Tesla Wall Connector vs. Mobile Connector – Which One To Get?

Wall Connector Benefits

The Wall Connector is a fully features 48A/11kW home charging station with an attractive price. The cable management is one of the best designs in the industry, and it comes with a generous four year warranty. The only drawback of the TWC is that it forces you to hardwire your charging station instead of using an outlet. However, a hardwired installation is safer and more durable in the long run for high power charging. I recommend the Wall Connector for most people, for charging their Teslas at home. There is even a Universal Wall Connector with an included J1772 adapter for non-Tesla (non-NACS plug) EVs too.

Mobile Connector Benefits

The Mobile Connector can reach 2/3 of the Wall Connector’s power output (32A/7.2kW) when connected to a NEMA 14-50 outlet (240v). While this gives some installation flexibility, especially for renters, it doesn’t save much money if you have to pay an electrician to install the outlet in the first place. Installing an outlet is about the same labor and materials as hardwiring the Wall Connector. The Mobile connector has the benefit of interchangeable outlet adapters and can also operate from a standard North American 120 volt NEMA 5-15 outlet. However, this results in about 1.4kW of charging power, so you’re only going to get back 15-20% of battery overnight. Level 2 (240V) charging is a must for EV owners who drive beyond a few miles per day.

I own one of each, a Mobile Connector in my trunk and a Wall Connector at home. But honestly, I’ve only used my mobile several times out on the road. Many hotels/malls/office offer Level 2 public chargers, and Superchargers are plentiful for road trips. The only times I’ve used my Mobile Connector was Level 1 (120v) charging at AirBnBs, and camp sites.