40 amp or 48 amp charger: is the bigger one worth it?

A 40 A charger delivers 9.6 kW. A 48 A charger delivers 11.5 kW. That is 20% more power, and on a car that can take it, 20% more range for every hour it is plugged in. For the cars in the table below that comes to 3 to 8 extra miles per hour, and 5 for the one in the middle.

Whether to pay for it comes down to two questions. Does your car's onboard charger accept more than 40 A? And do you ever need the battery back faster than overnight?

What the extra 8 amps adds, by model

These are the 73 versions that accept more than 40 A, biggest gain first. Each model links to its own page.

Miles of range added per hour, for the newest model year of each. A range covers that model's trims. Cars that accept 80 A are shown here at 48 A. The 80 amp guide covers what they do on a bigger charger.

Cars that gain nothing from 48 A

These need no more than a 32 A or 40 A charger. A 48 A unit works on them, but the car sets the pace, so it charges exactly as fast as it would on a smaller unit.

• Honda Clarity EV: 6.6 kW, fully fed by a 32 A charger
• Hyundai Ioniq Electric: 7.2 kW, fully fed by a 32 A charger
• Kia Soul EV: 7.2 kW, fully fed by a 32 A charger
• MINI Cooper SE: 7.4 kW, fully fed by a 32 A charger
• Mazda MX-30: 6.6 kW, fully fed by a 32 A charger
• Mercedes-Benz EQB: 9.6 kW, fully fed by a 40 A charger
• Mercedes-Benz EQE: 9.6 kW, fully fed by a 40 A charger
• Mercedes-Benz EQS: 9.6 kW, fully fed by a 40 A charger
• Mercedes-Benz G 580 with EQ Technology: 9.6 kW, fully fed by a 40 A charger
• Nissan Ariya: 7.2 kW, fully fed by a 32 A charger
• Nissan Leaf: 7.2 kW, fully fed by a 32 A charger
• Tesla Model 3 RWD (Standard Range): 7.7 kW, fully fed by a 32 A charger
• Volkswagen e-Golf: 7.2 kW, fully fed by a 32 A charger

What 48 A costs to install

The chargers themselves are priced close together, and some are the same unit set to a different limit. The difference is in the circuit behind them.

• Breaker. A 40 A charger goes on a 50 A breaker and a 48 A charger on a 60 A breaker. Charging counts as a continuous load, so the circuit has to be rated for 125% of what the charger draws.
• Connection. A 40 A charger can plug into a NEMA 14-50 outlet. If the garage already has one on a 50 A breaker, there may be nothing to install. A 48 A charger has to be hardwired, so an electrician is involved either way. The plug-in or hardwired guide goes through that choice.
• Wire. A 60 A circuit needs heavier wire than a 50 A one. On a long run from the panel to the garage, that is where most of the extra cost comes from.
• Panel. The house has to be able to carry it. A 60 A circuit is a large share of a 100 A service, and plenty of 200 A panels are close to full already. If yours is tight, see charging on a 100 A panel.

When 40 A is the right choice

Look at it by the night, not by the hour. A 40 A charger adds about 27 miles of range per hour to the typical current EV, or about 260 miles in 10 hours. Very few people drive that far in a day. If the car is parked from evening to morning, 40 A and 48 A will both usually have it full by the time you leave.

So 40 A makes sense when a 14-50 outlet is already there, when the panel has room for a 50 A circuit but not a 60 A one, or when the charger has to come along at the next move.

When 48 A is worth it

If a new circuit is being run anyway and the panel has room, the electrician's labor is close to the same for 50 A and 60 A. You pay for somewhat heavier wire and get the car's full rate for as long as you own it.

It matters most when turnaround is short: two long drives in one day, a utility rate that is cheap for only a few hours a night, or a vehicle with a very large battery. The gain in miles per hour is smallest on heavy trucks, because each mile takes them more energy. They also have the most battery to fill, so the hours saved on a full charge are greatest for them.

Chargers at each size

J1772 and NACS versions of each. Match the plug to the port on your car.

48 A, hardwired

40 A, plug-in

Common questions

Can I use a 48 A charger on a car that only accepts 32 A?

Yes. The car sets the rate, so it draws 32 A and charges as fast as it would on a 32 A unit. Nothing is harmed. You paid for capacity the car cannot use, and the circuit still has to match the charger: a 60 A breaker, unless the charger is set to a lower limit when it is installed.

Is a 48 A charger faster than a 40 A charger for a Tesla?

For the Model Y and the Model 3 Long Range and Performance, yes: about 46 miles of range per hour against 38 for the Model Y. The Model 3 RWD accepts 32 A, so both chargers give it the same 31 miles per hour.

Does a 48 A charger need a 60 A breaker?

Yes. EV charging is a continuous load, and the National Electrical Code sizes the circuit at 125% of it. 48 A times 1.25 is 60 A. By the same rule a 40 A charger needs a 50 A breaker.

Can a 48 A charger be turned down to 40 A?

Most can be set to a lower limit when they are installed, and the charger then goes on the breaker that matches that setting. Some owners do this to fit the panel they have now and raise the limit later, once the wiring and breaker allow it.

More guides

Figures are calculated from EPA data and manufacturer specifications for the newest model year of each of the 80 models on this site, and agree with the full chart. "Typical EV" is the median of the 72 versions from model years 2026 and 2027. Code references are to the National Electrical Code. Local rules differ, so have a licensed electrician confirm anything here before work starts. Updated October 5, 2026.