Searching for a high-quality EV charger for your home? There are many to choose from today at all different price points. One of the best is the FLO Home X5 smart charger: rated for 240 volts, this 30-amp unit will charge five times faster than a Level 1 device, which means it can fully recharge most electric cars in about eight hours. At $995, is it worth the money? Considering its impressive specs, it may be a bargain at that price.
Case, Temperature Rating, and Design
The exterior of the FLO Home is built with solid aluminum that is a full three millimeters thick for superior durability and protection from the elements as well as falling bicycles and other mishaps that can occur in the family garage from time to time. Chargers that use plastic construction can degrade over time, especially when exposed to harsh outdoor conditions. The FLO X5 comes with a full five-year warranty – two years longer than most other chargers.
We like that the waterproof case gives you all season protection from any elements with an operating temperature range from -40⁰F to 122⁰F that allows you to install it inside or outside your home, giving you added confidence that your EV will be delivered power in the harshest of conditions. These are some of the reasons why it is the only home charger sold by Mercedes-Benz dealers in Canada.
The X5 breaks the tradition of the “boxed” look and brings an element of sleek, that will compliment your new EV and give your home added curb appeal. The design integrates the holster that makes it easy to wrap and organize the 25-foot, commercial grade cable. The extra long cord allows you to place your X5 in the most convenient location and still be able to reach the charging port of any car whether parked inside or outside your garage. The charging connector is designed to work with any electric car sold in North America.
The FLO X5 meets all CSA and UL specifications. With its built-in security features, it is designed to protect your vehicle and your home against fluctuations in the power grid with built-in security features. Connecting it to your home’s electrical service is a simple job that any certified electrician can handle easily.
Image courtesy FLO
FLO Home X5: Smart Capabilities & Mobile App
The charger comes packed with smart features that puts you in control and allows you schedule your charging sessions to take advantage of the lowest available rates for electricity in your area, saving you money for years to come. From your smartphone, you can check your charging status, lock your charger while away, start & stop your charge remotely. You can also adjust the power delivery to your vehicle.
Image courtesy FLO
FLO Home X5: Dynamic Power Sharing & Firmware Updates
With EV adoption rapidly increasing, more multi-vehicle homes may find themselves with the need to power more than one EV. The X5’s dynamic power sharing feature will eliminate the need for costly electrical panel upgrades when installing a 2nd charger. When paired with another X5 it can utilize the dedicated 30A breaker and simultaneously charge both vehicles by optimizing energy distribution to each battery.
We also appreciate that FLO fully supports firmware updates and runs their own on-site EV testing facilities to ensure compatibility with new vehicle models. This is good news since you won’t need to upgrade or replace your charger when you change vehicles in the future.
FLO Home: The Verdict
The FLO Home packs a lot of punch when it comes to its’ high-quality build and a design that’s both sleek and functional. It will reliably recharge your EV within six-12 hours 1 on a single 30A breaker, avoiding costly electrical panel upgrades. Coupled with its smart capabilities and future-proof features we highly recommend this as a value worthy, long-term investment.
This charger meets the eligibility of most state, local, and utility rebate programs, so make sure to check the incentives available in your area.
Additionally, we trust FLO’s expertise in charging as they have established one of the largest public charging networks in North America, providing access to over 65,000 Level 2 & DC Fast chargers 2 with a boastful reliability record of 98% uptime 3 that ensures when you pull up to a charger it’s ready and working to charge your vehicle.
Click here to explore the FLO Home X5
This article is supported by FLO.
Disclaimers:
1 Recharge time is based on an average of current market EV models. Recharge time may vary depending on make and model, charger energy transfer speed, temperature, and battery capabilities.
2 Through interoperability with our partner roaming agreements with BC Hydro (BC), ChargePoint (US & CAN), Electric Circuit(Eastern ON & QC), e-Charge Network (NB), & Greenlots (US & CAN).
3 FLO’s charging station uptime is 98% or better and is calculated on a 12-month rolling basis. FLO’s uptime target has been achieved continuously across several years of reporting.
Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google News!
Have a tip for CleanTechnica, want to advertise, or want to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here.
Former Tesla Battery Expert Leading Lyten Into New Lithium-Sulfur Battery Era — Podcast:
I don't like paywalls. You don't like paywalls. Who likes paywalls? Here at CleanTechnica, we implemented a limited paywall for a while, but it always felt wrong — and it was always tough to decide what we should put behind there. In theory, your most exclusive and best content goes behind a paywall. But then fewer people read it! We just don't like paywalls, and so we've decided to ditch ours. Unfortunately, the media business is still a tough, cut-throat business with tiny margins. It's a never-ending Olympic challenge to stay above water or even perhaps — gasp — grow. So ...
