Difference between level 1 and level 2 charging

Electric vehicle charging comes in levels. If you are the owner of an electric vehicle, you need to be familiar with the different charging levels. You should not just know your menu level but different types of devices for powering up your vehicle. This helps you to understand the actual charging level of your home garage charger. There are both home garage and public charging stations for electric vehicles. There are three levels of electric vehicle charging.

There is the level 1 charging, level 2 charging, and level 3 charging all of these levels vary by capacity and capability. This post focuses on the thing between level 1 EV charger and the level 2 EV charger. If you know the thing between both levels of charging, you would know when to choose one over the other.

Different EV charging stations are used to enhance the driver experience. There is a big variance between charging an electric vehicle and going to the gas station. EV drivers can easily find charging stations to add more range to their electric car.

Difference between level 1 charging and level 2 charging: general specifications

The level 1 charging equipment is a relatively decent charger that you can easily install in your home garage to easily top up your electric vehicle. It comes with 120 volt and 20 amp circuit. It delivers a power of 1.4 kW. It comes with a medium electric and power specifications. You can easily find the level 1 charging stations in a home garage.

The level 1 charging station are used mainly for residential electric vehicle charging. If your electric cones with a 100 mile battery, the time it takes this level charger to fully charge the battery is between 17 and 25 hours. The level 1 charger can serve up to one EV driver per day. The level 2 charging stations are having more capacity in terms of their electric and power specifications.

They come between 208 and 240 volts. Level 2 charging stations are a 40 amp circuit equipment that can charge all sorts of electric cars. You can install L2 stations in your home garage to charge your electric car. Unlike the L1 stations, the level 2 charging stations provide the battery of your electric car with between 6.2 and 7.6 kW.

You get more hour of charge. The time it takes the level 2 charging equipment to fully charge a car is between 4 and 5 hour of charge. With the level 2 charger, you can serve up to 4 drivers per day. You can use the Level 2 charger to enhance your EV driver experience.

The difference between level 1 and level 2 EV chargers

Most EV drivers have the desire to get a long range which makes the level 2 charger such a preferable equipment to the level 1 charger. Most commercial and high rise residential EV owners prefer the level 2 charger over the level 1 charger. With level 2 charging, you can get about 25 miles of range per hour extra on your electric car. But with the L1 stations, the owner of an electric vehicle would only get 4 miles of range per hour more to their battery.

Since you only need to charge the battery of your electric vehicle for just one day, it is such a bad idea to use the L1 charger because of its slow charge rate. Most drivers would not want to leave their businesses to attend to a slow L1 equipment.

With a level 2 charger, most organizations or public charging are able to serve an increased number of drivers in one single day. This is used to lure in keeping customers. In terms of the rate if charging, the level 3 charging stations offer super-fast charging, while the level 2 charging stations offer medium charging. The level 1 charging stations offer the slowest charge rate out of all three levels.

In terms of charging times, the level 2 has a lesser charging time compared to the level 1 EV charger. This is a good way to charge faster.

Differences between level 1 and level 2 chargers: budget

One thing you need to keep in mind is the budget for both chargers. When you use a level 1 charger, you can simply charge your electric vehicle. This is because it  easily plugs into a 120 volt household outlet.

But this also means that it could forever to fully charge your car. But, the level 1 charging is certainly cheaper than the L2 EV charger. With level 2 EV charging stations, you get about 4.5 miles for per hour charge. The time it takes to fully charge your EV battery depends on the size of the battery.

Level 1 charging is not for people who need to get a fast charging. It is advisable to go for the L2 EV charger. But then again, if you an electric owner and you travel short distances with your electric cars, then you just might need the L1 charger in your home garage. Especially, if you have the time to wait all night for your battery to become fully charged. The L1 charger is a good equipment for people who have all the time to patient with such a slow charge process.

On the other hand, the level 2 charger comes with such a bigger budget and offers a relatively faster charging capacity. If you get the L2 EV charger, you will get a much rapid EV charging experience. Though, it is not as fast as the level 3 EV supercharger, the level 2 EV charger is more superior to the level 1 charger in terms of charging speed.

One thing that sets the level 2 charging stations from the level 1 charging stations is the fact that you need professional electricians to install the L2 chargers. They are 240 volt charging equipment that needs to be installed in the home garage as well as commercial applications. It supplies a current of 32 amps to the battery of your electric vehicle.

Level 2 charging stations come in different variants, however, if you get one, you would be able to power five times as much as you would with the L1 power device. This means that the L2 power device can cater to 5 different drivers a day.

We have many reasons why you should choose the level 2 EV charger over the level 1 charger. Electric Vehicle owners that drive for a long distance will need to cover a long range before they get close to charging stations. The L2 power device is perfect for topping up the charge level of your battery to last you for a long time. You get a shorter charge time with the L2 power device.

The level 1 vs level 2 charger: convenience

When it comes down to convenience the level 2 is much better than the level 1. We have a portable 240 volt level 2 EV charger that fits right into your car trunk. This charger can help charge your electric vehicle better. It is three times faster than the ordinary level 1 charging station.

But then again, to take a full advantage of this power device, you will need a household outlet and the needed voltage. You have the flexibility of a faster power device. The level 1 vs level 2 EV charger comparison is used to understand how your EV car works when it comes to powering up the EV battery. If you know how each charging station behave, you will be able to make a smart decision about charging your car.

If you choose the suitable home garage charging solution, you will get the best service out of your car. You get an excellent experience when you install the right equipment to power up your battery from your home garage to make driving your vehicles very enjoyable and convenient.

Level 1 vs level 2 chargers: The best options

1). Megear 240V portable electric charging station – Best Level 1 charger

The Megear portable EV charging station is the best level 1 charger. It is best used indoors. It comes with a charging cord length of 25 feet. Some of the key specifications of this EV car charger includes the 16 amp circuit. It has the ability to offer both 120 volts and 24o volts. As a level 1 EV equipment, it can supply a power of 1.92kW. This is a good way to add miles of driving to your journey. It is a good vehicle supply equipment to increase your driving range

One reason we love the Megear special EV car charger is that it can be converted to act as a level 2 EV charger. When adapted to be a L2 charger, it gets the capacity to produce 16 amps at 240 volts. With this you get a long-range speed power of about 11 miles per hour. This means your typical vehicles like the chevy volt can be charged for between 2.5 and 6.5 hours.

One thing about the Megear is that you can install a three feet charging adapter which is designed to be connected to a wall outlet of 120 volts. This makes it possible for EV drivers with no charging station to use one, especially if they are unable to install one of 240 volt in their home garage.

One thing we love about the Megear device for electric cars is the fact that it comes with a cord length of 25 feet. Now, this is long enough to accommodate just any EV driver. This charger comes with numerous ratings which protects and secures it during operation. If you ever need to consider buying a range of chargers the Megear chargers are the best chargers to consider.

Pros

• The best level 1 EV charger
• Can be adapted to a level 2 EV charger

Cons

• Only good for use indoors

Buy It Now: Amazon

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2). ChargePoint Home EV charger – Best Level 2 charger

ChargePoint as a charger is a good outdoor charging station. ChargePoint charger can be seen easily in most charging networks in any country with a good electrical vehicle infrastructure. ChargePoint can also be used in the home to power up your car battery.  It is a good vehicle supply equipment to increase your driving range

This an electric vehicle EV home charging device that is offered as a plug or hardwired version. It is a charger Level 2 and can be used to charge your battery. It is best suited for concept vehicles, and other electric SUV vehicles. The ChargePoint offers some of the best features found in home EV chargers. You can easily charge your EV with the NEMA 6 50 plug or the 14 50 plug.

Like the JuiceBox, this ChargePoint home charger will power up your car while being able to communicate with Amazon Echo device. It comes with an app that caters to your charging needs and enhance the general experience. The app helps you remember when to plug in your electric car. You can use this to sustain the battery life of your car.

Most EV drivers fancy this charger and it offers a great range. This ChargePoint is a charger level 2 that can charge up your car battery to get to the 50 amp circuit that it is. This can add close to 37 miles of range per hour to your car. You can easily plug in your car and choose to either charge this at 16 amps or at 50 amps to help boost your charging options. The charger has an excellent design and safety feature that makes it work with your vehicle. This is a good way to add miles of driving to your journey. If you ever need to consider buying a range of chargers the ChargePoint chargers are the best chargers to consider.

Pros

• This a level 2 home charger.
• Comes with a good charging time.
• The battery charger is an energy star certified device.
• Offers a 37 miles range per hour charge with just 50A.

Cons

• The app malfunctions sometimes during car battery charging.

Buy It Now: Amazon

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