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Emporia Pro EV Charging Station Review
One of the best EV charging stations you can buy today.
Table of Contents:
The Emporia Pro is the second-generation charger available from Emporia. I was a big fan of their original product, the Emporia 48-amp, and I included it in my Best Chargers lists over the past 2 years, as it consistently scored one of the top scores on my ChargerRater. Overall, I thought it was an extremely good value for what you get, considering its relatively low cost.
Their next-generation charger costs a little bit more, but it also comes with some new features. One aspect in particular that I was very interested in exploring is called the PowerSmart feature, which is essentially intelligent load balancing. This allows you to install the charger in your home, even if you have an electric service that wouldn't typically permit the installation of a 48-amp charger. This is because it intelligently monitors the power, ensuring it won't overdraw your home's electrical capabilities.
So, how did the Emporia Pro hold up under my rigorous testing regime? Find out below.
- Charger: AC Level 2
- AC Connector: SAE J1772
- Power Input: Hardwired, NEMA 14-50 plug
- Rated Current: 48 Amps
- Adjustable Current: 12 – 48 Amps
- Maximum Power: 11.5
- Dimensions (without cable): 11.5" x 8" x 3.1"
- Cable length: 25 ft
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi
- Safety Certified: Yes
At purchase, you can choose between the hardwired version (which allows for a max of 11.5 kW of charging power and up to 48 amps) or the NEMA 14-50 plug-in version (which allows for a max of 9.6 kW and up to 40 amps). The unit itself comes in both a black and white model, and is manufactured in India.
The Emporia Pro arrives with the body of the unit, a 25-foot charging cable with a J1772 connector, an Emporia Vue 3 Home Energy Monitor with two 200a CT sensors, mounting hardware, a remote connector holster, and an installation guide.
For safety reasons, professional installation by a licensed and bonded electrician is highly recommended, especially when it comes to hardwiring—otherwise, there is a chance that your EV charger might cause a dangerous electrical failure. My professional electrician of choice (and channel sponsor) is Qmerit. With their skill and expertise, you can count on them to get the job done right the first time, in the safest way possible.
When it comes to self-installation of the plug-in version, you’ll want to begin by removing the mounting bracket from the back of the unit and attaching it to a stud using the included screws. The unit then slides onto the bracket and hangs from a pair of tabs, which you then secure with screws along the bottom.
Once you’ve got the unit in place and connected to power, you’ll want to install your remote connector holster with the included screws. The second-generation version is much better than the first, though in my opinion, it’s still pretty average. The angle of the holster makes the connector stick out pretty far from the wall, but at least it locks in better than some I’ve reviewed before. If you’re looking for an all-around third-party connector holster and cable management system, I’d recommend the Lectron connector holster instead.
Depending on whether you purchased the plug-in or hardwired version of the Emporia Pro, the unit can deliver up to 9.6 kW of power from a 240v outlet (11.5 kW in the hardwired version). The power can be adjusted from 12 to 40 amps (48 amps in the hardwired version) through the Emporia app — there are no dip switches in this model. A series of LED status lights adorn the front of the charger to alert you of potential issues. The Emporia Pro comes with a 3-year warranty.
While the Emporia Pro currently only comes with a J1772 connector, the company promises to release a NACS version sometime in Q4 2025. Until then, any vehicle that requires a NACS connector will need to use an adaptor to charge. The NEMA-4 enclosure protects against severe weather conditions and allows the unit to be used both indoors and outdoors. In addition, the Pro is UL certified for safety.
The Emporia Pro is a smart EV charging station, meaning that you can connect to it using the Emporia app via Wi-Fi. Like I mentioned before, the unit’s power can only be adjusted through the app, which I don’t particularly like. I prefer EVSEs to have an internal dip switch to set a maximum current; that way, the power can’t be set incorrectly and potentially overdraw a circuit.
The app itself is robust and offers plenty of useful features. It can be used to remotely turn off access to the charger, so no one can use it without your permission. You can also view your charging session history, filter charging sessions by cost or power delivered, set schedules, configure your solar connection (including the option to charge exclusively from excess solar power), and search for potential power discounts.
The included Emporia Vue 3 Home Energy Monitor monitors the energy draw of your home and adjusts the charger to use the maximum, safe amount of power based on your electrical usage during a charging session. There’s also a power-sharing feature that allows the installation of multiple units on a single circuit. Additionally, the Pro’s excess solar charging feature enables the user to charge their vehicle when there is a surplus of solar energy.
Testing
To provide you, as a consumer, with the best overall picture of how an EV charging station operates during everyday use, I subject each one I review to a series of tests. By simulating real-world conditions, I can demonstrate how well a charging station will perform under various scenarios, including extreme temperatures, rough handling, and power outages. That way, you’re more likely to purchase an EVSE that actually fits your needs.
The Extreme Heat Test
To see how well an EV charging station can handle extreme heat, such as summertime in the American Southwest, I put a heat lamp in front of it for about two hours to get the surface temperature to about 120° F (48.89° C). The point is to make sure that the unit will still deliver full power without derating or shutting off when it overheats. I plugged in a Porsche Macan for the test, and checked back in three hours. The Emporia Pro charged the Macan at full power the entire time, even though the surface temperature of the unit eventually rose to about 166° F (74.4° C). That’s a pass on the Extreme Heat Test.
The Automatic Restart Test
With the Automatic Restart Test, I have the charger actively charging an electric vehicle, and I kill power to the circuit to simulate a power outage before restoring the power. What I want to see is the charger re-engaging the electric vehicle and continuing to charge. We’ve noticed that some chargers get stuck in a fault state and don’t start charging the EV again, which is problematic. I plugged the Porsche Macan in for this test as well, and the Emporia Pro immediately resumed charging after the power interruption. That’s another pass.
The Cable Deep Freeze Test
Those of us who live in a northern state, or even Canada, know that cold-weather cable pliability is incredibly important as well. In order to test that, I put the Emporia Pro in a deep freezer for about 30 hours, where it reached a temperature of -12° F (-24.4° C). The thin cable immediately began to frost up after I pulled it out of the freezer, and I was able to unwind it and re-coil it very easily. This was an excellent-performing cable, and yet another pass for the Emporia Pro.
The Frozen Connector Drop Test
Since the unit was still frozen, it was the perfect time for me to conduct my Frozen Connector Drop Test. I dropped the connector five times onto the concrete floor of my garage to see how it would handle rough handling. I don’t love this particular brand of connector, but it handled the test without picking up a single scratch, so the Emporia Pro passes this test as well.
The Cold Weather Startup Test
To round out the cold-weather-related testing, I decided to plug the frozen charging station into the Porsche Macan to see if it powered up and worked well while it was still cold. I plugged it in, watched the initiation lights turn on, and the Emporia Pro started supplying power. That’s yet another pass for this charging station.
I don’t think many chargers are going to score better than the Emporia Pro, because it’s just that good of a unit. It’s one of the best EV charging stations that’s currently on the market, and one of the best values you can buy — especially if you need that intelligent load management feature. No wonder I keep adding it to my list of best chargers of the year every year.
The Emporia Pro can be purchased on Amazon for $599.00 (as of the posting of this article). Don't forget to watch the full review in the video above, and please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Emporia ProEV Charging Station Review
One of the best EV charging stations you can buy today.
Table of Contents:
The Emporia Pro is the second-generation charger available from Emporia. I was a big fan of their original product, the Emporia 48-amp, and I included it in my Best Chargers lists over the past 2 years, as it consistently scored one of the top scores on my ChargerRater. Overall, I thought it was an extremely good value for what you get, considering its relatively low cost.
Their next-generation charger costs a little bit more, but it also comes with some new features. One aspect in particular that I was very interested in exploring is called the PowerSmart feature, which is essentially intelligent load balancing. This allows you to install the charger in your home, even if you have an electric service that wouldn't typically permit the installation of a 48-amp charger. This is because it intelligently monitors the power, ensuring it won't overdraw your home's electrical capabilities.
So, how did the Emporia Pro hold up under my rigorous testing regime? Find out below.
At purchase, you can choose between the hardwired version (which allows for a max of 11.5 kW of charging power and up to 48 amps) or the NEMA 14-50 plug-in version (which allows for a max of 9.6 kW and up to 40 amps). The unit itself comes in both a black and white model, and is manufactured in India.
The Emporia Pro arrives with the body of the unit, a 25-foot charging cable with a J1772 connector, an Emporia Vue 3 Home Energy Monitor with two 200a CT sensors, mounting hardware, a remote connector holster, and an installation guide.
For safety reasons, professional installation by a licensed and bonded electrician is highly recommended, especially when it comes to hardwiring—otherwise, there is a chance that your EV charger might cause a dangerous electrical failure. My professional electrician of choice (and channel sponsor) is Qmerit. With their skill and expertise, you can count on them to get the job done right the first time, in the safest way possible.
When it comes to self-installation of the plug-in version, you’ll want to begin by removing the mounting bracket from the back of the unit and attaching it to a stud using the included screws. The unit then slides onto the bracket and hangs from a pair of tabs, which you then secure with screws along the bottom.
Once you’ve got the unit in place and connected to power, you’ll want to install your remote connector holster with the included screws. The second-generation version is much better than the first, though in my opinion, it’s still pretty average. The angle of the holster makes the connector stick out pretty far from the wall, but at least it locks in better than some I’ve reviewed before. If you’re looking for an all-around third-party connector holster and cable management system, I’d recommend the Lectron connector holster instead.
Misses
- No physical power limit switch
- Connector/holster
- No NACS connector option
Depending on whether you purchased the plug-in or hardwired version of the Emporia Pro, the unit can deliver up to 9.6 kW of power from a 240v outlet (11.5 kW in the hardwired version). The power can be adjusted from 12 to 40 amps (48 amps in the hardwired version) through the Emporia app — there are no dip switches in this model. A series of LED status lights adorn the front of the charger to alert you of potential issues. The Emporia Pro comes with a 3-year warranty.
While the Emporia Pro currently only comes with a J1772 connector, the company promises to release a NACS version sometime in Q4 2025. Until then, any vehicle that requires a NACS connector will need to use an adaptor to charge. The NEMA-4 enclosure protects against severe weather conditions and allows the unit to be used both indoors and outdoors. In addition, the Pro is UL certified for safety.
The Emporia Pro is a smart EV charging station, meaning that you can connect to it using the Emporia app via Wi-Fi. Like I mentioned before, the unit’s power can only be adjusted through the app, which I don’t particularly like. I prefer EVSEs to have an internal dip switch to set a maximum current; that way, the power can’t be set incorrectly and potentially overdraw a circuit.
The app itself is robust and offers plenty of useful features. It can be used to remotely turn off access to the charger, so no one can use it without your permission. You can also view your charging session history, filter charging sessions by cost or power delivered, set schedules, configure your solar connection (including the option to charge exclusively from excess solar power), and search for potential power discounts.
The included Emporia Vue 3 Home Energy Monitor monitors the energy draw of your home and adjusts the charger to use the maximum, safe amount of power based on your electrical usage during a charging session. There’s also a power-sharing feature that allows the installation of multiple units on a single circuit. Additionally, the Pro’s excess solar charging feature enables the user to charge their vehicle when there is a surplus of solar energy.
Testing
To provide you, as a consumer, with the best overall picture of how an EV charging station operates during everyday use, I subject each one I review to a series of tests. By simulating real-world conditions, I can demonstrate how well a charging station will perform under various scenarios, including extreme temperatures, rough handling, and power outages. That way, you’re more likely to purchase an EVSE that actually fits your needs.
The Extreme Heat Test
To see how well an EV charging station can handle extreme heat, such as summertime in the American Southwest, I put a heat lamp in front of it for about two hours to get the surface temperature to about 120° F (48.89° C). The point is to make sure that the unit will still deliver full power without derating or shutting off when it overheats. I plugged in a Porsche Macan for the test, and checked back in three hours. The Emporia Pro charged the Macan at full power the entire time, even though the surface temperature of the unit eventually rose to about 166° F (74.4° C). That’s a pass on the Extreme Heat Test.
The Automatic Restart Test
With the Automatic Restart Test, I have the charger actively charging an electric vehicle, and I kill power to the circuit to simulate a power outage before restoring the power. What I want to see is the charger re-engaging the electric vehicle and continuing to charge. We’ve noticed that some chargers get stuck in a fault state and don’t start charging the EV again, which is problematic. I plugged the Porsche Macan in for this test as well, and the Emporia Pro immediately resumed charging after the power interruption. That’s another pass.
The Cable Deep Freeze Test
Those of us who live in a northern state, or even Canada, know that cold-weather cable pliability is incredibly important as well. In order to test that, I put the Emporia Pro in a deep freezer for about 30 hours, where it reached a temperature of -12° F (-24.4° C). The thin cable immediately began to frost up after I pulled it out of the freezer, and I was able to unwind it and re-coil it very easily. This was an excellent-performing cable, and yet another pass for the Emporia Pro.
The Frozen Connector Drop Test
Since the unit was still frozen, it was the perfect time for me to conduct my Frozen Connector Drop Test. I dropped the connector five times onto the concrete floor of my garage to see how it would handle rough handling. I don’t love this particular brand of connector, but it handled the test without picking up a single scratch, so the Emporia Pro passes this test as well.
The Cold Weather Startup Test
To round out the cold-weather-related testing, I decided to plug the frozen charging station into the Porsche Macan to see if it powered up and worked well while it was still cold. I plugged it in, watched the initiation lights turn on, and the Emporia Pro started supplying power. That’s yet another pass for this charging station.
I don’t think many chargers are going to score better than the Emporia Pro, because it’s just that good of a unit. It’s one of the best EV charging stations that’s currently on the market, and one of the best values you can buy — especially if you need that intelligent load management feature. No wonder I keep adding it to my list of best chargers of the year every year.
The Emporia Pro can be purchased on Amazon for $599.00 (as of the posting of this article). Don't forget to watch the full review in the video above, and please share your thoughts in the comments below.
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My Emporia Classic Charger is failing after three months. Their tech support is possibly worse that its components which must be of the absolute lowest quality. Steer clear of this company if you desire consistent worry free charging. If you want constant aggregation and disappointing performance – this is the company and charger for you.