.5 kW at 240 V
Configurable current	6 A to 48 A
Connector	SAE J1772
Cable	25 ft
Body size	7.8 x 7.9 x 3.9 inches without the cable
Operating temperature	-22 F to 104 F
Certification	UL 2594, UL 2231
Warranty	3 years

Skip this if: Skip it if you want a plug-in unit you can take with you. The 48 A Pulsar Plus is hardwired.

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

$699.00 · View on Amazon#ad how we are funded · price as of September 24, 2026

2. 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)

Output	48 A, 208/240 V; Leviton quotes 11.6 kW
Breaker	60 A
Connector	SAE J1772
Cord	18 ft
Enclosure	NEMA Type 3R
Operating temperature	-22 F to 122 F
Access control	Optional RFID, disabled when shipped
Status lights	Power present, charging, fault
Standards	UL 2594, UL 2231-1, UL 2231-2, UL 2251, among others
Wi-Fi version	EV48W, 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.

$706.43 · View on Amazon#ad how we are funded · price as of September 24, 2026