The NIO ES8 is among the latest offerings from Chinese EV startup NIO. The ES8 is an electric SUV, the first generations of which were created with a pretty impressive 310-mile range. NIO as a company envisions competing with Tesla first in China and then globally as a maker of premium electric cars. The NIO ES8 SUV was set for export first in 2021, heading to Europe first and then into the rest of the world, too. In China, electric vehicle home charging stations are hard to get. Many people live in high-rise apartment buildings making the installation of a home charging station hard, therefore NIO operates alternative solutions in China. In the international market, owners will be looking for great home charging stations for their new electric SUV. Here are some that will work great with the NIO ES8.
Top Home Charging Stations for NIO ES8
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1. EV Gear Electric Vehicle Wall Charger Station, Level 2
The EV Gear Level 2 EV charging station offers a massive 40-amp charging output of up to 9.7kWh, which delivers between 30 and 33 miles of range per hour (estimated by our charging tool). Just plug in using a NEMA 14-50 plug to start using the UL-listed product in an instant. It’s very easy to mount to the wall using the provided kit and if you have the socket ready, no electrician is needed.
The quality of the EV Gear box is backed up by a 3-year warranty, and it’s housed in an IP66-rated enclosure for water resistance. You can be further reassured of its safety and quality thanks to its TUV and CE certification. A tiny flaw is that there’s no voltage option below 220V, where some people prefer having a 208-volt option.
Pros:
- Quality backed up by 3-year warranty
- Up to 33 miles of range per hour
- Easy plug-in NEMA 14-50, or alternatively NEMS 6-50
- Carries many international certifications
- Simple to use and easy to install at home indoors or outdoors
Con – No voltage option below 220V
2. Splitvolt Level 2 EV Portable Charger
In China, the ES8 enjoys charging service on the go as many can’t install their own electric car charging station. This offering from Splitvolt allows charging of up to 24 amps power plugged into any NEMA 14-30 dryer outlet. It’s a simple no-fuss charger that you can keep and use at home if wall space is limited, or if you’re on the road a lot.
It carries safety ratings from cTUVus, CE and TUV, and indicates charging status on the surface lights for easy recognition with no need for WiFi connectivity or complicated apps. It’s slightly unfortunate that it’s only backed up by a 12-month warranty where many competitors offer 36 months.
Pros:
- No need for WiFi or apps
- Plug-and-play easy to use
- Plugs into any dryer outlet
- Certified for safety by multiple bodies
Con – Only backed up with 12-month warranty and modest charging power
3. Wallbox Pulsar Plus Level 2 Electric Vehicle Smart Charger
A sleek and ultra-modern car like the NIO ES8 deserves a sleek and powerful home charging station, and the Pulsar Plus from W Wallbox fits the bill perfectly. It looks great with its simple outer design, but houses innovative genius, connecting via a smartphone app and WiFi or simply via Bluetooth if WiFi is unavailable.
Charge up to 7 times faster than regular level 1 cable with output up to 40 amps. Use the connected app to set the charge times for off-peak hours only, and your ES8 will only draw max power during those key times. You can also connect multiple cars to this single unit. One issue reported is that the cable of W Wallbox becomes too stiff in the coldest winters, which is not a problem in warmer climates.
Pros:
- Fast charging with 40-amp output
- Very attractive unit; lights make charging status easy to see in the dark
- App very intuitive and user-friendly
- Voice controls via Amazon Alexa available
Cons – Cable stiffens very rigidly in cold winters, which makes it hard to handle when kept outdoors
4. Grizzl-E Level 2 EV Charger
If you’re driving your NIO ES8 in a cold climate, then you need a sturdy, strong home charger for an electric car. The Grizzl-E is built in Canada and designed to last in the harshest possible conditions you can imagine. It is comfortable indoors or out, and the 24-foot cable, in particular, is made of very durable stuff and won’t seize up or stiffen even on the coldest days.
Grizzl-E offers a 3-year warranty to back up their claims, and it carries numerous safety ratings, including from UL. It’s also IP67 water-resistant, as well as fire-resistant. It’s simple to install if you have an existing NEMA 14-50 plug, and no expensive hard wiring is needed. A minor drawback is, however, that there are no smart wireless or app functions.
Pros:
- A bulky but robust design backed up by a 3-year warranty
- Built to endure harshest, coldest Canadian winters
- IP67 water-resistant, and fire-resistant
- Charging of up to 40amps with up to 30 miles of range per hour
Cons – Manual power adjusting in the cold weather is unpleasant, needs some WiFi/app options
5. Blink Home Level 2 Electric Vehicle (EV) Charger
Where many level 2 electric car charging stations force you to choose between WiFi-only connected use with an app or analog use with no added options, Blink finds a nice middle-ground in their wall box. It’s a simple, unfussy unit that’s attractive and durable indoors or out. The best thing is that it comes with a charge delay function mounted right into the box.
If your peak hours start at 12 midnight, just plug in at 10 pm, hit the 2-hour delay button, go to bed and it will automatically start charging at midnight. You can also delay longer – 4, 6, or 8 hours. It’ll work on any electric car, allowing you to charge your ES8 and any other car you have at home.
Pros:
- Best of both worlds – simplicity with increased functionality
- The decent power output of up to 30 amps
- Works on any electric car
- No need for WiFi connections or apps
Con – The cable only goes to 18 feet, could be too for some larger garages if used indoors
NIO ES9 – Best EV Home Charging Stations
As the NIO ES8 and other electric vehicles from the company spread into new markets around the world, having the perfect EV home charging station to keep it running will be essential. As range gets longer in cars, so too do our Level 2 units need to meet that challenge. The above best EV home chargers for NIO ES8 will hopefully give you that ability.