Here's What You Need to Know About NEMA 14-50 and the Pando Smart Outlet
If you’re new to owning an EV—or thinking about making the switch—you’ve probably asked a simple question: “Can I charge my car from a regular outlet?”
The short answer? Yes. But the long answer is a lot more interesting—and it’s exactly why we built the Pando Smart Outlet.
What Is a NEMA 14-50 Outlet?
The NEMA 14-50 is a 240V outlet, originally designed for large appliances like ovens and RVs. Over time, it’s become the most popular EV charging outlet in North America—especially for homeowners and now, multifamily properties.
Power output: Up to 40 amps
Charging speed: Approximately 25 miles of range per hour (Level 2)
Compatible with: Tesla, Rivian, Ford, Kia, and most major EVs
It’s simple, powerful, and doesn’t require the complexity of a traditional “smart charger” (more on that in a minute).
The Problem: NEMA 14-50 Wasn’t Built for Multifamily or Commercial Use
While the NEMA 14-50 is popular, it was never designed for scale. You can’t easily track usage, manage energy loads, or bill tenants. Property managers don’t want to run power to a dozen of these outlets with no way to control who’s using them—or how much they’re using.
That’s why Pando built the Pando Smart Outlet—the first and only affordable, high-power EV smart outlet built specifically for multifamily, workplace, and fleet charging.
What Makes the Pando Smart Outlet Different?
We took the simplicity of a NEMA 14-50 and made it smarter, safer, and scalable:
Up to 70% cheaper to install than typical EV charging stations
Tap-and-Charge technology with secure driver authentication
Adaptive Load Management to protect your building's electrical panel
Daisy-chaining support: connect multiple chargers to a single circuit
Works with J1772 or NACS (Tesla-style) connectors
It’s all the benefits of a Level 2 charger—without the costs, headaches, or maintenance.
Why This Matters for Apartments, Condos, and Workplaces
Most EV charging solutions weren’t designed for the real world—especially not the shared, budget-constrained world of multifamily housing.
With Pando, we’ve reimagined the NEMA 14-50 outlet into something smarter:
Affordable enough to scale across entire parking garages
Smart enough to monitor, bill, and control each session
Flexible enough to grow as EV adoption increases
So... Can I Charge from an Outlet?
Yes—but it depends on which outlet.
If you're a homeowner with a garage, a basic NEMA 14-50 might be enough. But if you're managing a property, workplace, or fleet? You need more control. More intelligence. And more scalability.
That’s where the Pando Smart Outlet comes in.
Join the Conversation
Have questions about outlet-based EV charging? Wondering how to bring EV charging to your building without breaking the bank?
Leave a comment, share your experience, or reach out to our team. We’re here to make EV charging smarter—for everyone.
