Either can be legitimate. A NEMA 14-50 receptacle is a common plug-in path for portable or garage EVSE and is usually paired with a 40-amp continuous current (a 50-amp circuit under the 125% rule — confirm locally). Hardwiring is typical for a 48-amp wall connector, for many outdoor installations, and where the electrician wants to avoid receptacle and GFCI complications. Neither choice creates capacity that the service does not have.
Homeowners often pick a 14-50 “to future-proof.” That only works if the load calculation supports a 50-amp circuit and if you actually need that current. A 14-50 does not magically support a 48-amp EVSE; 48 amps continuous is a 60-amp circuit in the usual arithmetic.
Indoor vs outdoor listings, strain relief, and GFCI requirements are installation details for a licensed electrician and the adopted code, not something to settle from a diagram on a website. Run the capacity question through the calculator before you buy the outlet or the hardwired unit.
This is not a permit calculation, a utility approval, or a substitute for a licensed electrician, HVAC contractor, or the authority having jurisdiction. Panel Headroom is an independent educational site. It is not a utility, a certification body, or a contractor. Electrical and generator work that is done incorrectly can cause fire, shock, or carbon monoxide poisoning. Use the adopted electrical code and manufacturer instructions; pull permits where required.