Where can I get a damaged EV charger?

“Damaged chargers” fall into two categories:

• Home Level 1 / Level 2 Chargers: Repairs must be done by the manufacturer or a certified partner. These units contain high-voltage components, CCID protection, relays, firmware and cannot be safely serviced by consumers.
• Public chargers: These belong to charging networks (ChargePoint, EA, EVgo, Ionity, Tata Power, etc.). Only the operator may repair or replace the hardware.
• Where damaged units go: Most return to the manufacturer for board replacement, relay repair, waterproofing fixes, or complete refurbishing. Irreparable units are sent to certified e-waste recyclers.

For most homeowners, replacing a failed EVSE is more cost-effective than repairing one.

Where can I find broken EV chargers?

The question can mean two things:

To locate broken public chargers:

• ChargePoint, Electrify America, Tesla, EVgo apps show “offline / faulty” status.
• OCPP backend platforms report real-time uptime to operators.
• Some governments (e.g., US AFDC, India DISCOM databases) show outage status.

To acquire damaged chargers:

Consumers generally cannot buy broken chargers. Safety laws prohibit selling failed high-voltage equipment, and manufacturers require defective units to be returned.

What is the process for installing a DC charger at home?

Home installation of DC fast chargers (50–350 kW) is technically possible but nearly always impractical.

Requirements:

• Electrical service: 400–800 A, often 3-phase.
• Grid upgrades: Dedicated transformer, utility approval, load studies.
• Thermal management: Liquid-cooled cables and cooling modules.
• Cost: $25,000–$250,000+ excluding electrical upgrades.

For 99.9% of homeowners, a Level 2 charger is the correct solution.

How often do EV chargers break?

Home Chargers

• Annual failure rate: **1–3%**
• Lifespan: **8–12 years** for quality units
• Common issues: relay failure, overheating, water ingress, firmware corruption

Public Chargers

• 10–25% downtime in independent audits
• Fast chargers break more often due to thermal stress & communication faults
• Well-maintained networks target **95–98% uptime**

Why they break more often than gas pumps

• High dependence on software, network connectivity, and firmware.
• DC chargers use sensitive high-power electronics.
• Outdoor units suffer cable wear, vandalism, weather damage.