What are the best home charging accessories for Lexus NX PHEV owners?

Question

So I finally pulled the trigger on a 2024 NX 450h+ last week and the car is amazing but man that level 1 charging is killing me lol. It says like 12 hours for a full charge in my garage and i really want to take advantage of the electric mode for my daily commute to the city which is like 30 miles round trip.

I've been looking at a few options for a level 2 setup but i'm kinda torn on what to actually buy. I'm looking at the ChargePoint Home Flex because everyone says it's the gold standard but it's like $550 right now which is right at the top of my budget. On the other hand I keep seeing the Grizzl-E Classic mentioned on some threads because it's way cheaper and seems super durable since it doesn't have all the smart features that might break anyway. Then there is also those cheaper portable cables like the Lectron ones on Amazon that are tempting because they are half the price and i could take it with me if we move out of this rental next year.

I have a NEMA 14-50 outlet getting installed next Tuesday so I need to decide fast. Is the smart stuff on the ChargePoint actually useful for a Lexus or am I just paying for a fancy app? Which one would you guys pick for a PHEV specifically since the battery isn't even that big compared to a full EV?

BlueJayBreeze · Accepted Answer

Ive used both and Im happy with the ChargePoint Home Flex 16-50A EV Charger. The app works well, but Grizzl-E Classic Level 2 40A EVSE is definitely more durable for less money.

solluqokgo · Answer

Tbh if you are in a rental and only charging a PHEV, buying a huge wall-mounted station feels like overkill. The NX 450h+ has a 6.6 kW onboard charger, so anything over 32 amps is basically wasted money because the car wont take it anyway. Ngl, I would skip the fancy smart features. The Lexus app lets you set your departure times and charging schedules for free, so why pay for a second app to do the same thing? Since safety is a huge deal, please be careful with the ultra-cheap cables on Amazon. A lot of them arent UL listed and they can get scary hot at the plug. If you want something portable but bulletproof, check out the Webasto Go Dual Voltage Portable EV Charger 32A. It is pricey but it is the same unit some car manufacturers include as their factory charger. It feels solid as a brick and fits in the trunk easily if you move next year. Another solid, safe pick that wont break the bank is the Schumacher SC1455 Level 2 Portable EV Charger 16A. It is slower than a 32A unit but still way faster than your level 1 setup. It takes about 5 or 6 hours for a full charge. Honestly tho, for your 30 mile commute, even the 16A unit would have you ready to go every single morning. Just make sure whatever you buy has that UL certification for peace of mind.

txwfivsxfq · Answer

Honestly, congrats on the NX! I've messed with a lot of these setups over the years and for a PHEV, you really dont need to go overboard on smart features since the Lexus app handles the basic scheduling. Since you are in a rental, definitely stick to a plug-in unit so you can take it with you when you move. Here is what I would grab instead of the spendy gold standard stuff:

Emporia Level 2 EV Charger 48 Amp

This thing is incredible for the price. The energy monitoring is actually useful unlike some others and it feels really high quality for a budget pick.

Lectron NEMA 14-50 Level 2 EV Charger 40 Amp

This is the perfect middle ground if you want something portable but still powerful enough to max out your Lexus charging speed.

Wallbox Pulsar Plus 40A Level 2 EV Charger

Super compact if garage space is at a premium and it has a really nice tether system. Tbh, since the NX has a 6.6 kW onboard charger, any 32A or 40A station will top you off in about 2.5 hours anyway. Just make sure whatever you get is UL listed... dont risk your house on a mystery box from Amazon.