Two factory quotes for the same EV charger are not comparable until you audit what each one includes. The headline unit price hides the scope: cable specification, software licences, branding, packaging, testing, freight basis and warranty handling can sit inside one quote and outside the other. Convert both quotes to the same scope, quantity and delivery basis first — only then do the totals mean anything.
Key Takeaways
- Compare scope before totals: hardware, cable, software, branding, packaging, testing, freight basis and warranty handling.
- Ask every supplier for a written exclusions list — that is where quote gaps hide.
- Align quantity and delivery basis, or the comparison is meaningless.
- Software renewals and warranty handling are costs too; get them stated in the quote.
This Audit Is About the Factory Quote, Not the Site Quote
This article covers the production-order quote an importer or brand receives from a charger factory. It is a different document from a site quote, which prices installation, groundworks and commissioning for one location. A factory quote prices a product run: what is built, how it is finished and packed, and on what terms it changes hands. Our B2B checklist for choosing a portable charger supplier covers the questions to ask first.
The Scope Audit: Align These Lines First
| Quote line | What “included” should mean | Hidden exclusion to check |
|---|---|---|
| Charger hardware | The unit itself, ready to use | Mounting kit, holster or carry case priced separately |
| Cable | The length and rating in your specification | A shorter standard cable, with your length billed as a variant |
| Software and licences | App or platform access for the connected features | Per-unit licence fees, or renewals that start after year one |
| Branding | Your logo and colours on the housing | Set-up charges, custom colours or screen graphics billed apart |
| Packaging and manuals | Carton, labels and manual for your market | Retail packaging and multilingual manuals excluded |
| Testing and inspection | The factory’s routine end-of-line tests | Third-party inspection, report copies and sample costs on you |
| Freight basis | A named delivery basis, such as FOB | Ex-works pricing that leaves collection and export handling to you |
| Warranty handling | A stated warranty term | Return freight, advance replacements or spare units left undefined |
A short invented example shows why this matters. Supplier A quotes an indexed unit price of 100, covering hardware and a standard carton only. Supplier B quotes 118, but includes branding, retail packaging, a third-party pre-shipment inspection and FOB delivery. Re-quote A on B’s scope and the gap narrows sharply — it can even reverse. The numbers are invented for illustration; the mechanism is the part to copy.
Questions That Surface the Exclusions
- Ask for an exclusions list in writing, not only inclusions. What is not in the price should be a line you can read.
- Ask what the software costs in year two and beyond, per unit or per site, and who bills it.
- Ask which certificate covers the exact configuration you are buying, and request the certificate and test report — in the U.S., a listing from an OSHA-recognised Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory is the reference point.
- Ask how warranty claims work in practice: who pays return freight, and are faulty units replaced in advance or after inspection?
- Ask how long the quote stays valid, and what triggers a re-quote.
Getting a Quote You Can Actually Compare
EVDANCE is a Shenzhen charger manufacturer founded in 2011, exporting to more than 30 countries, with private label from 100 units and a 3-year standard warranty. The fairest way to compare us with any factory is to send everyone the same written specification and scope list. A typical brief names the model — for example the EV-ACS4005T (9.6 kW, NEMA 14-50P, adjustable 16/24/32/40 A, IP66, 25 or 28 ft cable) — plus quantity, branding, packaging and delivery basis. Send your specification through the contact page and the quote comes back itemised against it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the cheapest quote often not the cheapest order?
Because excluded items do not disappear — they surface later as add-on charges, separate invoices or costs you absorb yourself, such as inspection fees and return freight. A quote is only cheap relative to its scope.
Should I compare ex-works prices or landed prices?
Compare on one basis, the same for every supplier. Landed cost is the more honest comparison because it includes freight and handling, but an aligned ex-works comparison still beats comparing two totals built on different scopes.
What should I ask for before comparing totals?
An itemised quote against one written specification, with inclusions and exclusions both listed, the same quantity and delivery basis from every supplier, and software and warranty terms stated as ongoing obligations.
Related Reading
- What Drives the Unit Cost of an OEM EV Charger
- How to Choose a Portable EV Charger Supplier: A B2B Checklist for Importers
- FOB vs DDP: How to Import EV Chargers From China Without Surprises
- EV Charger MOQ Explained: What Sets Minimum Order Quantities
