The short answer
Buy the Autel MaxiCharger AC Lite if the charger goes on a sheltered wall and you want fine control: 6-40 A in 1 A steps through the app, a 25 ft cable, integrated surge protection and a published -40 degF to +131 degF range. Buy the Grizzl-E Classic if it goes outdoors on a post or in a detached garage: a cast-aluminum NEMA 4 enclosure rated IP67, amperage set by physical switches, and no radio to lose. Same 9.6 kW, same 50 A circuit, different failure modes.
Quick picks
Ranked by fit for the stated use case first, then price, then warranty and support. Tap any row to jump to the full assessment. Commission rate plays no part in the order.
| # | Product | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Autel MaxiCharger AC Lite (40 A)The widest output adjustment range here — 6 A to 40 A in the app — plus an operating range down to -40 degF, which makes it the practical pick for an unheated garage in the north. | Cold climates and 1 A output tuning | 8.6 | |
| 2 |  Grizzl-E ClassicA cast-aluminum 40 A charger with dip switches instead of a cloud account. | An outdoor install, and anyone who distrusts apps | 8.5 | $299.99View on Amazon $399.00 list · 25% off |
| 3 |  Grizzl-E Classic ConnectThe Classic's enclosure with Wi-Fi bolted on, for people who want the metal box and the time-of-use schedule. | The Grizzl-E build with scheduling added | 8.3 |
The specifications, side by side
| Autel MaxiCharger AC Lite | Grizzl-E Classic | |
|---|---|---|
| Max output | 40 A / 9.6 kW | 40 A / 9.6 kW continuous |
| Output adjustment | 6-40 A in 1 A steps, in the app | 16, 24, 32 or 40 A via physical switches |
| Breaker | 50 A 2-pole | 50 A 2-pole |
| Cable | 25 ft | 24 ft, 8 AWG |
| Install | Plug-in | Hardwired or plug-in |
| Enclosure | NEMA 4 | NEMA 4 cast aluminum, IP67, fire resistant |
| Published temperature range | -40 degF to +131 degF | Manufacturer-published cold-climate rating |
| Surge protection | Integrated | Over/under-voltage and over-temperature protection |
| App | Required for output changes | None |
| Warranty | 36 months | 3 years |
Where the Autel wins
Output control. One-amp steps from 6 to 40 A is the finest adjustment in this price class, and it matters in two situations: a tight panel where the difference between 32 A and 34 A decides whether the load calculation passes, and a house with solar where you want the charger to follow surplus production.
The published temperature range. -40 degF to +131 degF is a number most manufacturers will not print, and it is the reason the Autel leads our cold-weather roundup. Integrated surge protection is the quieter advantage — most chargers leave that to a panel-mounted device you have to buy separately.
Where the Grizzl-E wins
The enclosure. Cast aluminum with an IP67 rating is the most physically robust body in this class, and it is the right answer for a driveway post, a carport or anywhere the unit can be knocked, hosed or rained on directly. Plastic gets brittle in cold; aluminum does not.
No radio. The amperage setting lives in a switch, which means it cannot be changed by a firmware update, lost with an account or stranded by a dead Wi-Fi link at the end of a detached garage run. It is also hardwire-capable, which the AC Lite is not — and hardwiring removes the GFCI receptacle requirement that NEC 625.54 puts on every plug-in install.
What they share
- 40 A / 9.6 kW output, which is the ceiling of every plug-in unit sold in the US and more than most cars accept. 40 A vs 48 A has the comparison if you are weighing the next tier up.
- A 50 A two-pole breaker and 8 AWG copper — the cheaper circuit, and the same one either way. See the breaker size chart.
- A three-year warranty, which is the category norm rather than a differentiator.
- J1772, so a Tesla needs a NACS adapter with either one.
If neither is quite right
The third option
The Grizzl-E Classic Connect is the hybrid answer: the cast-aluminum shell and the physical switches, with Wi-Fi scheduling and energy reporting added. It costs more than the Classic and is only worth the difference if your car cannot schedule its own charging.
The Grizzl-E build with scheduling added
Grizzl-E Classic Connect
The Classic's enclosure with Wi-Fi bolted on, for people who want the metal box and the time-of-use schedule. The charging hardware underneath is identical.
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If what you actually want is more than 9.6 kW, neither of these is the unit — both are 40 A by design. The 48 A roundup and the 200 A panel page cover that tier, and the honest caveat is that many cars cannot use it.
How we compared them
Every unit here is currently purchasable, carries a real UL or ETL certification to the relevant standard, and comes from a brand with an identifiable North American support path. We verified each one's published specifications against the manufacturer's own documentation on the date shown at the top of this page. We verify specifications; we do not bench-test hardware, and our methodology says so in plain terms. Ranking order is fit for the stated use case first, then price, then warranty and support — commission rate plays no part in it. Both units' figures here come from the manufacturers' own published documentation on the date at the top of this page. Neither was bench-tested, and where a figure is absent from the documentation we print that rather than an estimate.