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Every EV comes with a charging cable that can plug into a standard wall socket. This is Level 1. Over a 12-hour overnight charge, you will gain roughly 40-60 miles of range. For many drivers with short commutes, this perfectly covers their daily driving.
The problem with Level 1 is the 'charging deficit.' If you take a 100-mile weekend road trip, it will take two full days of Level 1 charging to recover that range. If you have to commute the next morning, you will start the week with a partially depleted battery.
Additionally, Level 1 is very inefficient in cold weather. At freezing temperatures, much of the power from the wall is spent just warming the battery, leaving almost nothing to actually charge the car.
Related on this site
- Guide: Level 1 vs Level 2 EV Charging at Home(8 min read)