The ChargePoint Home Flex Wi-Fi-enabled EV charger is one of the finest Level 2 (or Type 1) home chargers on the market.
It is ChargePoint’s most recent and most active product in the EV home charger market.ChargePoint Home Flex is the company’s second home line. The first, branded the ChargePoint Home, was unveiled in 2015.
While the former ChargePoint Home model is no longer available, the current model, the Home Flex EV charging station, is. In this review, we will cover everything that you need to know about the ChargePoint Home Flex, so you can decide if it is a worthwhile investment for you.
OUR REVIEW
ChargePoint Home Flex
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Hardwired Or Plug-In?
Unlike the original ChargePoint Home, which is offered in both hardwired and plug-in variants, the ChargePoint Home Flex is available only as a plug-in unit with a NEMA 6-50 or a NEMA 14-50 socket.
To hardwire the device, just remove the plug and then hardwire it directly. Since you can do this, the Home Flex EV charger may be transformed into a hardwired device.
Installation of ChargePoint Home Flex is a breeze as well as long as it is done by an experienced electrician. The indicator light on the ChargePoint Home Flex changes color to indicate the charger’s current condition.
These are:
- White
- Blinking white
- Solid green
- Blinking green
- Blue
- Blinking blue
- Red
Power Output
The ChargePoint Home Flex is a high-performance, power-adjustable DC fast charger for electric vehicles. It is capable of generating between 3.8 and 12 kilowatts of power. The rate at which your electric car can charge is controlled by a variety of factors, including the circuit rating to which it is attached, the amperage rating you select, the capacity of your EV’s battery, and the onboard charger’s acceptance rate. If you have access to a 30-amp circuit, you may set the ChargePoint Home Flex to provide 24 amps to the automobile without overloading the circuit. If you have a 50-amp circuit available, it can provide 40 amps according to the 80 percent draw rule (EVSE or electric vehicle service equipment may deliver up to 80% of the circuit’s rating). As a result, if you have a 40-amp circuit, the maximum output of the charger to the automobile is 32 amps. This is taken into consideration by the Flex. After installation, the app invites you to input the circuit’s rating. The ChargePoint Home Flex automatically adjusts the maximum quantity of power it will provide to the EV. As a consequence, you have nothing to worry about, it will take care of everything for you as long as you are aware of the circuit’s rating. On top of this, the Home Flex is incredibly energy efficient. It is one of the very chargers that have been Energy Star Certified, showing its energy efficiency.
Charging Session Recording
The ChargePoint Home Flex is a Wi-Fi-enabled smart charger. It’s simple to connect to the ChargePoint app. The ChargePoint app allows you to view previous charging sessions and assess the amount of energy utilized and the associated cost.
Time Scheduling
You may schedule charging times for the car and save money by taking advantage of off-peak energy rates. Additionally, you may schedule a reminder to plug in, and the ChargePoint Home Flex will notify you, which is a really useful feature, particularly for new EV owners who have not yet got into the habit of often charging. You may also use the ChargePoint mobile app to monitor the charger’s real-time charging state to see if anyone else is using it without your permission.
Resume Charging
What happens if you are charging your car and you lose power? Will the device come back on as soon as the power does? The answer is a resounding YES. Following a power outage, the EV charger is revived and begins charging once again as it is capable of self-restarting.
Utility Demand Response Programs
The ChargePoint Home Flex charger enables you to participate in Utility Demand Response Programs, which may be highly beneficial. You give your utility the authority to determine the charging schedule for your EV, resulting in a lower energy bill. Occasionally, a large discount is available. Although there are few demand response systems available at the moment, this will change over the next several years. So, having a charger compatible with these programs may ultimately save you money in the long run.
Can It Share Power?
Multiple chargers can be connected to the same circuit via power-sharing, but can the Home Flex do this? Unfortunately with the ChargePoint Home Flex, this is not feasible. To charge two electric vehicles, you would need to purchase a second unit and construct a second circuit.
Connector
The J1772 connector on the ChargePoint Home Flex is bespoke. The Home Flex features a premium connection and a noticeable taper in the grip where your index finger sits.
Holster For Connector
The ChargePoint Home Flex connection holster has a tapered edge that is accentuated. The tapered edge assists in positioning the connection in the locking position. You do not need to position the connection precisely. This hole’s tapered edge helps it smoothly into the locking position. The LED connecting holster on the Home Flex charger is especially beneficial in a dark garage or poorly lit outdoor installation.
Cable Length And Flexibility
The cable is 23 feet in length, far longer than the industry standard of 20 feet. The cable of the ChargePoint Home Flex is an average thickness and exceptionally flexible at room temperature. The ChargePoint Home Flex cable can perform very well even in the harsh and cold winter months. It will retain its elasticity and you will still have the ability to fold the material into larger loops. It will easily bend, indicating that the cable will operate well below zero degrees, which is important if you leave your car out overnight and need to exit without yanking the connector.
Waterproofing
The ChargePoint Home Flex meets NEMA 3R requirements for waterproofing, making it appropriate for outdoor usage. However, several competitor chargers, such as the JuiceBox Level 2 EV charger, the Wallbox Pulsar Plus Level 2 EV charger, and the Grizzl-E home charger, have a slightly higher NEMA 4 rating. NEMA 4 chargers that do not contain water may withstand a direct hit from a garden hose. If you’re planning to put your charger outdoors and live in an area prone to blowing rain or snowstorms, you may want to consider a NEMA 4-approved charger. It will give another layer of security to your system.
Size
The ChargePoint Home Flex is one of the most compact and fashionable electric vehicle chargers available today. It weighs around 13.8 pounds and has a footprint of just 7.06 by 11.19 inches.
Alexa Compatible
The ChargePoint Home Flex is compatible with Amazon Alexa, which enables you to ask Alexa to start or stop a charging session for your vehicle. You may query about whether your car is plugged in or not, as well as the number of miles added during the most recent charging session. Additionally, you can ask Alexa how much money you spent this month charging your EV, which is a convenient feature.
ChargePoint App
When the LED ring around the charging pouch flashes, the Home Flex is activated, and you can access the app to configure it. As a ChargePoint family member, the app gives users control over the charger itself, visibility of all connected chargers, and previous charging session information. Activating the Home Flex and linking it to your ChargePoint account is a fairly straightforward process. Once enabled, the charger connects to your home’s wifi network, offering a plethora of handy features such as reminders, scheduled charging, integration with Alexa or Siri, and tracking all of your home EV charging energy use through a single app. ChargePoint currently does not interact with Google Assistant, but it has been put on the list of features to be developed in the future. Once you’ve logged into the app, a few simple clicks will walk you through the process of adding the new charger to your account.
Support
You never need to worry about anything going wrong with your ChargePoint Home Flex! Should you be unsure of anything, have an issue, or just need some advice, you can make use of customer support. Their support is available 24 hours a day, so no matter what time it is, someone will be there to assist you. Customers have also praised the wonderful support, so you don’t need to worry about anything. There will be someone on the other end of the line to help you and give you the support that you need.
Safety
You also don’t need to worry about the safety of this device. Many of us are concerned about using new electrical advice, but with ChargePoint Home Flex, there is no need to be concerned. The device is electrically approved and complies with all UL standards, so you can use it with ease. You will never need to worry about your safety or your loved ones when using this. Simply plug it in and you are good to go. If you have any concerns about the safety of your ChargePoint, then be sure to consult the manufacturer, who can put your mind at ease. Why not use their trusty 24/7 support to get the answers and reassurance that you need?
Warranty
And to fully reassure you, should anything go wrong with your device, then the warranty is there to cover you! The ChargePoint Home Flex comes with a three-year warranty, so should you need repairs or a replacement, then be sure to make use of the warranty. Now it is worth noting that the electric car charging station comes with a warranty of less than a year. While that might seem lower, it is still pretty good, if the manufacturer does not have enough confidence in their product to offer at least a one-year warranty, it is almost certainly not well-made. When claiming for any damage or repairs on your warranty, be sure to read it through carefully first. You will want to check and see what is covered before reporting any issues. After all, the last thing that you want to do is end up forking out for repairs! Give the warranty a read or speak to customer support if you have any questions.
Drawbacks To The Home Flex
We have noticed one potential issue with the ChargePoint app. It will only allow the use of one ChargePoint Home Flex unit per account, which means that if you own two EVs and purchase two ChargePoint Home Flex units, you will be unable to use them at the same time. You’ll need to use a different email address to establish a new ChargePoint account. Another aspect to consider is that you must input your credit card details when creating an account with ChargePoint. This is because the account used to purchase your ChargePoint Home Flex will also be used to purchase any public charging. That is the only flaw. To create an account, the majority of applications do not require you to submit your credit card information. ChargePoint Home Flex does not debit your account, but it is available in the case of a payment necessity. It has been set up in your account already.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get your last-minute queries answered here!
Can The ChargePoint Home Flex Charge A Tesla?
ChargePoint Home Flex is compatible with all-electric cars, including the Chevrolet Volt and Bolt EV, Hyundai Kona and Ioniq, Kia NIRO, Nissan LEAF, Tesla, Toyota Prius Prime, BMW i3, Honda Clarity, Chrysler Pacifica, and Jaguar I-PACE. Does ChargePoint Charge Idle Fees? There are no waste fees. ChargePoint is mostly available in retail places.
While certain companies and locations waive the price, ChargePoint will charge your card $10 upon enrollment if the service is not complimentary.
This is automatically renewed if your balance falls below $5.
How Far Can An Electric Car Go On One Charge?
Current electric vehicles have a range of about 250 miles on a single charge, while others, such as Teslas, have a range of over 350 miles.
Numerous car manufacturers have stated their aim to produce longer-range electric vehicles with quick charging.
What Happens If An Electric Car Runs Out Of Battery On The Road?
If your electric car runs out of battery power, it will immediately enter failsafe mode, giving you time to pull over.
When help comes, your car may receive an immediate boost charge – providing enough power to go to a charging station – or it may be towed to one.
Summary
The ChargePoint Home Flex is an excellent charger for your electric car. It can charge the vehicle very fast, the cable is long, durable, and flexible to make charging easier, and you can monitor everything from the connected app.
The only downside is that you cannot have more than one charger on the account and that you have to put your credit card details into the app as well.
These are minor inconveniences though as probably won’t negatively impact your overall experience with this charger.
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