5 Best Home EV Chargers 2021(Top Rated Home EV Chargers 2021)
Cons | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
ChargePoint Home Flex | +Waterproof +Reliable and secure +Fast charging | -It’s a bit pricey | ||
Grizzl-E-level 2 EV Charger | +Budget-friendly +Easily transportable +Three-year warranty | -Available only in two colors | ||
BougRV Level 2 EV Charger | +12-month warranty +Hassle-free installation +Hand-held ergonomic design | -Improper handling could damage the charger | ||
Puisan Plus Level 2 EV Smart Charger | +Budget-friendly +Solar system supported +Fastest speed | -Bluetooth connectivity could be improved | ||
Juice Box 32 Smart Ev Charging Station | +Dynamic LED lights +Bluetooth connectivity +Budget-friendly | -Not suitable above 40 amps |
“Have you heard of the level 1 EV charging station? You probably know how important it is to have a good charger if you own an electric vehicle already. Even if you don’t or are planning to get one, let us be clear that your ultimate concern after getting an electric vehicle will be its charging.”
Lectron 110V 16 Amp Level 1 EV Charger with 21ft Extension Cord J1772 Cable & Nema 5-15 Plug
Don’t worry if you don’t already know about the level 1 EV charging station. We are here to answer all your questions about a Level 1 EV charging station and why you should choose it for your vehicle.
But first, let us quickly go through a basic introduction of what is a level 1 EV charging station?
What is a Level 1 EV Charging Station?
A level 1 EV charger is a charging system or cord with 120V and 20 Amp standard input values. A level 1 EV charging station delivers electric current via a connector. The current is delivered from the outlet to the vehicle. These are typically sent along with the electric vehicle at the time of purchase.
A level 1 EV charging station has an efficiency of around 83%. The average power output is about 1.3kW to 2.4kW, approximately 3-5 miles of EV range per hour, known as trickle charging. It is easy and simple to use a level 1 EV charging, and you know that electric vehicles are good for our environment.
Charging Time
A level 1 EV charging station has the drawback that it takes too long to charge as the process of charging is extremely slow. On average, a level 1 EV charging station takes 17-20 hours to charge a 100-mile car battery.
It can charge your car for up to 200 kilometers or 20 miles in just 20 hours and several hours for a plug-in hybrid.
Network Service Provider
A networked charger or a smart public charging station is a good option to charge your electric vehicle. ChargePoint is the leading company in EV charging stations. It is one of the largest electric vehicle charging networks in the world, and a level 1 EV charging station is also supported by ChargePoint.
Although some networked charges are mostly free, ChargePoint, however, requires membership and operates in the United States and Canada.
Areas of Use
Most commonly, the level 1 EV charging stations are used in residential settings, and very few L1 chargers are built for public use. Many parking and garages have especially made 120V outlets available for charging through level 1 EV charging stations.
Most commonly, owners like to charge their vehicles at home overnight using the level 1 EV charging station.
Cost Friendly
As the level 1 EV charging station is included with the purchase of an EV, there is no additional expense of buying it separately. The only cost is the cost of electricity being used. An overnight charging can cost approximately $2 but of course, the cost varies with the rate of electricity. A full charge can range between $3 to $13 or even more sometimes. Hence a level 1 EV charging station is very pocket-friendly.
Types of Connectors
A level 1 EV charging station uses a very common type of connector that is the SAE J1772 EV plug. Almost all of the cars in the United States and Canada use the same connector. This connector works only for level 1 and level 2 EV charging stations and not for level 3 EV charging stations.
Make sure to check if the available connectors are suitable for your vehicle as well as the type of your charger or not.
Difference Between Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 EV Charging Station
Level 3 chargers are the most efficient among level 1, level 2, and level 3 EV charging stations as they are the fastest among all. However, some vehicles cannot charge at level 3, making level 1 and level 2 EV chargers a better option in such cases as they support all the electric vehicles.
One other point to keep in mind is that you have to separately purchase level 2 and level 3 EV charging stations as they don’t come with the electric vehicle, unlike a level 1 EV charging station.
The three also have voltage differences i.e., 120 volts for level 1, 240 volts for level 2, and level 3 itself has 2 levels, one for the DC charging and the other for AC charging.
Now let us quickly go through some of the most frequently asked questions about what is a level 1 EV charging station?
What Is The Difference Between Level 1 and Level 2 EV Charging Stations?
One of the major differences between level 1 and level 2 EV charging stations is that level 1 is a single-phase charging cable and level 2 EV charging allows both single-phase and 3-phase main power to be connected.
Is Level 1 Charging Better For The Battery?
Level 1 EV charging is comparatively better than the level 2 or level 3 EV charging stations for the battery as it does not damage the battery, so the battery goes a long time.
How Much Electricity Do Level 1 Chargers Use?
One of the plus points of level 1 EV chargers is that it has very low energy consumption compared to other options. According to a rough estimate, the average potential electricity consumed by a level 1 EV charging station can range between 860-2160 kWh/year if you assume that the drivers have a commute of 10-25 miles one way.
Conclusion
We hope that by now you know very well what is a level 1 EV charging station? To sum up the entire topic, we can conclude that each level of charging has its own pros and cons.
If you want more efficiency and quicker charging, then a level 1 EV charging station is not the perfect fit for you. However, a level 1 EV charging station can prove to be a good product, especially if you’re a beginner or don’t want to buy a new separate product.
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