MSI zaps competitors, jumps into the EV charging space

MSI has been a leader in the custom PC space, making some awesome high-end gear that continues to set the pace in the industry. I'm talking about their Godlike Edition of motherboards that are the gold standard for those who demand the absolute bleeding edge of mainboards. I'm talking about full integration of IPS touch panels for system controls, with support baked right into the board itself. I'm talking about boards that use no tools, thanks to a patented EZ Slide system that makes upgrades a breeze. Beyond boards, they also have a respectable SteamDeck competitor in the Claw 8, some gorgeous QD-OLED monitors with a list of features that frankly are too long to list here, but include 80 Gbps throughput, 0.03ms gtg response at 240Hz, and 99% color perfection. This just scratches the surface of what MSI builds...but what if I told you that their next project is...an EV charger? Yep, you read that correctly – MSI has unveiled what they believe to be a bold new step in that space. I suspect you're as surprised as I am, so let's get into the specifics:

For nearly four decades, MSI has set the standard in performance computing, powering everything from bleeding-edge gaming rigs to enterprise-grade workstations. Now, MSI is rewriting the rules again - this time in electric vehicle charging. The all-new EV Life and EV Life Plus chargers, part of MSI’s EVSE product line, mark a bold leap forward, delivering enterprise-grade engineering and intelligence at a price point that will force competitors to take notice.

The EV Series gives customers flexibility, offering options for hardwired installations or simple plug-and-play installations to a NEMA 14-50 outlet, making them easy to install in new builds or retrofit into existing garages, driveways, and business locations. With up to 14.4 kW (60A) of charging power, dual compatibility for Type 1 (SAE J1772) and Tesla’s NACS, and the ability to operate in -40°F to 131°F, these chargers are designed for every EV, every climate, every driveway, and every fleet. Ruggedized to IP55/IP67 water and dust resistance with IK08 impact protection, MSI’s EV chargers are engineered to thrive where others fail.

As an EV owner, I can tell you that I live and die by the stats and systems in my panel. I have solar and batteries in addition, and timing when and how much my car charges to ensure I spend the least amount of my reserves or commercial power is crucial. Unsurprisingly, that's precisely where MSI is making the biggest dent:

The EV Life model offers intuitive app-based control with the MSI aConnect app, enabling scheduling, current adjustment, history tracking, and updates from anywhere. The EV Life Plus raises the bar with RFID authentication, Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity, and OCPP 1.6J support, bringing commercial-ready intelligence into the home market for the first time.

If you're unfamiliar with the space, OCPP 1.6J is the long-standing EV charging communication protocol, providing a framework for EVs to interoperate with a number of different vehicles. The smarts to run a Tesla is not the same smarts as you'd need for a Hyundai – this standard gets them all on the same sheet of music. It enables things like load balancing (being able to pull power from a solar battery and commercial power and understanding which is cheapest so it can draw from there first), multiple profiles (you'd use this to have a standard profile for day-to-day charging, but a different profile for when you're on vacation, for example), charge profiles (a Tesla might have different charging speed than a Ford Lightning F150, for example) and much more. The best part is that all of this is open source, ever evolving, and can be improved with simple firmware upgrades.

Here's what Engin Yoruk, North America Product Manager of EVSE at MSI had to say about their new venture:

The EV market doesn’t need more of the same. It needs smarter, more resilient solutions at price points that accelerate adoption. With our EV chargers, MSI is proving that drivers no longer have to choose between quality and affordability. We see this as the first step in redefining what people should expect from charging infrastructure.

Naturally, the question that we answer at the end of any discussion about hardware is price and warranty, and we'll do the same for this announcement. The MSI EV Life and MSI EV Life Plus are available right now on Amazon and the MSI store at a starting price of $449. Both of them will come with a five-year warranty.

On a personal note, I appreciate that it comes with a whopping 24.6 ft charging cable that is IP55-rated for water and dust resistance, suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. My wife parks her Lighting Lariat F150 outside (that won't fit in our garage!) and I park my Hyundai Ioniq 5 inside. Now I can be sure the charging cable with not only reach, but will be safe in the elements.

Let us know down in the comments – are you piloting an EV these days? Do you intend to look that direction on your next vehicle purchase? Or are you a "Red Barchetta" kinda person and can't shake that love of an engine roar?