The best 16-amp Level 2 charger for most people is the EVDANCE 40A Portable, dialed down to 16. Its current limit steps through 10, 16, 20, 24, 32 and 40 amps, so it runs happily at 16 on a small 240-volt circuit and turns up later if you get a bigger one - and it packs into a trunk. If you travel and want one charger for both a 240-volt and a 120-volt outlet, the Lectron 40A Portable is the dual-level alternative.
16 amps is the quiet, low-power end of Level 2. On a 240-volt circuit a 16-amp charger delivers about 3.8 kW - roughly 10 to 12 miles of range per hour. That is much slower than a 40-amp unit, but it is still two to three times faster than Level 1 charging on a standard 120-volt outlet, and it runs on a much smaller circuit than a full-speed charger needs. That makes 16 amps the right answer for a specific set of situations: a home whose panel can only spare a small circuit, an existing 240-volt outlet you do not want to rewire, a renter who cannot install a 50-amp line, or a driver who wants a portable to dial down for travel. This page ranks the chargers that make sense at 16 amps. We compile published manufacturer specifications; we do not run a test lab.
The short version
Every pick here can run at 16 amps on a 240-volt circuit - either because it is a portable whose current you set, or an adjustable wall unit you dial down. Here is how they split:
- EVDANCE 40A Portable - best 16-amp pick overall. A portable whose current limit steps 10 / 16 / 20 / 24 / 32 / 40 amps, IP66 rated with a 25-foot cable and a delay timer - set it to 16 for a small circuit, or turn it up later. Also in our portable chargers roundup.
- Lectron 40A Portable - best for travel. A dual-level unit that ships with both a 240-volt (NEMA 14-50) and a 120-volt (5-15) plug and adjusts from 8 to 40 amps, so one charger covers a small home circuit and any wall outlet on the road. Its Amazon stock comes and goes, so confirm it is available before you plan around it.
- Emporia Level 2 - best if you want it on the wall. A permanent smart charger whose app sets the current in single-amp steps from 6 amps up, so it runs cleanly at 16 on a small circuit and scales to 48 if you ever upgrade. Real energy monitoring. Full Emporia review.
- ChargePoint Home Flex - best adjustable brand pick. Selectable at 16, 24, 32, 40, 48 or 50 amps, so 16 is a documented setting, backed by the biggest public-charging app in North America. Full ChargePoint review.
Who 16 amps is actually for
16 amps is not the amperage to reach for if you can install more - a 40-amp charger fills a battery far faster overnight. It is the right choice when the circuit, the building, or the trip makes a small draw the sensible one:
- A small or shared panel. A 16-amp charger runs on a 20-amp circuit (16 x 1.25 = 20, the continuous-load rule), typically on 12 AWG copper. That is the smallest 240-volt circuit in common use, and a panel that cannot spare a 40- or 50-amp circuit can often still find 20 amps.
- An existing 240-volt outlet. If you already have a NEMA 6-20 or a lightly loaded 240-volt receptacle, a 16-amp charger can use it without a new circuit at all.
- Renters and movers. A portable set to 16 amps needs no hardwiring and comes with you - the honest call when a permanent 50-amp install is not yours to make.
- Travel. A dual-level portable dialed to 16 amps is a genuine road-trip charger: it draws less, so it is friendlier to an unknown outlet, and it still beats the 120-volt cord that came with the car.
The practical takeaway: if you drive an average amount and can install a 50-amp circuit, buy a 40-amp charger instead - 16 amps is slow by comparison. But if a small circuit, a rental, or travel is your reality, 16 amps is real Level 2 speed at a fraction of the install, and a good portable does it without a permanent job. Confirm any circuit with a licensed electrician.
16-amp Level 2 vs Level 1: still a real upgrade
It is worth being clear about what 16 amps buys, because it sits between the two levels people confuse. A standard 120-volt outlet - Level 1 - adds about 3 to 5 miles of range per hour. A 16-amp charger on a 240-volt circuit adds roughly 10 to 12. That is not the 25 to 40 miles per hour a big Level 2 unit manages, but it is enough to add 100-plus miles overnight, which covers the daily driving of most households. If your commute is short and you charge every night, 16 amps can genuinely be all you need. If you regularly run the battery low and need a fast refill, it will feel tight - size up. Our amperage guide helps you judge which side of that line you are on.
The picks, in order
Below the summary table each charger gets a full card with its score breakdown, pros and cons, and a "don't buy this if" note. In short: the EVDANCE wins as the flexible portable you set to 16 and can turn up later, the Lectron adds dual-level travel versatility, the Emporia is the pick if you want it wall-mounted and smart, and the ChargePoint is the adjustable brand-and-app option. Every one runs cleanly at 16 amps; the choice is portable versus permanent.
How to choose a 16-amp charger
At 16 amps the decision is less about raw speed - they are all similar there - and more about the install and the flexibility. Here is the order we used.
1. Portable or permanent
This is the first fork. A portable like the EVDANCE or Lectron needs no install beyond a rated outlet, comes with you, and is the obvious pick for renters, movers and travelers. A permanent wall unit like the Emporia or ChargePoint is tidier and always in place, and makes sense if the 16-amp circuit is yours to keep. Both run at 16 amps; the question is whether the charger stays or goes.
2. Room to grow
The nice thing about buying at 16 amps is that none of these units is stuck there. The EVDANCE steps up to 40, the Lectron to 40, the Emporia to 48 and the ChargePoint to 50. If you might upgrade the circuit one day, an adjustable unit means the charger you buy now still fits later - you just raise the setting to match the new breaker.
3. Plugs and outlets
Check what the charger plugs into against what you have. The dual-level Lectron ships with both a 240-volt and a 120-volt plug, which is what makes it a travel charger. A single-standard portable expects a specific 240-volt receptacle - and whatever the outlet, buy a properly rated, listed one rather than a bargain part; the outlet guide explains why cheap receptacles are the component that fails.
4. Certification and weather
Even at a lower current, a charger runs for hours unattended, so a listed unit and a stated weather rating still matter - the EVDANCE is IP66 rated, for instance. If it mounts or lives outside, treat the enclosure the same way you would on a bigger charger; our best outdoor chargers ranking covers ratings.
So, which one?
Buy the EVDANCE 40A Portable and set it to 16 if you want the most flexible answer - a real Level 2 charger for a small circuit that turns up later and travels. Buy the Lectron 40A Portable if you want a dual-level unit for both 240-volt and 120-volt outlets on the road. Buy the Emporia if you want it permanently on the wall with smart monitoring, and the ChargePoint if you want an adjustable wall unit tied to the biggest public-charging app.
