Grizzl-E Ultimate 80A Review: Can Your House Take It?

Nineteen point two kilowatts, a 100 amp circuit, and a list of cars that can use it that is shorter than you think.

Specifications

Specifications above come from Grizzl-E's published specifications. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.

What it does well

• A metal UL Type 4 enclosure that takes weather and cold seriously, which is the reason Grizzl-E has the reputation it has in northern climates.
• Adjustable amperage all the way down, so it can be dialled to whatever circuit you actually have and turned up later if you upgrade.
• Built in GFCI and a full set of protections, plus self monitoring and power outage recovery.
• The hardwire kit with lugs and heat shrink is included, which is a small thing that saves the electrician a trip.

Where it falls short

• An 80 amp continuous load needs a 100 amp circuit. Very few houses have that spare capacity without a service upgrade, and a service upgrade costs more than the charger several times over.
• Very few vehicles can accept 19.2 kW. Most EVs cap their onboard charger at 11.5 kW or below, and the charger cannot exceed what the car will take.
• Hardwire only. There is no plug-in option, so there is no way to take it with you when you move without an electrician at both ends.
• If you run it at 48 amps, which most owners will, you have bought a considerably more expensive charger for identical performance.

What owners report

Published owner reports praise the build quality with real consistency, and the metal enclosure and cold weather behaviour come up repeatedly. Owners in cold climates specifically cite the cable staying flexible, which is a genuine differentiator among Level 2 chargers.

The recurring criticism is not of the product but of the fit. A large share of reports describe buying it, discovering the panel cannot support 100 amps, and running it at 48. Those owners generally still like the charger and generally acknowledge they overbought. That is the single most useful pattern here: check your panel capacity before your shopping list.

Who it suits

• Owners of vehicles with an onboard charger above 11.5 kW, where the extra output is real.
• Homes with a 400 amp service or a panel with genuine spare capacity.
• Anyone in a cold climate who values a metal enclosure and a cable that stays flexible.

Who should skip it

• Homes on a 100 or 200 amp service without a load calculation showing spare capacity.
• Owners of cars capped at 11.5 kW or less, which is most of them.
• Anyone who might move, since hardwiring makes the charger part of the house.

Alternatives worth considering

Keep reading

• 32A vs 40A vs 48A compared
• Grizzl-E Ultimate vs Emporia 48A
• Panel load calculator
• Grizzl-E Classic review
• Emporia Pro review
• Panel upgrade for an EV charger

This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Common questions

What circuit does an 80 amp EV charger need?

A 100 amp dedicated circuit. EV charging is a continuous load, so the circuit is sized at 125 percent of the charger output, and 80 times 1.25 is 100. That is a large circuit for a house, and whether your service can supply it is a load calculation a licensed electrician should perform before you buy anything.

Which cars can actually use 19.2 kW?

Only vehicles whose onboard charger is rated above 11.5 kW, which is a short list and changes by model year and trim. Check your specific vehicle's onboard charger rating in its manual. Our charging speed chart lists common models, and if yours caps at 11.5 kW then 48 amps is your ceiling regardless of the charger.

Is a Grizzl-E Ultimate worth it at 48 amps?

You would be paying roughly double what a good 48 amp charger costs for identical charging speed. What you still get is the metal enclosure, the cold weather cable and the headroom to turn it up if you later upgrade your service or change car. Whether that is worth four hundred dollars is a fair question to ask yourself honestly.

Can I install it myself?

It is hardwire only and it involves a circuit larger than most household circuits. This is licensed electrician work, and in most jurisdictions it requires a permit and an inspection. Our permit and inspection guide covers what to expect, and skipping that step can invalidate both insurance and rebate eligibility.

Grizzl-E Ultimate or Grizzl-E Classic?

The Classic is a 40 amp plug-in charger at around three hundred dollars. The Ultimate is an 80 amp hardwired charger at nine hundred. If your car accepts 11.5 kW or less and your panel is ordinary, the gap between them is mostly theoretical. Our 32 amp versus 40 amp versus 48 amp comparison shows what each actually delivers.

Getting your own panel and load numbers ready for an electrician? The EV Home Charging Install Planner is the paid version of these pages: 8 printable worksheets you fill in with your own numbers, plus the full PDF, $29.