GRIZZL-E EV Charger Review
As the market for electric cars grows, so does the demand for their surrounding accessories. And one of the things you really can’t live without is a home charger. They allow you to charge your car up as it sits in the garage, for easy and convenient use.
Grizzl-E is a relative newcomer to the EV charger market, but it’s managed to make a pretty big name for itself in just a few years.
It doesn’t do anything different, and it doesn’t do anything new. So why has the Grizzl-E become such a popular home charger?
What Grizzl-E does is the basics – but it does them well. A fast and powerful charger that’s easy to use, Grizzl-E has positioned itself as the home charger that’s making electrical vehicles accessible.
In this review, EV America takes a look at the Grizzl-E to determine if it leaves us electrified or running on empty.
Who are GRIZZL-E?
Grizzl-E is a level 2 charger that provides power to your electrical vehicle (EV). They’re made by United Chargers Inc., a Canadian company that designs and manufactures Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE).
Founded in 2001 as a software company, they restructured in 2019 to focus on EVSE. The company is dedicated to pursuing more environmentally friendly transport and wants to make EVs the accessible car choice for everyone. By creating and manufacturing consumer-friendly EV equipment, they hope to make the electric car the first choice for the average customer.
The Grizzl-E EV is an indoor/outdoor car charging station. It has a maximum power output of 40 amps but can be configured to provide 16 amps, 24 amps, or 32 amps. It connects to a 14-50R outlet.
What We Like About the Grizzl-E EV Charger
There’s a lot to like with the Grizzl-E EV Charger, and that starts with the design. It may not be the most exciting-looking charger on the market, but it’s sleek and simple, with a durable finish. It’s easy to imagine this tucked into the garage, quietly doing its job.
But the look is unimportant when it comes to the charge – and the Grizzl-E packs a punch. It delivers an impressive 40 amps of power. This is particularly good when compared to what else is on the market.
Even some of the best quality chargers only go up to 32 amps because that used to be the maximum an EV could accept. But the vehicles have changed, with a bigger battery and a longer life.
Nowadays, many EVs can accept a charge of 40 amps, or even 48 – but the home chargers haven’t kept up. The Grizzl-E, on the other hand, is ready to deliver more. Your current car may max out at 32, but your next one probably won’t. The Grizzl-E EV Charger is almost future-proof.
You can also adjust the level of amps that the Grizzl-E delivers. This is to ensure that your electrical circuit can provide the power it asks for.
Grizzl-E offers 40A, 32A, 24A, and 16A output – a decent range similar to, or better than, other products available on the market. Simply screw open the front, and there’s a switch mechanism inside.
When charging at home, the time it takes for the EV to reach full charge isn’t quite as important as it is elsewhere. After all, no one is likely to be hanging around waiting for a parking spot (although we can’t vouch for your exact family dynamics).
However, a quicker charge is still best. The Grizzl-E is a level 2 charger, which gives it a speedy delivery of power for a fast charge.
From the outset, it’s clear that the Grizzl-E is a durable charger. It’s made of an aluminum outer casing with a NEMA 4 rating, which is thick to withstand harsh conditions. Grizzl-E is made by a Canadian company, and the construction is clearly intended to hold up to cold Canadian winters.
There are two cable options: standard and premium (with the premium at a slightly higher price). After a deep freeze, the premium cable remains flexible, making it the right choice for the coldest states.
Some cables go stiff when exposed to cold weather, making them impossible to use. Grizzl-E has navigated this problem with ease. The premium cable is also longer, reaching an impressive 24 feet.
Grizzl-E has combined this outer durability with a host of safety features. It’s UL Listed and has protections against: over current, over voltage, under voltage, missing diode, ground fault, and over temperature. It’s also IP67 water resistant and fire resistant.
The Grizzl-E self-monitors and recovers, so if the power goes out, the charger reboots accordingly.
Installation for the Grizzl-E is relatively simple, with an easy EV plug system. Simply screw the mounting plate to the wall, hang the unit, and plug it in. The instructions are clear enough to follow, even for a first-time EV owner.
This system means that the charger is moveable and can be taken on and off as necessary. It also provides the owner with some versatility in where they choose to mount the charger.
The holster isn’t backlit but has a wide opening for the connector. You can holster the connector even in a dark garage without much effort. Everything doesn’t have to be perfectly aligned.
As long as the connector is in roughly the right place, it will lock-in. It’s not a perfect system, but it’s a good one.
For cable management, there’s a deep plug and remote holster. This is a neat addition, even if it isn’t the best storage around. Either way, your cables will be neatly arranged.
The Grizzl-E is a compatible system, which is pretty much a must nowadays. It works with all EVs and PHEVs sold in the USA and Canada. This does include Tesla’s, although you will have to use the Tesla adaptor that comes standard.
An EV charger is not a cheap purchase, so you want to have some assurance of quality. The Grizzl-E charger provides this with a 3-year warranty and full customer support. This gives that extra peace of mind.
The final thing that we really like about the Grizzl-E charger is the price. It’s generally sold for around $400-$500, depending on the cable attached. It might seem expensive, but this is almost a bargain for an EV charger, especially one with this much power.
More importantly – it’s a bargain for a charger with this level of quality. Cheaper chargers are available, but they tend to be badly made and break easily. For a quality charger, $400 is almost the minimum price. Grizzl-E is inexpensive for the quality of its construction.
What We Don’t Like About the Grizzl-E EV Charger
This isn’t a smart charger. The Grizzl-E essentially just plugs in and goes, so you have no extra level of control over it. There’s no remote monitoring, you can’t connect it to an Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, and you can’t optimize the charge.
There’s also no LED screen. Once your EV is charging, there’s nothing you can do but take a step back.
Smart chargers are useful, but they aren’t essential. If you want that level of control, then the Grizzl-E isn’t for you. But with this incredible power output, the smartphone features aren’t necessary.
A minor gripe, but the premium cable is pretty thick. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it does make it unwieldy. Thinner cables with the same durability do exist, but you will generally be paying more.
There isn’t much to dislike about the Grizzl-E, and most of the faults are made up for by the price. There are a few areas of design that aren’t optimized – the cable holster could be improved, a backlight would be good – but at this cost, it’s hard to complain.
All the important areas, especially the power and durability, make up for the small failings.
Where to buy the Grizzl-E EV Charger?
The Grizzl-E Level 2 EV Charger is available from Amazon.com. It can also be purchased from their own website Grizzl-e.com.
Final Thoughts
The Grizzl-E charger packs in almost no end of good stuff for such a simple construction. The first thing to note is the 40 amp adjustable power, which is among the best on the market.
The durable outer casing and numerous safety features make it ideal for home use, even in the coldest parts of Canada.
It’s easy to use and simple to install, so first-time EV buyers can feel comfortable getting to grips with it. And all of this is sweetened by the incredible price that Grizzl-E sells at.
Grizzl-E has created a charger that’s perfect for the average home. It doesn’t need any of the complicated features of a smart charger. Instead, it simply does the basics very well.
With a Grizzl-E in your home, your EV will be consistently charged and running smoothly. It’s one of the top available EV level 2 charger choices.
You’ll also like these other EV home charger reviews:
ChargePoint Home Flex EV charger Review
Juicebox Ev Charger Review
Evocharge Ev Charger Review
Blink Ev Home Charger Review
Morec Ev Charger Review
Megear Ev Charger Review
