Wallbox vs Juicebox: Which Home EV Charger Should You Choose?

If you’re exploring which electric vehicle (EV) charging station to buy, you’re taking a big step towards simplifying your life and decreasing the amount of money you spend charging your car. Knowing you need a home electric car charging station is the easy part. Deciding which one is best for you and your EV can be difficult. While there are many different brands of EV chargers out there, Wallbox and Juicebox have some of the best residential EV charging stations on the market. The Wallbox Pulsar Plus and Enel X Juicebox 40 are both efficient at charging EVs and have added smart features like power sharing and ways to control your energy consumption. Wallbox vs Juicebox, which one should you buy? In this article, we’ll take a look at both chargers and detail their differences so you know which one is the better choice for you.

The Wallbox Pulsar Plus

The Wallbox Pulsar Plus comes in a 40 amp or 48 amp version. The 48 amp is only available for a hardwired installation. The design of a Wallbox is a gray box within a black box. It has LCD indicator lights in between the two boxes. It does not come with any cable mounting or racking. It has a 25-foot cable. The 40 amp version weighs 18.2 pounds, while the 48 amp version weighs 20.9 pounds. The 40 amp version is installed with a NEMA 14-50 outlet, while the 48 amp version must be hardwired. A hardwired electric car charger is attached to the wall and is permanent, while a plug-in is portable and can be changed if you decide to upgrade or move. The Wallbox has an IP54 rating, which means it is protected from dust, particles, and water sprays. The Wallbox has a standard SAE J1772 connector and can charge all EVs available for purchase in the U.S. The 40-amp version is $649 and the 48-amp version is $699.

The Enel X Juicebox 40

The Enel X Juicebox 40 has a sleek design and is white with a black cable. It features a rounded rectangular box with a cable rack underneath. It comes with a quick-release mounting bracket and a long 25-foot cable. The screen has LED lights that show power, connectivity, and charging status. It weighs 15 pounds. Like the Wallbox, it comes in a hardwired or plug-in version (NEMA 14-50 and NEMA 6-50).  The Enel X Juicebox has a NEMA 4X rating, the equivalent of IP66, which is one of the higher IP ratings. The rating is higher than the Wallbox’s, but both of them will be able to protect your Level 2 charger from dust and water whether you’re planning to install it in the garage or in the driveway. The Juicebox is equipped with the standard SAE J1772 connector and can charge all EVs available for purchase in the U.S. The plug-in NEMA 14-50 is $749, the NEMA 6-50 is $699, and the hardwired version is $749. The Juicebox also comes in a 32-amp version called the Juicebox 32 and a 48-amp version called Juicebox 48.

Wallbox vs Juicebox Smart Features

The Wallbox and Juicebox both offer many smart features that can be accessed through their respective apps, myWallbox and JuicePass

You’ll be able to monitor the status of your home smart charger from anywhere you have access to a smartphone, remotely start or stop charging, view real-time statistics on use and energy consumption, and schedule your EV’s charge time for when electricity rates are cheapest.

They both have Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa connectivity. You can wirelessly connect to the Wallbox through WiFi or Bluetooth, while the Juicebox only offers WiFi connectivity. This means if you have spotty internet connectivity or you don’t have access to the internet, your best bet would be the Wallbox. 

Both chargers also offer power sharing through their apps. Power sharing enables you to use multiple chargers at the same time and distributes the electricity between the charging stations. You’ll have two or more chargers on the same circuit breaker. Power sharing works by charging each car at a lower than normal power level so charging them at the same time doesn’t exceed your electrical capacity or energy consumption. If you have two EVs in the same household this can be a much-need feature.

The Pulsar Plus has an added benefit that the other big names in residential EV charging do not offer – solar charging. If you have solar panels installed at your home you can use the Wallbox to charge your EV with solar energy. The Pulsar Plus Eco-Smart Solar EV charging feature allows you to choose between two modes: full renewable or a mix of green and grid electricity. You can disable the mode at any time if you wish to switch back to solely grid power.

Wallbox vs Juicebox Charging Speed

According to Wallbox, the Pulsar Plus can add a range of 30-35 miles per hour of charge. Enel X says Juicebox Level 2 charging can add a range of 12-60 miles per hour of charge. Whichever one you choose, your car will be charged much faster than with the Level 1 charger that came with the car and you’ll never have to visit public charging stations again unless you’re a long distance away from home, such as on a road trip. 

The Wallbox and Juicebox both come in a 48-amp version as described earlier. This means you will have more power (11.5 kilowatts), which equates to faster charge times. Most of the electric vehicle charging stations available for home charging do not come in higher amperages. One of the only other ones in terms of the preferred EV charging brands by EV owners is the Chargepoint Home Flex. You don’t necessarily need the higher amps that the Wallbox, Juicebox station, or Chargepoint charger offer with the types of EVs available in the U.S. today, but owning a home Level 2 charging station with a higher amperage helps you future-proof. This means you will be prepared for upgrades and changes that will definitely come in the future with electric vehicles and your home charger will be able to juice those cars up efficiently.

Does Wallbox work with Tesla?

If you’re a Tesla owner, don’t fret – you can charge your Tesla with a Wallbox Pulsar Plus! You’ll need to use a 14-50 NEMA adaptor. To use the adaptor you will need your Mobile Connector, which should have been included with the vehicle. The Tesla Motors Mobile Connector is a 20-foot-long cable with interchangeable adapters which can be used in different outlets. To start charging with your Juicebox, attach the 14-50 adaptor to your Mobile Connector, plug into the corresponding outlet, and then begin charging.

Can you charge Tesla with Juice box?

Yes, you can also charge your Tesla with a Juicebox 40. You’ll just need to follow the steps outlined above. 

Which EV charger should you choose?

The best EV charger for you, whether it’s the Wallbox or the Juicebox, depends on what your preferences are. They’re both excellent charging options. If you’re choosing based on aesthetics, maybe you prefer white over gray and black for your house and would rather go with the Juicebox for that reason or vice versa. Perhaps you would like to be able to charge with solar energy. In that case, you would definitely go with the Wallbox.

The Wallbox does tend to be a tad bit cheaper than the Juicebox (besides the NEMA 6-50 version which is the same price as the 48-amp Wallbox). 

We would like to note here, that as a Wallbox partner, we are offering a limited time discount on  Wallbox chargers. We also offer rebate and incentive management. We will research available rebates for your EV charging station and apply for them on your behalf – saving you even more money! 

On top of all this, we have made the home EV charger installation process easier than ever! As you probably know, you will have to hire an electrician to install a NEMA 14-50 or NEMA 6-50 outlet for you. You shouldn’t attempt it yourself due to safety concerns and you’ll want to make sure it works! You can now fill out our quick 7-minute survey and get a quote in no time. We have eliminated the hassle of having to shop around for electricians and having to schedule site visits, and then wait to hear back on your quote. Instead, you’ll fill out the no-obligation digital survey and receive your estimate, just like that!