Test Report - MSI Life Plus Level 2 EV Charger Offers Great Features, Easy Setup, and a Robust Design

Our most recent Level 2 EV charger for our test and reporting comes from MSI. The Life Plus 2 is available in a wide range of configurations. We opted to test the 40-amp, J1772 handle, 240-volt version with a NEMA 14-50 plug end (which works best with our test stand). The executive summary is that this is a robust charger that feels well-built. Installation was easy, and connecting to the app was seamless. Let’s dive into some details, shall we?

MSI Life Plus Level 2 EV Charger - What Is It?
This is a charger you would use at home, Airbnb, or at a workplace. It is a wall-mounted Level 2 charger, which means it uses 240-volt AC power. You would have your electrician bring wire the unit and add a breaker in your panel. The electrician could then install this charger. We recommend hardwiring it, but you could opt for a NEMA 14-50 plug and socket. Just be sure you order what you need.

MSI Life Plus Level 2 EV Charger - Unboxing and Mounting
The MSI charger arrives neatly packaged with nearly no waste to recycle. No packing peanuts, no foam to fill a landfill. The box is sturdy, compact, and ours arrived without damage. The unit exits the box easily, though it is a bit heavier than some we’ve tested. Films and minimal bubble wrap protect the parts that could be damaged while you mount it. All said, A+ for packaging.

The MSI Life Plus uses two easy-to-install anchors that affix to the wall. It’s a great design. First, you screw one to your backing board and then hook the charger onto it. That supports it for you. A second bracket lower down has a pass-through to allow you to fasten it securely to the bottom bracket. Budget five minutes for mounting. As always, I suggest using a backing board rather than relying on drywall anchors.

There is also an included cable holder. It mounts to the side of the charger and allows you to wrap the cable up neatly. That takes weight off the charger compared to looping the cable over the top of the charger box. It’s not shown in my images, since this was a test.

MSI Life Plus Level 2 EV Charger - App and Registration
The manual booklet has an app scan box, and we had our Android loaded up with the app in moments. Next, you establish a password and off you go. Our unit found the home’s wifi quickly. In under three minutes, we had the charger and app working. We found the app to be easy to understand and use. There is a scheduling feature.

MSI Life Plus Level 2 EV Charger - Cable and Handle
The 24.6 ft charging cable of the MSI charger is the thickest, heaviest, and seemingly the most robust we’ve ever tested. It’s almost “too heavy.” You will never fear it could be a failure point. The handle is well-constructed. It snicked into the BMW M5 Touring plug-in hybrid-electric vehicle we tested smoothly and then latched securely.

MSI Life Plus Level 2 EV Charger - Charging
We found that the charger delivered as promised. The charger app verified the 9.6 kW nominal charge rate as did the BMW’s display. The 50-amp breaker limits the charge rate. The code allows for an 80% delivery rate, hence the final value. Your vehicle will determine the range per hour you can add. Figure 20 to 30 miles of range added for most EVs.

MSI Life Plus Level 2 EV Charger - GFCI Breaker Compatibility
We charged on a circuit with a GFCI breaker and had no false-positive trips during testing.

MSI Life Plus Level 2 EV Charger - Safety and Enclosure Specs
MSI says that the Life Plus charger is certified to UL 2594 and ENERGY STAR standards. The enclosure is designed for outdoor use if you choose to mount it uncovered. We would always suggest not doing that. Even a small roof over it is wise. The formal specs are IK08 impact resistance and IP55 weather sealing.

MSI Life Plus Level 2 EV Charger - Two Key Features
We like the emergency stop button on the side. We’ve only seen that on one prior unit we tested. Most don't have it. Also, it had a pair of cards that could start the unit. This would be handy in a place that might attract unauthorized users.
 

MSI Life Plus Level 2 EV Charger - Price and Warranty
The specific Life Plus MSI charger we tested is priced at $524 on Amazon and is in stock for 2-day delivery. MSI also sells it on its own webpage for $600. The five-year MSI warranty is the best we’ve ever heard of, and it's backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. The MSI Life Plus has a variety of price points depending on the exact specs and configuration, and some were lower than our particular selection. It is roughly $100 more than an Emporia charger of similar specifications.

MSI Life Plus Level 2 EV Charger - Conclusion
The MSI Life Plus offers an easy setup, robust design, great app, and some useful special features. We’d suggest that shoppers would want to give this unit serious consideration when shopping for a wall-mounted Level 2 electric vehicle charger. Tell us in the comments below what you think of this new charger. 
 

Testing Note: This charger was provided for testing by MSI, It will now be returned or passed along to another media member for testing and review. 

John Goreham is the Vice President of the New England Motor Press Association and an expert vehicle tester. John completed an engineering program with a focus on electric vehicles, followed by two decades of work in high-tech, biopharma, and the automotive supply chain before becoming a news contributor. He is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE int). In addition to his fourteen years of work at Torque News, John has published thousands of articles and reviews at American news outlets. He is known for offering unfiltered opinions on vehicle topics. You can connect with John on LinkedIn and follow his work on his personal X channel or on our X channel. John employs grammar and punctuation software when proofreading, and he sometimes uses image generation tools. 

Images by John Goreham