Sourcing from China
How to Compare EV Charger Quotations Line by Line
Why two EV charger quotes for the “same” model differ, the 25 line items to normalise, how to compare landed cost and five-year cost, and the traps to avoid.
- Prepared by
- VULTAE Engineering Team
- Published
- Reading time
- 6 min
- Sources
- 2 references
Key takeaways
- 1Two quotes for a “22 kW wallbox” or a “120 kW DC charger” rarely describe the same product: cable length, metering class, residual-current protection, connectivity, OCPP version, certification and packaging all change the price.
- 2Normalise every quote to the same specification and the same Incoterm before comparing prices — an EXW price and a CIF price are not comparable.
- 3Compare landed cost (product, freight, insurance, duty, taxes, clearance, inland transport) and then five-year cost (spare parts, failures, downtime, software), not the unit price alone.
- 4Send all suppliers the same request for quotation template so the answers line up from the start.
Contents
Short answer: do not compare EV charger quotations by unit price. First make every quote describe the same product (25 line items below), then put every price on the same delivery basis (Incoterm and destination), then compare landed cost and finally five-year cost. The lowest unit price often wins only because something was left out — a shorter cable, a non-certified meter, a cheaper residual-current device, no 4G module, or a factory-gate price that still needs freight, insurance and duty added.
Why “the same charger” is priced differently
A wallbox or a DC cabinet is a set of choices. Each one below changes the bill of materials, and suppliers rarely list them all unless asked:
| Item | Typical options | Why it changes the price |
|---|---|---|
| Rated power and current | 7.4 / 11 / 22 kW; 32 / 40 / 48 A; 60–360 kW DC | Power electronics, contactors, cable cross-section |
| Connector and cable | Socket or tethered; 5 m, 7.5 m or custom; CCS1 / CCS2 / NACS / CHAdeMO | Copper and connector cost |
| Metering | Basic meter, class 1 or 0.5 meter, MID-certified, Eichrecht-ready | Billing-grade meters cost more and need certificates |
| Residual-current protection (AC) | Type A + 6 mA DC detection, or Type B | Type B devices are more expensive |
| User interface | LED only, LCD, touchscreen, RFID, payment terminal | Screens and card readers add cost |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, 4G | 4G module and certification |
| Back end | OCPP 1.6J or 2.0.1, ISO 15118 | Firmware development and testing |
| Enclosure | IP54 / IP55 / IP65; IK08 / IK10; coastal finish | Materials and sealing |
| Certification | CE / UKCA / TÜV, UL / ETL, ENERGY STAR | Testing and listing fees |
| Packaging | Carton, reinforced carton, wooden crate | Protection in transit |
The 25 line items to normalise
Copy this list into your request for quotation (RFQ) and ask every supplier to answer each line.
| # | Line item | # | Line item |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Model number and series | 14 | Operating temperature at full output |
| 2 | Rated power and current | 15 | Certificates supplied (by model) |
| 3 | Input supply (phases, voltage, frequency) | 16 | Test reports supplied |
| 4 | Number and type of connectors | 17 | Packaging type and dimensions |
| 5 | Cable length | 18 | Incoterm and named port |
| 6 | Meter type and accuracy class | 19 | Unit price and currency |
| 7 | Residual-current / ground-fault protection | 20 | Lead time from deposit |
| 8 | Display and authorisation (RFID, app, card) | 21 | Payment terms |
| 9 | Connectivity (Wi-Fi, Ethernet, 4G) | 22 | Warranty length and exclusions |
| 10 | OCPP version and features | 23 | Spare-parts list and prices |
| 11 | ISO 15118 / Plug & Charge | 24 | OEM costs (logo, colour, housing, app) |
| 12 | Enclosure IP and IK rating | 25 | Offer validity date |
| 13 | Mounting (wall, pedestal, floor) and accessories |
Our tender specification template turns these lines into a document you can send to every supplier.
Put every price on the same basis
An EXW price, an FOB price and a CIF price are three different things. Convert each quote to your landed cost — the cost of the charger standing in your warehouse, before installation.
| Quote basis | What you still have to add |
|---|---|
| EXW (ex works) | Export clearance, transport to port, sea freight, insurance, duty, import taxes, clearance, inland transport |
| FOB (named Chinese port) | Sea freight, insurance, duty, import taxes, clearance, inland transport |
| CIF (your port) | Duty, import taxes, clearance and port charges, inland transport |
| DAP / DDP (your address) | Little or nothing — but check what the supplier included and who is the importer of record |
Our article on Incoterms and payment terms explains each rule in more detail.
From landed cost to five-year cost
A charger is a revenue-earning asset. Over its life, what it costs you is:
Five-year cost = landed cost + installation + spare parts and repairs + software and connectivity fees + revenue lost during downtime − residual value
Two questions dominate the difference between suppliers:
- How often will it fail, and how long will it be down? Ask for field uptime data, the power-module warranty and the spare-parts lead time to your country. A DC charger waiting three weeks for a module loses three weeks of sessions.
- What does software cost? OCPP lets you choose your own CPMS, but check whether the supplier charges for firmware updates, the app, or SIM data.
Common traps
| Trap | What to ask |
|---|---|
| “22 kW” wallbox that only reaches 22 kW on three-phase 32 A | Rated current and phases, not only kW |
| DC power quoted as cabinet total, not per connector | Maximum current per connector and power sharing rules |
| Meter listed but not certified | Accuracy class and certificate (MID where billing law requires it) |
| “IP65” for the cabinet but a lower rating for the socket | IP rating of each part |
| “OCPP compatible” | Version, feature profiles, and a test log with your CPMS |
| Short validity | Validity date and which costs (copper, freight) can change |
| Warranty “2 years” | What is excluded, and who pays shipping for replacement parts |
Ask us to quote against the 25 lines
Send the 25 line items (or your own RFQ template) through the contact form and ask us to answer every line for the models you are considering — power and current, connectors and cable length, metering, protection, connectivity, OCPP version, enclosure ratings, certificates for the exact model, packaging, Incoterm, lead time, payment terms and warranty (two years as standard).
Questions buyers ask
- Why are EV charger quotes from China so different?
- Because they often quote different things. Common differences are cable length, connector type, meter accuracy and certification, RFID and screen, 4G or Ethernet modules, the type of residual-current protection, the OCPP version, packaging, Incoterm and the warranty period. Normalise these before comparing prices.
- What should be included in an EV charger quotation?
- Model and full specification, quantity, unit price and Incoterm with named port, packaging, lead time, payment terms, warranty terms, certificates and documents supplied, spare parts, sample cost, OEM costs if any, and validity of the offer.
- What is the difference between EXW, FOB and CIF prices?
- EXW is the price at the factory gate — you arrange everything from there. FOB includes delivery onto the ship at the Chinese port. CIF adds sea freight and insurance to your destination port. To compare, convert all quotes to the same basis, ideally your landed cost.
- How do I compare the long-term cost of chargers?
- Add to the landed price the expected spare parts and repairs, software or SIM fees, and the revenue lost while a charger is down. A cheaper charger that fails more often or waits weeks for parts can cost more over five years.
References
- [1]Incoterms 2020 rules. International Chamber of Commerce.
- [2]Procurement and installation for electric vehicle charging infrastructure. U.S. Department of Energy.
