State of Charge

                                Charging Station Reviews

We independently review every item we recommend. If you buy through our links, we may earn a small commission that helps us continue to make quality content for you. Thanks for your support!

Wallbox Pulsar Plus 48 EV Charging Station Review

A stronger version of its popular predecessor
Published on March 01, 2022

It’s safe to say that we’re big fans of Wallbox and their residential EV charging products, so as soon as we heard about the North American release of the Wallbox Pulsar Plus 48-amp unit, we immediately reached out to the company to get our hands on one for demonstration.

You might remember back in March when we did our review of the Wallbox Pulsar Plus 40, an EV charging station that really impressed us with its quality and the high marks it received during our rigorous testing process. The Wallbox Pulsar Plus 48 is not all that different than its predecessor, except that it can provide your EV with a bit more juice.

WALLBOX
amazon.com
$699.99

Key Specs of the Wallbox Pulsar Plus 48

  • Charger: AC Level 2
  • AC Connector: Type 1 (SAE J1772)
  • Power Input: Hardwired
  • Rated Current: 48A
  • Adjustable Current: 16 – 48A
  • Maximum Power: 11.5 kW
  • Dimensions (without cable): 7.8” x 7.9” x 3.9”
  • Cable length: 25 feet
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
  • Safety Certified: Yes
  • Hits

  • Compatible with every EV on the market
  • Cable is the maximum length available according to US Electric Code
  • Safe for use both indoors and outdoors
  • Misses

  • Exposure to extreme cold left the cable stiff and unwieldy
  • Since the box should be hardwired, professional installation is advised
  • Expensive compared to similar chargers by other brands
  • Installation

    As far as wired chargers go, this one isn’t particularly challenging to install. That said, it’s always worth mentioning that for the sake of safety, it’s best to hire a licensed and bonded electrician to install your electric vehicle charging equipment. If you'd rather avoid hardwiring and go with a plug-in version instead, try checking out the Wallbox Pulsar Plus 40 instead.

    The installation of the Wallbox Pulsar Plus 48 starts out by mounting the wallplate directly onto a stud with the provided mounting screws. Once that’s done, a cable leading to a dedicated 60 amp circuit can be pulled either into the bottom of the unit or fed through the back of it to power everything. Then it’s just a matter of mounting the unit onto the bracket and then installing the connector holster wherever is most convenient for you.

    Once installed, the use of the compact Wallbox Pulsar Plus 48 can be as straightforward as plugging it into your EV and walking away to let it do its thing. If you go full throttle with all 48 amps, its charging rate of 11.5 kW should allow you to add between 35 and 48 miles of charging time to your EV, depending on its efficiency.

    Thanks to its Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity and an accompanying app, however, there are a ton of additional features that be unlocked for the Wallbox Pulsar Plus 48. The app lets you check the charging status of your vehicle, review charging history, set a charging schedule to take advantage of off-peak rates, set reminders, and even remotely lock and unlock the device to prevent unwanted use. Adding the charger to your home network allows you to access your unit anywhere that you have an internet connection, while also allowing Wallbox to push over-the-air updates to it that will add new functionality over time.

    Testing

    If you’ve watched any of our other Ultimate Reviews, then you’ll already be familiar with the strenuous testing we put charging units through. This time was no exception!


    The Cable Deep Freeze Test

    With the help of a commercial restaurant freezer, we subjected the Pulsar Plus 48 to an overnight deep freeze that dropped down to -5° F in order to see how the cable responded to extreme cold weather exposure. Unfortunately, the extremely stiff cable turned out to be such a beast to unravel that we eventually gave up. Talk about a big fail.


    The Extreme Weather Test

    The Pulsar Plus 48 is a great choice for either indoor or outdoor installations since it is NEMA 4-rated for protection against extreme weather. While we usually soak our EV chargers with a garden hose to test how weatherproof they might be, this time we repeatedly dunked the unit into a bucket of water to simulate a soaking, driving rainstorm. After opening it up afterward, we were pleased to see that the inside remained bone dry.

    In order to make it easier for you to choose the best EV charging station for your needs, we score each one that we review on a 15-point categorical system before tallying up the final score out of 100. The Wallbox Pulsar Plus 48 lost a lot of points due to its cost and construction, but it gained quite a few back thanks to its weatherproofing and smart features. Overall, the Pulsar Plus 48 scored a total of 85 points, earning it 4.25 out of 5 stars.

    After averaging the ChargerRating rating with my personal rating of 4.75 out of 5, the Wallbox Pulsar Plus 48 came away with a final rating of 4.5 stars out of 5. That’s a little lower than the Pulsar Plus 40 (which got 4.6 stars), but that’s mostly due to the fact that this version is more expensive, has a lower quality connector, and isn’t as mobile since it can’t be easily unplugged from the wall.

    That said, the Pulsar Plus 48 is still a feature-rich, fantastic charger that we’re more than happy to recommend. It’s available for $699 from Amazon. Watch the video and let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

    4.5 / 5
    Wallbox Pulsar Plus 48

    By: Tom Moloughney

    Tom has been covering the electric vehicle scene since 2010 and has written for Forbes, Plugincars, GreenCarReports, BMWBLOG, and InsideEVs. He's a former director at Plug In America and specializes in the North American and Chinese electric vehicle markets, with a strong emphasis on EV charging and charging equipment. Tom is also the host of the EV charging YouTube channel, State of Charge.

    Latest News From State of Charge

    EVChargingStation’s Comment Policy

    We welcome polite, respectful comments, but rudeness and personal attacks will not be tolerated. All comments are reviewed prior to publication.  Thanks for joining in the conversation!

    4 Comments

    1. Stephen Vaczovsky

      Tom:

      I am shopping for a 48A, plug sharing charger with a good app that allows wireless flexible charging control.

      Jumping back and forth between your excellent reviews, I found myself wishing for a spread sheet that has check boxes for the common capabilities of each charger.

      It would really help your views to not only continue with your reviews, but add something like a Google Docs or a downloadable Excel spreadsheet.

      Thanks and keep up the good work.

      Reply
      • A.J. McGinnis

        Hey, Stephen!

        I’m not Tom (just his content manager), but maybe I can help. Have you checked out the EV Charger Comparison Guide? It has a lot of the common specs for the EVSEs Tom has reviewed, all laid out in a table for quick reference. Or are you looking for a way to filter the reviewed charging stations by certain features, say cable length or plug type?

        The idea of a viewable/downloadable spreadsheet is pretty good, though! I can bring it up with Tom and see if it’s something we can do. Thanks!

        Reply
    2. The Boston Electrician

      Great article! The Wallbox Pulsar Plus 48 is an impressive electric vehicle (EV) charging station that offers fast and efficient charging for EV owners. With a sleek and compact design, the Pulsar Plus 48 can be easily installed in residential or commercial settings, and its advanced features, such as real-time data monitoring and scheduling, make it a top choice for EV enthusiasts. The Pulsar Plus 48 also supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, allowing users to control and monitor their charging sessions remotely using the Wallbox app. While it may be pricier than some other charging stations on the market, its durability and high-quality construction make it a worthwhile investment for those looking for a reliable and efficient charging solution for their electric vehicle. Overall, the Wallbox Pulsar Plus 48 is an excellent option for those looking to upgrade their EV charging capabilities.

      Reply
    3. Eric

      I’ve owned the Pulsar Plus 48 since May 2023 and bought it based on a lot of background research and based on Tom’s review of it and other comparable chargers.

      The charger is compact and sturdy. My electrician said it was easy to follow the installation instructions.

      The onboard firmware is okay. It’s hit and miss to successfully update without it hanging. The one time it hung badly I called customer service and talked with a live person who solved the problem. The app is good – it would be great if it showed full charging curve details. There is also an online portal where you can change settings and look at charging history but again the lack of minute by minute charging detail is disappointing.

      One thing I wish Wallbox said in its documentation is the power used during standby – when not in use, how much power am I wasting and should I just flip the breaker until I need to use the charger every 3-4 days.

      Thank you Tom for your amazing content.

      Reply

    Submit a Comment

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Share This