You have a new electric vehicle and/or a new home...now you need a great new EV Charger.

Owning an electric vehicle has nice benefits, one of which is never having to go to the gas station ever again. However, you have probably realized a regular wall outlet just doesn’t do the job. Home chargers aren’t exactly inexpensive, but they’re well worth the investment. There are four things you have to consider in the process. First, is your car a plug-in hybrid or a battery-electric vehicle? Second, ask yourself if you need a level 1 (slower) or level 2 (quicker) charger. Third, do you want a plug-and-play or hire someone to hard-wire that thing? Fourth, are you charging inside or outside?

Here's what the professionals are recommending:

JuiceBox Smart EV Charger is the go-to recommendation from autoguide.com.

"The JuiceBox series of home EV chargers is available in three variants, 32 amp (7.7 kW), 40 amp (9.6 kW), and 48 amp (11.5 kW). The 32- and 40-amp versions can either be used as a plug-in charger (NEMA 14-50) or hardwired, while the JuiceBox 48 is only currently available as a hardwired option. Built on the universal J1772 charging standard, all versions of the JuiceBox are WiFi-enabled, Level 2 charging stations that can charge all electric vehicles on the market, including Tesla vehicles by using an adapter."

ChargePoint Home Flex is recommended best overall by Forbes Wheels.

"The ChargePoint Home Flex is a 50-amp smart-charger that is compact yet powerful. It has an integrated connector holster that is back-lit and swivels for easy use. It is available in plug-in or hardwired form and come standard with a 23-foot cable. It’s a WiFi connected smart-charger that’s packed with features, as it should be for about $700, and uses the ChargePoint app to control the unit and review past charging history."

Consumer Reports gave both JuiceBox and the ChargePoint Home Flex top ratings, but also added Blink HQ 100 in its top three.

"This solid, value-priced charger is wider than some other models. We found it easy to install and use. It has a handy hook for the relatively short 18-foot cable. This Blink has the ability to delay the start of charging in a direct, intuitive way by simply pressing a button on the control panel. It resumes charging automatically after a power outage. It charges at 30 amps; most non-Tesla EVs won’t benefit from a higher amperage because they can’t funnel a higher current."

What do the electricians say? Well, we looked it up. If you have a Tesla, Effortless Electric out of DC recommends the ChargePoint; most good electricians happy to install the charger of your choice.

"While the Tesla Wall Connector works great with a Tesla, that’s also its main limitation. Tesla uses a proprietary connector for charging. This may not sound like an issue until you realize that all other EVs use a universal connector...when friends and family with different makes of EV come to visit, and they’ll need to charge if they’re staying for several days. In all of these scenarios installing a Tesla Wall Connector will prevent you from charging any other brand of EV."

All of that said, do your research and ask your EV dealer or electrician what they recommend. Need an electrician? We have a list of all of our favorite people in our Rolodex. Take a peek here or give us a call. We're happy to help.