PROS: Very fast charging speeds, Adjustable Amperage, Scheduled Charging, Smartphone app, WiFi connectivity, Smart energy management.
CONS: Some physical controls on the unit would have been good to have.
| Product | Amp rating | Level | Cable Length | Nema | Power | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wallbox Pulsar Plus – Level 2 EV Charging Station (40 Amp, 9.6 kW) | 16 – 40 Amp | Level 2 | 25 feet (7.6 m) | NEMA 14-50 | 9.6 kW | Click for more info |
Wallbox Pulsar Plus – Level 2 EV Charging Station (48 Amp, 11 kW)  | 16 – 48 Amp | Level 2 | 25 feet (7.6 m) | Hardwired | 11.5 kW | Click for more info |
Wallbox Pulsar Plus – Level 2 EV Charging Station (40 Amp, 9.6 kW) Specifications
| Amp rating | 16 – 40 Amp |
|---|---|
| Level | Level 2 |
| Type | EV Charging Station |
| Cable Length | 25 feet (7.6 m) |
| Nema | NEMA 14-50 |
| Power | 9.6 kW |
| Voltage | 240V |
| Connector | J1772 |
| Connectivity | WiFi & Bluetooth |
| IP Rating | IP54 |
| Display | None |
| Warranty | 3-Year |
| Features | Smartphone app, WiFi, Bluetooth, Alexa & Google Home integration, Power Sharing, Charge Scheduling, Rebate Eligible, Level 2 Charging Speeds, Adjustable from 16 to 40A, UL Listed |
| What’s in the box | Wallbox Pulsar, Holster, Installation Guide, Amperage Reduction Labels, 2 pcs. 6×45 mm Philips Screws, 2 pcs. 5x40mm Philips Screws, 4 pcs. 8x40mm Wall Anchors, Screw Plug, 2 pcs. T20 4x10mm Torx Screws (Hardwire Version) |
| Weight | 19.81 lbs (9 kg) |
| Features | Tethered, Alexa & Google Home, Charge Scheduling |
Wallbox Pulsar Plus – Level 2 EV Charging Station (40 Amp, 9.6 kW) Charging specifications
The Wallbox Pulsar EV Charger is available in 2 distinct versions: 40-Amp and 48-Amp. This is the only difference between them actually because they both have the same functionality.
The 40 Amp Wallbox Pulsar offers a charging rate of 9.6 kW at a 240V voltage which will translate into really fast charging times. A Tesla Model 3 should charge in about 6-7 hours and so will the VW ID.3 Pure or ID.4 Pure. If you are the EV Owner of a Hyundai Kona or a Kia Niro then you should be able to charge your car in about 9 hours while a Mustang Mach E should take about 7-8 hours. The idea is that the charger will completely charge your car while you get some good sleep at night.
The 48 Amp version of this electric vehicle charger adds even more miles of range with a charging rate of 11.5 kW but you need to know that not all EVs can take advantage of that kind of charging power, but when they do, great things happen. A Tesla Model Y should charge its huge 70 kWh battery pack in about 6-7 hours and the same Mustang Mach E will now charge in just about 6 hours.
No matter which charger you choose, the charging times are above average and your electric car or plug-in hybrid will be fully charged by the time you wake up.
What is also good to know is that the charger’s amperage is adjustable from either 16 to 40 amps or 16 to 48 amps depending on the version you went for.
Wallbox Pulsar Plus – Level 2 EV Charging Station (40 Amp, 9.6 kW) Cable types and connectors
The Wallbox Pulsar comes with a 25 foot cable (7.6m). Here it is on par with other EV chargers in its category. Because this is a tethered charger, the EV charging cable cannot be disconnected and replaced for another, however it should be long enough to handle most situations, even if your car is parked in front of your garage. However, should you need an even longer cable, you can always just get an extension cord.
You can connect this home charger either through a NEMA 14-50 wall socket like this one or by hardwiring it. You don’t need to know yourself how to hardwire, any qualified electrician will know how to do that entire process. As far as the other end of the cable is concerned, it will plug into your car’s charge port via the J1772 connector, one which is found on most EVs that are sold in North America.
Everything here about the cable and the connectors applies to both the 40 Amp Charger and the 48 Amp Charger.
Wallbox Pulsar Plus – Level 2 EV Charging Station (40 Amp, 9.6 kW) Features
Because it is a smart charger, you can connect to it via WiFi or a Bluetooth connection. You can download the Wallbox app from the iOS app store or from Google Play.
It allows you to remotely start or stop charging your car or check the charging level, but you can also use the scheduled charging feature. Why would you do that? This is in order to use off-peak electricity and reduce the charging cost from your electric energy bill. You can also use it monitor your energy usage and find out how much you have used and from which sources but also how much you’re spending.
You can also control it simply by voice command because it is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Home.
The Wallbox home EV charger can also do power sharing, so if you have multiple Pulsar Chargers connected to the same circuit, they will be able to share power. Another cool feature is that you can integrate it with solar panels mounted on your roof and choose how much power you want to draw from solar energy and how much from the grid.
There’s also a dynamic power management that will balance the amount of power the charger is drawing from your electrical circuit so as not to overload it.
Everything is done from the smartphone app, the wall charger itself has a very minimalistic design, there’s no buttons or LCD display mounted on the unit.
Wallbox says their product is also eligible for federal rebates but you would first want to check this info according to where you live.
This EV charging station is IP54 rated so while it is not completely waterproof, it can withstand splashes and dirt. Wallbox offers you a 3-Year warranty regardless of which charger you buy. In terms of weight, the lighter 40-amp weighs 19.8 lbs while the heavier 48-amp model weighs 22.8 lbs.
