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EV Charging | L1 or L2? | Most People Get This Wrong!

Jim's EV Adventures

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This video explores the critical need for *charging stations for electric cars* in *multi family real estate* buildings. We examine solutions for *ev home charging* in apartment complexes, addressing a significant barrier for *electric vehicles* adoption. Understanding how to integrate these solutions is key for residents and property owners alike, especially with the growing popularity of the **electric car**.

If you are inclined, you can give a Super Thanks, or join me for a coffee at:
☕️ https://ko-fi.com/jimsevadventures

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Opening Charging Montage
00:22 – Challenge Accepted (Mr. Alec Watson)
01:10 – Alec, This One Is For You!
01:47 – The 65% Who Already Have It Easy
02:42 – Level 1 or Level 2: Just a Quick Overview of What You Get
03:59 – How Far Do YOU Drive Every Single Day?
04:08 – Level 1 Charging: Who It's Perfect For (Under 40 Miles/Day)
05:44 – Level 2 Charging: The Sweet Spot & What It Actually Costs to Install
07:22 – Energy Company Rebate? Most Likely!
07:40 – The Middle Ground: 40–80 Miles/Day & the L1 + Weekly DCFC Strategy
09:18 – Clairvoyant Jim: The Other 35%: Apartments, Condos & Street Parking
09:58 – Smart Tech Closing the Gap (Metered Charging & Load Management)
11:14 – Companies Making It Happen (AmpUp, SWTCH, PowerFlex, ChargePoint, Qmerit)
12:10 – Real-World Wins: California, New York & Right-to-Charge Laws
13:20 – Wrap-Up & Call to Action

Important Links:
Technology Connections: @technologyconnections
Technology Connextras: @technologyconnextras
Alec’s Gauntlet: Don't overthink electric car charging (we ...

⚠️ DISCLAIMER:
This content is for "informational and entertainment purposes only". While we aim for accuracy, vehicle performance, costs, and experiences may vary. This is "not financial, legal, or professional advice"—do your own research before making decisions. All opinions are our own. Any third-party references are used under fair use. "Drive smart, stay informed!".

⚠️FAIR USE:
Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair Use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringed.

For those who think they can poke holes in my research, references for this video can be found at:
https://pastebin.com/PMSqGrb1

Track: Digital Wave Rev-1
Music provided by: Slipstream Music https://slipstreammusic.com
Artist: Tyke Watson
Francisco Sakong
Matthew Franklin Chambless

20 Comments

@donaldbrick3326 6 months ago

Canadian EV owner here. Just to add a practical and real story regarding DC fast charging in Western Canada, specifically British Columbia. I recently did a road trip from Calgary, Alberta to Victoria, BC. I own a Tesla model Y and used the Tesla DC fast charging network. The round trip ended up being 2267km. The cost for charging was $101.35 cdn. Taking my other similar sized gas powered vehicle (Lexus RS350) at 10 liters/100km and an average gas price of $1.80/liter, the savings on fuel alone equaled $306.71 cdn.
The point is that even if there is no home charging available, the savings from running an EV vs an ICE vehicle are massive.

@wanderleyceschim2881 6 months ago

After several months, I finally realized that our 3 EVs don't have to share the single level 2 charger, as they are often parked for longer than a day. We just got one of the mobile chargers connected to the 120V plug in the garage and since that EV is often parked for longer than a day and typical outing is less than 40 miles total, level 1 is more than enough.

@RobertYoung-i1r 6 months ago

My apartment is going to put in a 240 volt outlet that we can plug our personal EVSE into. SCORE.

@joshuarozario5654 3 months ago

I like the simplicity with which he explains, especially to those who are new to the EV world. Thanks

@cyberoptic5757 6 months ago

POSITIVE SUPPORT: Jim's theme is correct and delivers an accurate message without ever mentioning anything technical. That's our experience also. We have an old EV for local driving and charge it from a standard plug with the cord that came with the car. Last year we also bought a modern EV, with big range and quicker charging capacity, for the occasional longer trips. One charges from a wall plug, standard, exterior. The other charges from an L2 in the garage.

@john4703 6 months ago

Our 1st EV is a 2022 Bolt EUV, and charged it on 120v to start, but soon upgraded to 240v (32 amps to start, then to hardwire 50a). I had a bad Qmerit contractor and a bad 2nd electrician to fix those mistakes, and a 3rd electrician to correct those mistakes! For awhile now we have been charging our 3 EV’s with solar power and storage batteries helping. It really helps in any situation to have a dedicated circuit just for the EVSE device.

@ehendi 6 months ago

One point of note is that Level 1 charging is less efficient than Level 2. Depending on the EV, charging with Level 1 can waste up to 20% while Level 2 wastes about 10% of the total energy the EVSE is pulling from the mains. The reason is while charging, the EV has to run electronics such as computers, AC-DC converters, fans for cooling, etc. All of these electronics consume power while charging, but the difference between charging at 120v Level 1 versus 240v Level 2 is minimal. So for example, an EV that uses 300W while charging for 10 hours on Level 1 will waste 3000Wh. But on Level 2, at 40A, it only takes 1.5 hours to reach the same amount of energy output. In that 1.5 hours, The EV's electronics will have used about 450Wh of energy.

Another point is charging outdoors in cold winter weather. The EV has to keep the battery warm and this battery heater draws from the same 1.4kW pool that a Level 1 EVSE provides. This not only prolongs the charging time, but also increase the amount of time the EV's electronics have to continuously pull 300W. With a Level 2 EVSE, the EV's battery heater and electronics will only have to be on for a relatively short amount of time, thereby increasing efficiency and saving money on the electric bill.

This is all, of course, being very nitpicky and only relevant for those who really want to geek out and squeeze out as much efficiency as possible. In reality, driving an EV while charging overnight with a Level 1 EVSE is still better than driving a gas car. Both for the environment and the pocket book.

@stewsim 5 months ago

When we got out Equinox Ev, we were L1 for the first couple of months, along with a DCFC once a week.
My wife had a daily commute around 60 miles, plus our day to day stuff.
When home for the day, ABC until morning.
It was workable, though we only had a full pack once a week, we were newbies with range anxiety…🥴
But then I got L2 wired up, and it was indeed a game changer…!

@ians3586 6 months ago

I'm fortunate to work from home so I am able to charge my EV for free using the power my solar panels generate. It's been a game changer since I bought my EV last September!

@chirpie11 6 months ago

My husband & I have 2 EVs, a Tesla model 3 and Mercedes ESB. Love them! L1 is generally adequate for daily use, two separate lines, and we have a Tesla L2 charger if we need faster charges.

@RobertHouben 3 months ago

As a new EV owner (Toyota C-HR), struggling to understand options, this was extremely helpful! Thank you!

@SusanKarns-f2h 5 months ago

the most honest and knowledgable video I've seen in 10 -20 years of research thank you!

@jmfd7048 6 months ago

Keep up the good work. I enjoy pretty much all of your videos.

@MichaelBeil-z3w 4 months ago

I own a small construction company. Six months ago I purchased an ev for my wife. She commutes 100 miles a day to her job. The immediate savings was about $250 per month over gasoline. Two weeks age I bought a KIA Soul ev. I was driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee. I am saving over $100 per week over gasolone.

@alanpeterson6768 6 months ago

Good job! I've enjoyed watching your vids develop over time and talking to you at EV shows. The mistake (in my opinion) I see new EV owners make is buying the fastest, most sophisticated L2 chargers. My simple, cheap 7 year old 32 amp charger still charges overnight just like theirs. The comment I keep hearing is that they may need a quick charge for an hour or two when they get home. I wish they'd stop and think that that big fancy charger is only going to give them a few more miles than mine in that amount of time. If you need a quick charge, go to a DC charger.

@karinhart489 6 months ago (edited)

I don’t have access to a 110 outlet for Level 1 charging in the condo w/parking garage space on a different floor than the power meters so no wiring there allowed. However, a couple of years ago we got a bank of Level 2 chargers installed in 15 parking spots next to the HOA tennis courts and “clubhouse” meeting room and a small gym (equipment & installation paid for by power company). We use an app or RFID card to start/stop/bill for the electricity used. While not as convenient or cheap as an outlet (110v or 240v) back to my unit’s power meter, it is way cheaper than DCFC, and way-way cheaper than ice fuels.

PS: At the current rate of friends and relatives purchasing EVs or PlugShare-in hybrids and installing Level2 chargers I won’t have problem plugging in while visiting any of them in a 150 mile circle. This weekend a grandnephew showed me an app he made as a school project to calculate how much it costs to plug-in at his house so you can pay his folks back.

@Germangenxr 6 months ago (edited)

I drive 40 to 60 miles a day four days a week . mostly use my level two charger 1x during non peak times after 9 PM to 8 AM during the week and then one time on the weekend . charge to 80% weekly 100% once a month. 2023 EV 6. 100% battery health. All year long. Live in Wisconsin. No change in my electric bill after owning the car for one year.

@petesandberg3957 3 weeks ago

The problem with metered shared chargers is someone monopolizing the charger after they’re done. Plugging in for the evening and not coming back until morning. It would be nice if they had four cords so it either could charge one at time at full speed or divide the power fours ways.

@YeOldeTraveller 6 months ago

Level 2 is more efficient than Level 1, so it makes sense to upgrade if that is an option. I ran on Level 1 for 8 months before I got the Level 2 charger installed. I have a 50 mile round trip commute. I could do the full week without Level 2 if I had to. This is marginal in the worst part of winter, but I also have access to chargers at work. Any charging at work, and I can easily survive on Level 1.

Right now with gas at $4/gal, I break even with at a DCFC with charge of $0.48/KWh. My efficiency is only average as I have a performance-oriented trim level. Most EVs will have better efficiency, so their break even price is even higher. For regular charging, it is not hard to find a source in southeast Michigan charging less than $0.48/KWh.

On road trips, I stopped for gas when I was looking to stop, and I did not really worry too much about the cost. I have not changed this since I started driving an EV. If I were still doing 40K a year, I might see things differently, or I might just get a more efficient EV.

@Yanquetino 6 months ago

A naïve assumption by consumers unfamiliar with EVs. My utility charges the same price per kWh, whether through L1 (slow) or L2 (faster) outlets. I bet most utilities do the same. However, using DCFC on roadtrips is a different matter, as the operators can charge a wide range of prices. I just paid only 20¢ per kWh at an IONNA station in Las Vegas. Best price I’ve seen yet!