Grizzl-E Ultimate ULTRA vs ChargePoint Home Flex: Which Smart EV Charger Wins?
Grizzl-E Ultimate ULTRA vs ChargePoint Home Flex: 48 A aluminum + Wi-Fi vs 50 A plastic + mature app. Which Level 2 smart EV charger to install in 2026.
The Grizzl-E Ultimate ULTRA and ChargePoint Home Flex are the two most-installed smart Level 2 EV chargers in their tier, and they solve the same problem from different ends. Grizzl-E is industrial-grade aluminum with a 48 A ceiling and native NACS option; ChargePoint is plastic with the most mature app and 50 A capability on a 60 A circuit. Which one belongs on your wall comes down to climate, EV brand, and how much app polish matters.
Quick verdict
- Install the Grizzl-E Ultimate ULTRA ($1,099 MSRP, ~$899 street) for outdoor wall mounts in harsh climates, Tesla-primary households (NACS variant), or 60 A circuits where the 48 A throughput shows up.
- Install the ChargePoint Home Flex ($749 MSRP, ~$649 street) for indoor garages, mature app + public-network integration, two-EV load sharing, or anywhere $350 of savings beats Grizzl-E’s aluminum housing.
Spec-by-spec comparison
| Spec | Grizzl-E Ultimate ULTRA $1,099 MSRP | ChargePoint Home Flex $749 MSRP |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum output | 48 A / 11.5 kW | 50 A / 12 kW |
| Adjustable amperage | 16-48 A (via app) | 16-50 A (via app, 1 A increments) |
| Voltage | 208-240 V | 208-240 V |
| Connector | J1772 (standard); J3400/NACS variant | J1772 only |
| Connection type | NEMA 14-50 plug or hardwire | NEMA 14-50 plug or hardwire |
| Cable length | 24 ft | 23 ft |
| Enclosure rating | IP67 (submersible) | NEMA 3R (~IP55) |
| Housing material | Die-cast aluminum | Plastic |
| Operating temperature | -22°F to 122°F | -22°F to 122°F |
| Wi-Fi / app | Yes (native) | Yes (native, mature) |
| Scheduled charging | In-app + via EV | In-app + via EV |
| App maturity | ~2 years, basic features | 5+ years, public-network integration |
| Energy Star certified | Yes | Yes |
| Utility rebate eligible | Yes | Yes |
| Load sharing (2 chargers) | Not supported | Yes (Power Management) |
| Weight | ~17 lb | 8 lb |
| Country of manufacture | Canada | USA / Mexico |
| Warranty | 3 years | 3 years |
| Street price | ~$899 | ~$649 |
Where the Grizzl-E Ultimate ULTRA wins
Die-cast aluminum + IP67 — built for outdoors
The ULTRA’s housing is solid die-cast aluminum with IP67 weather sealing (full immersion to 1 m for 30 min). The Home Flex is plastic with NEMA 3R (roughly IP55) protection. For exterior installs in salt-air coastal climates, snow-shovel territory, or anywhere with serious UV exposure, the ULTRA’s mechanical durability has no real competitor at this price point. Field reports of 2018-launch Grizzl-E units working in 2026 with zero degradation back this up.
NACS / Tesla direct connector variant
Grizzl-E sells the ULTRA in a J3400/NACS connector variant that plugs directly into Tesla vehicles (and Ford/GM/Rivian 2025+ NACS-equipped EVs) without an adapter. The Home Flex is J1772-only — Tesla owners need the included Tesla J1772 adapter for every charge. For Tesla-primary households, the NACS ULTRA eliminates one step from every charging session.
Made in Canada with 3-year warranty
For buyers preferring North American manufacturing for ESVSE infrastructure intended to last 15+ years, the ULTRA is built and warrantied in Canada. The Home Flex is manufactured in USA/Mexico under the ChargePoint brand. Both have competent RMA processes; both have 3-year warranties.
24-foot cable beats Home Flex’s 23
One foot doesn’t sound like much, but for garages where the EV parks 20 ft from the wall outlet, it’s the difference between reaching and not. Grizzl-E’s “Energy Cable” is also thicker insulation, more flexible in cold weather — below 0°F, ChargePoint’s cable stiffens noticeably; Grizzl-E’s stays manageable.
Where the ChargePoint Home Flex wins
5+ years of app maturity
ChargePoint’s app has been polished since 2018 across both home and public-network charging. Schedule charging windows during off-peak utility rates, set monthly charge cost limits, view granular energy history, receive notifications when charging completes, and discover public ChargePoint stations on the road. For utility rates where peak is $0.30+/kWh and off-peak is $0.10/kWh, this functionality saves $200-$500/year for typical EV owners.
Grizzl-E’s app handles the basics (scheduling, monitoring, history) cleanly but lacks the public-network integration ChargePoint owners use on road trips.
Load sharing for two EVs on one circuit
ChargePoint’s Power Management feature lets two Home Flex units share a single 60 A circuit, coordinating amperage between them so neither exceeds the circuit limit. For two-EV households without a free circuit slot on the main panel, this saves $1,500+ vs running two dedicated circuits. The Grizzl-E Ultimate ULTRA does not support load sharing.
Half the weight at 8 lb
The Home Flex weighs 8 lb to the ULTRA’s ~17 lb. For wall-mount installs, it’s an easier hang and lighter on drywall anchors. Not a decisive feature, but worth noting for solo installations.
$250-$350 cheaper at street pricing
The Home Flex routinely sells for $649 (street). The ULTRA sits around $899 (street). For mild-climate indoor installs where IP67 is overkill, ChargePoint delivers most of the same capability for meaningfully less money.
Real-world decision matrix
Frequently asked questions
Grizzl-E Ultimate ULTRA vs ChargePoint Home Flex FAQ
Which charges faster in real-world conditions?
Marginal difference. The Home Flex tops out at 12 kW (50 A on a 60 A circuit); the ULTRA tops out at 11.5 kW (48 A on a 60 A circuit). Both add roughly 37-38 miles of EV range per hour at max output. For most EVs and overnight charging, both are fast enough. The speed differential is well under 5%.
Can I use the ChargePoint Home Flex without the app?
Yes, in basic mode. The Home Flex will charge any EV plugged in without an app account or Wi-Fi connection. Smart features (scheduling, usage tracking, time-of-use optimization, public-network discovery) require the app and Wi-Fi. For users who only want the basic charging function, the Home Flex works fine offline — but you've paid for software features you're not using.
Does the Grizzl-E Ultimate ULTRA support Tesla vehicles?
Yes. The standard ULTRA uses J1772 and works with Tesla vehicles via the included Tesla J1772 adapter (shipped with every Tesla). Grizzl-E also sells the ULTRA in a J3400/NACS connector variant for direct plug-in to Tesla and other NACS-equipped EVs (Ford 2024+, GM 2025+, Rivian 2025+) without an adapter.
Which one is easier to install?
ChargePoint's lighter plastic housing (8 lb) is easier to wall-mount. Grizzl-E's heavier aluminum (~17 lb) needs stud anchoring. Both ship with NEMA 14-50 plugs for installation on a properly-installed 14-50 outlet — but to use the ULTRA's full 48 A you need a hardwired 60 A circuit (electrician required, $600-$1,500 typical install cost depending on panel proximity).
Which has better long-term reliability?
Grizzl-E has the cleaner reliability story — fewer electronic components, no cloud-firmware dependency in the standard Ultimate variant, IP67 housing rated for harsh exposure. The ULTRA adds Wi-Fi (introducing some software-dependency risk), but the underlying hardware is the same proven Grizzl-E aluminum chassis. ChargePoint Home Flex has 5+ years in market with solid reliability; cloud service changes occasionally introduce app bugs. Both have 3-year warranties and competent RMA processes.
Bottom line
The Grizzl-E Ultimate ULTRA is the durability + Tesla pick — built to be installed once and run for 15+ years in harsh climates, with native NACS support for Tesla owners. The ChargePoint Home Flex is the app maturity + value pick — better software ecosystem, public-network integration, load sharing for two-EV households, and $250-$350 cheaper.
For outdoor installs in tough climates and Tesla households, get the Grizzl-E Ultimate ULTRA. For indoor garages, non-Tesla EVs, road-trip-heavy users, or two-EV households, get the ChargePoint Home Flex.
Both are excellent chargers. Choose by your install conditions, climate, EV brand, and how much app maturity matters.
Last updated: May 2026. Pricing accurate at last check; verify on merchant pages.