Level 1 charging stations operate on 120V circuits, which are the electricity outlets most common in homes and businesses in the United States. Level 1 charging stations can be hardwired or plug-in capable, depending on the model.
They provide slower charging than a Level 2 (240V) option, but this can be an affordable and effective solution for long-duration parking in such places as homes, workplaces, airports, hotels, and universities.
Level 2 chargers are designed for quicker (1–3 hour) charging stops at parks, gyms, stores, and restaurants.
Level 2 chargers can be “smart”/ connected chargers with information tracked and certain controls available through an app, or they can be simple unconnected devices that do not have WiFi-enabled access and “smart” features.
While Level 2 chargers offer quicker charging than Level 1 chargers, in the grand scheme of electric vehicle charging, both are considered “slow chargers.” There are many high-level benefits of low-power EV charging solutions, such as relatively low upfront and operational costs, and flexibility of the installations and use.
