I just bought an EQS SUV, and this is our first EV. I’m in the U.S., and we don’t currently have any charging setup at home. I’m also planning to get a Ford Lightning in the future.
Is there a wall charger that would work for both vehicles?
This house is temporary (we’ll be here for about a year or a year and a half), so I’d prefer to install something simple that I won’t mind leaving behind. Any suggestions?
It depends on how much you drive. If your driving is minimal and you’re home often, a mobile charger with a standard 110V outlet might suffice. Otherwise, installing a NEMA 14-50 outlet and using the mobile charger would be the simplest and cheapest solution.
Get an electrician to do a load calculation for your panel to see what it can handle. That will guide your decision on what’s possible.
If you don’t want to leave an expensive charger behind, don’t hardwire it. Install a NEMA 14-50 outlet instead. Chargers cost around $500, and you can take them with you.
Also, the EQS comes with 2 years of free charging at Electrify America stations, so check if there’s one near your home.
Any wall connector or 240V outlet will work. For a temporary setup, I’d recommend installing a NEMA 14-50 outlet so you can use the mobile charger and take it with you later.
What city/state are you in, and who is your electric utility provider? Since this is temporary, are you the homeowner? If not, the homeowner should be involved in the decision.
Imani said:
What city/state are you in, and who is your electric utility provider? Since this is temporary, are you the homeowner? If not, the homeowner should be involved in the decision.
I’m the homeowner, but we’re building another house. I’m in Kansas and my utility is Evergy.
You should be able to install a 240V outlet and use a mobile charger for Level 2 charging. Both the EQS and Lightning should work with the same type of charger, but double-check their requirements to be sure.
For Level 2 charging, you’ll need a 240V NEMA 14-50 outlet in your garage and possibly an EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment).
The EVSE ensures safety and manages the connection between the car and the charger. You can find plenty of options online to suit your budget and needs.
Have you thought about using public chargers instead? Depending on your area, it might be an option until you move.
Both vehicles use the same J1772 plug. Did the EQS come with a charger? If not, depending on your commute, you might be fine with Level 1 charging on a regular wall outlet for now.
sorphia said:
Both vehicles use the same J1772 plug. Did the EQS come with a charger? If not, depending on your commute, you might be fine with Level 1 charging on a regular wall outlet for now.
I’m not sure yet. It’s a used car, and it hasn’t been delivered yet.
Check out the pinned posts in EV charging forums. Lots of good info there.
Hire an electrician to install a heavy-duty plug like this: Hubbell Store. It’s designed for EVs and can handle continuous loads.
For chargers, Grizzle Duo, Wallbox, or Tesla Universal are good options that will work with your current and future EVs. Once you’re in your new house, you can have a hardwired setup installed for a cleaner look.
When we got our EQE SUV, Mercedes offered a free Wallbox charger as part of a promotion. It integrates well with the Mercedes app for usage tracking. Ours is hardwired to a 240V 50A circuit, but it would be easy to remove if we moved. Check with your dealer to see if there’s a similar promotion for the EQS.
You might want to look into the Tesla Universal Wall Connector: https://shop.tesla.com/product/universal-wall-connector.