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Shell Recharge 40-Amp EV Charging Station Review
A positive update for this dual-voltate electric vehicle charger.
Table of Contents:
Those of you who follow State of Charge may recall that I previously reviewed an earlier version of the Shell Recharge about three years ago, and unfortunately, the review didn't go so well. Since then, Shell reached out to acknowledge some of the product's shortcomings and let me know that they'd be revamping the unit. They even promised to get it safety certified, which didn't happen the first time around.
So how did Shell do this time? Read on to find out.
Misses
- Poor cable performance
- Short warranty
- Cable length misrepresentation
The Shell Recharge 40-amp comes in a really well-constructed carrying case — though it is on the large side, and will likely take up a lot of room in your trunk or frunk. Since it can be used as a portable unit, you have the flexibility of keeping it in that case to use as needed, or you can mount it on the wall for daily use. The included NEMA 14-50 plug is on a pretty short cable, meaning that you'll want to be able to plug it in relatively close to where you mount it. There's a little hole in the back of the body of the Shell Recharge 40-amp that you can use to hang it on the wall via a screw.
There is a NEMA 5-15 adapter available which would allow you to charge via a common American household outlet (and allowing you to use this as a Level 1 charger), but it is optional and costs an extra $29.99.
Unfortunately, the Shell Recharge 40-amp does not come with a connector holster or cable management system, likely because it's primarily intended to be portable. If you are in need of an inexpensive accessory to manage your charging cable, I recommend checking out this Lectron dock and hook combo — it's one I highly recommend.
The Shell Recharge 40-amp (unsurprisingly) provides users with 40 amps of power with a maximum power rating of 9.6 kW. In order to deliver the max amount of power, you'd need to use the unit on a dedicated 50-amp circuit with a NEMA 14-50 outlet and 240 volts of juice, and you could expect to recoup between 20 and 50 miles of range per hour. If you don't already have such an outlet installed, I highly recommend having one put in by a licensed electrician in order to prevent potentially dangerous equipment failure further down the road. If you charge using the optional NEMA 5-15 adapter, you'll only be getting 120 volts of power and may get four to five miles of range per hour — it's much slower, but if you're not planning on driving a lot, it might work just fine for you.
While the unit is IP66/NEMA-4 rated for outdoor use in bad weather, this is only true if you're using the Shell Recharge 40-amp with its original NEMA 14-50 plug in a watertight or weather-resistant outlet. You should not be using the NEMA 5-15 outside where it could get wet.
The unit has a small display screen and buttons to choose a power output (between 12, 16, 24, 32, and 40 amps), a delayed charging function for scheduling anywhere between 1 and 24 hours, and Auto/Manual charging modes. Because of its J1772 connector, it's universally compatible with all EVs, though an adapter might be required. The connector itself is very plasticky and lacks a rubberized grip, so it's not my favorite.
The Shell Recharge 40-amp is also ETL-certified and Energy Star-rated, and comes with a 1-year warranty. It didn't originally have safety certification, which is definitely an upgrade, but I don't like that the manufacturer doesn't have enough confidence in their product to offer at least a 3-year warranty on their product. Since you can use the unit with either 120 or 240 volts, it counts as both a Level 1 and Level 2 EV charger.
One feature that I need to mention is the charging cable. With nearly all of the companies I deal with, the cable is measured from where it connects to the unit to the end of the connector. This measurement does not include the body of the unit in the number. However, the Shell Recharge 40-amp advertises having a 25-foot cable, but the measurement of the cable from the unit to the connector is actually only 22 feet in length. I consider this to be a misrepresentation of the cable's length, and one that will affect my review.
Key Specs of the Shell Recharge 40-Amp
- Charger: AC Level 2, AC Level 1
- AC Connector: SAE J1772
- Power Input: NEMA 5-15 plug (common household outlet in the USA), NEMA 14-50 plug
- Rated Current: 40 Amps
- Adjustable Current: 12 – 40 Amps
- Maximum Power: 9.6 kW
- Dimensions (without cable): 2.5" x 10" x 4"
- Cable length: 22 ft
- Connectivity: -None-
- Safety Certified: Yes
Testing
Because real world results are more important than any manufacturer claims, I test every piece of EV charging equipment that I review by putting them through a series of challenges. These challenges are meant to imitate situations that consumers may encounter during everyday use. Here's how the Shell Recharge 40-amp held up.
Deep Freeze Cold Weather Testing
Winter is coming, and those of us who live in chilly regions know how critical cable flexibility will be to the charging experience. I put the Shell Recharge into a commercial ice cream freezer for about 25 hours to see how it would perform when it encounters sub-zero temperatures. I measured the internal temperature at -12.5° F (-24.7° C) when I took it out. The cable on the new version of this EVSE is considerably thicker than it was the last time I tested it, but it still came out stiff and springy like a Slinky. Imagine trying to straighten that out enough to charge your EV! It's not just bad — it's one of the worst cables I've ever tested, and not at all recommended for cold weather use. The unit did power up again after being frozen, but the cable was bad enough that I still consider this part of the test to be a failure. Next comes the drop test, where I take the freshly frozen connector and check its durability by dropping it five times to the concrete floor of my garage. The Shell Recharge 40-amp survived without any damage or scuff marks. The push button on top seems like it'd be likely to break if dropped the wrong way, but otherwise the unit passed this test.
The Automatic Restart Test
Because no one wants to find themselves without a charged EV after a power outage, I also test chargers to see if they'll automatically re-engage after the power resumes. I've found in the past that some units remain in a fault state after the power is initially cut, which is a huge problem. I plugged the Shell Recharge 40-amp into both my Chevy Equinox EV and simulated a power outage, but I couldn't get the truck to accept power. Unsure if the problem was with the Equinox or the Recharge, I tried the same test with my Rivian R1S, and it worked like a charm. It's possible that there's something with the GM Ultium system that prevents the charger from reinitializing a charging session if power is cut abruptly. I won't take any review points from the Shell Recharge in this case.
The Extreme Heat Test
In contrast to regions that experience frigid winter temperatures, some areas of the US suffer from severe summer heat. This test intends to simulate these conditions to find out how well the EVSE will hold up. I put the Shell Recharge 40-amp in front of a heat lamp for two hours until it reached a surface temperature of 118.5° F (48° C), which is incredibly close to the unit's 122° F (50° C) recommended operating maximum. I plugged the sweltering unit into a Lucid Air and let it charge for an additional two hours under the heat lamp. The Shell Recharge 40-amp pumped out between 8.5 and 9.5 kWh for the entire time, which was good to see. The only glitch I encountered was that the unit's display said it only delivered about 9.2 kWh, when in fact it delivered twice as much. That could be due to the intense heat, since the Recharge reached a surface temperature of 138.5° F (59.2° C) by the end.
Because charts can't possibly measure everything, I also give the charging equipment I review my own personal score. I gave the Shell Recharge 40-amp a rating of 4.0, which is more than it earned the first time I tested it, and leads to an average overall score of 4.3 stars. It's a good unit that I wouldn't deter anyone from buying, though I believe that it could be outstanding with a few more modifications. The cable could be thinner and more flexible, and the connector has a lot of room for improvement.
The Shell Recharge 40-amp is currently available for $209.99 on Amazon (as of January 21, 2026). You can see my full review in the video embedded at the top of the page, and I'd love to hear what you think in the comments below.
Shell Recharge 40-Amp EV Charging Station Review
A positive update for this dual-voltate electric vehicle charger.
Table of Contents:
Those of you who follow State of Charge may recall that I previously reviewed an earlier version of the Shell Recharge about three years ago, and unfortunately, the review didn't go so well. Since then, Shell reached out to acknowledge some of the product's shortcomings and let me know that they'd be revamping the unit. They even promised to get it safety certified, which didn't happen the first time around.
So how did Shell do this time? Read on to find out.
Misses
- Poor cable performance
- Short warranty
- Cable length misrepresentation
The Shell Recharge 40-amp comes in a really well-constructed carrying case — though it is on the large side, and will likely take up a lot of room in your trunk or frunk. Since it can be used as a portable unit, you have the flexibility of keeping it in that case to use as needed, or you can mount it on the wall for daily use. The included NEMA 14-50 plug is on a pretty short cable, meaning that you'll want to be able to plug it in relatively close to where you mount it. There's a little hole in the back of the body of the Shell Recharge 40-amp that you can use to hang it on the wall via a screw.
There is a NEMA 5-15 adapter available which would allow you to charge via a common American household outlet (and allowing you to use this as a Level 1 charger), but it is optional and costs an extra $29.99.
Unfortunately, the Shell Recharge 40-amp does not come with a connector holster or cable management system, likely because it's primarily intended to be portable. If you are in need of an inexpensive accessory to manage your charging cable, I recommend checking out this Lectron dock and hook combo — it's one I highly recommend.
Key Specs of the Shell Recharge 40-Amp
- Charger: AC Level 2, AC Level 1
- AC Connector: SAE J1772
- Power Input: NEMA 5-15 plug (common household outlet in the USA), NEMA 14-50 plug
- Rated Current: 40 Amps
- Adjustable Current: 12 – 40 Amps
- Maximum Power: 9.6 kW
- Dimensions (without cable): 2.5" x 10" x 4"
- Cable length: 22 ft
- Connectivity: -None-
- Safety Certified: Yes
The Shell Recharge 40-amp (unsurprisingly) provides users with 40 amps of power with a maximum power rating of 9.6 kW. In order to deliver the max amount of power, you'd need to use the unit on a dedicated 50-amp circuit with a NEMA 14-50 outlet and 240 volts of juice, and you could expect to recoup between 20 and 50 miles of range per hour. If you don't already have such an outlet installed, I highly recommend having one put in by a licensed electrician in order to prevent potentially dangerous equipment failure further down the road. If you charge using the optional NEMA 5-15 adapter, you'll only be getting 120 volts of power and may get four to five miles of range per hour — it's much slower, but if you're not planning on driving a lot, it might work just fine for you.
While the unit is IP66/NEMA-4 rated for outdoor use in bad weather, this is only true if you're using the Shell Recharge 40-amp with its original NEMA 14-50 plug in a watertight or weather-resistant outlet. You should not be using the NEMA 5-15 outside where it could get wet.
The unit has a small display screen and buttons to choose a power output (between 12, 16, 24, 32, and 40 amps), a delayed charging function for scheduling anywhere between 1 and 24 hours, and Auto/Manual charging modes. Because of its J1772 connector, it's universally compatible with all EVs, though an adapter might be required. The connector itself is very plasticky and lacks a rubberized grip, so it's not my favorite.
The Shell Recharge 40-amp is also ETL-certified and Energy Star-rated, and comes with a 1-year warranty. It didn't originally have safety certification, which is definitely an upgrade, but I don't like that the manufacturer doesn't have enough confidence in their product to offer at least a 3-year warranty on their product. Since you can use the unit with either 120 or 240 volts, it counts as both a Level 1 and Level 2 EV charger.
One feature that I need to mention is the charging cable. With nearly all of the companies I deal with, the cable is measured from where it connects to the unit to the end of the connector. This measurement does not include the body of the unit in the number. However, the Shell Recharge 40-amp advertises having a 25-foot cable, but the measurement of the cable from the unit to the connector is actually only 22 feet in length. I consider this to be a misrepresentation of the cable's length, and one that will affect my review.
Testing
Because real world results are more important than any manufacturer claims, I test every piece of EV charging equipment that I review by putting them through a series of challenges. These challenges are meant to imitate situations that consumers may encounter during everyday use. Here's how the Shell Recharge 40-amp held up.
Deep Freeze Cold Weather Testing
Winter is coming, and those of us who live in chilly regions know how critical cable flexibility will be to the charging experience. I put the Shell Recharge into a commercial ice cream freezer for about 25 hours to see how it would perform when it encounters sub-zero temperatures. I measured the internal temperature at -12.5° F (-24.7° C) when I took it out. The cable on the new version of this EVSE is considerably thicker than it was the last time I tested it, but it still came out stiff and springy like a Slinky. Imagine trying to straighten that out enough to charge your EV! It's not just bad — it's one of the worst cables I've ever tested, and not at all recommended for cold weather use. The unit did power up again after being frozen, but the cable was bad enough that I still consider this part of the test to be a failure. Next comes the drop test, where I take the freshly frozen connector and check its durability by dropping it five times to the concrete floor of my garage. The Shell Recharge 40-amp survived without any damage or scuff marks. The push button on top seems like it'd be likely to break if dropped the wrong way, but otherwise the unit passed this test.
The Automatic Restart Test
Because no one wants to find themselves without a charged EV after a power outage, I also test chargers to see if they'll automatically re-engage after the power resumes. I've found in the past that some units remain in a fault state after the power is initially cut, which is a huge problem. I plugged the Shell Recharge 40-amp into both my Chevy Equinox EV and simulated a power outage, but I couldn't get the truck to accept power. Unsure if the problem was with the Equinox or the Recharge, I tried the same test with my Rivian R1S, and it worked like a charm. It's possible that there's something with the GM Ultium system that prevents the charger from reinitializing a charging session if power is cut abruptly. I won't take any review points from the Shell Recharge in this case.
The Extreme Heat Test
In contrast to regions that experience frigid winter temperatures, some areas of the US suffer from severe summer heat. This test intends to simulate these conditions to find out how well the EVSE will hold up. I put the Shell Recharge 40-amp in front of a heat lamp for two hours until it reached a surface temperature of 118.5° F (48° C), which is incredibly close to the unit's 122° F (50° C) recommended operating maximum. I plugged the sweltering unit into a Lucid Air and let it charge for an additional two hours under the heat lamp. The Shell Recharge 40-amp pumped out between 8.5 and 9.5 kWh for the entire time, which was good to see. The only glitch I encountered was that the unit's display said it only delivered about 9.2 kWh, when in fact it delivered twice as much. That could be due to the intense heat, since the Recharge reached a surface temperature of 138.5° F (59.2° C) by the end.
Because charts can't possibly measure everything, I also give the charging equipment I review my own personal score. I gave the Shell Recharge 40-amp a rating of 4.0, which is more than it earned the first time I tested it, and leads to an average overall score of 4.3 stars. It's a good unit that I wouldn't deter anyone from buying, though I believe that it could be outstanding with a few more modifications. The cable could be thinner and more flexible, and the connector has a lot of room for improvement.
The Shell Recharge 40-amp is currently available for $209.99 on Amazon (as of January 21, 2026). You can see my full review in the video embedded at the top of the page, and I'd love to hear what you think in the comments below.
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