If you’re in the market for an Level 1 EV charger, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind. First, you’ll need to decide what type of charger you need. There are Level 1 chargers that plug into a standard 120-volt outlet, and there are also Level 1 chargers that plug into a 240-volt outlet.
Second, you’ll want to consider the amperage of the charger. Level 1 chargers typically have an amperage of 12, 16, or 20 amps.
Once you’ve decided on the type of charger you need, you can start comparing different models. To help you make your decision, we’ve compiled a list of the best Level 1 EV chargers of 2022.
Contents
- Our Winner’s Podium
- The Best Overall Level 1 EV Charger of 2022 – Schumacher SC1455
- The Best Level 1 EV Charger for Beginners – MEGEAR Skysword
- The Most Affordable Level 1 EV Charger – Lectron NEMA 5-15
- What is a Level 1 EV Charger?
- Are All Level 1 EV Chargers The Same?
- How Long Does a Level 1 EV Charger Take?
- The Wrap-Up
Our Winner’s Podium
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Best for Beginners
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Best Overall Pick
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Most Affordable
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Description: A portable level 1 EV Charger with no installation required and no home EV charging station restrictions. |
Description: This EV Charger lets you charge from anywhere you have access to a 120V household or 240V outlet. |
Description: A rugged and robust charging station equipped with overvoltage, overheat and overcurrent protection. |
A portable level 1 EV Charger with no installation required and no home EV charging station restrictions.
This EV Charger lets you charge from anywhere you have access to a 120V household or 240V outlet.
A rugged and robust charging station equipped with overvoltage, overheat and overcurrent protection.
The Best Overall Level 1 EV Charger of 2022 – Schumacher SC1455
This EV Charger lets you charge from anywhere you have access to a 120V household or 240V outlet.
The Schumacher SC1455 takes our top spot this year for the best level 1 EV charger. This is due to its lightning fast charging, long charger cable, and dual ability to also charge in 240 volt outlets.
The Schumacher SC1455 EV Charger is a highly versatile and powerful charger that can deliver up to 16 Amps of power to charge electric vehicles. With its included adapter, the SC1455 can be converted into a Level 1 charger, making it perfect for charging multiple EVs from a single outlet.
The extended 28-foot charging cable gives you the flexibility to reach multiple garage bays or your home’s driveway from a single garage wall socket. The SC1455 is also equipped with a comfortable grip handle and a rubber cover to protect against water and dirt.
The Best Level 1 EV Charger for Beginners – MEGEAR Skysword
A portable level 1 EV Charger with no installation required and no home EV charging station restrictions.
The MEGEAR Skysword takes our top spot for the perfect beginner setup. A simple and reliable setup, the MEGEAR Skysword is adaptable for both NEMA 5-15 and NEMA 5-20 portable level 1 EV chargers with no installation required and no home EV charging station restriction.
The MEGEAR Skysword electric vehicle charger is equipped with a smart-chip detection system that can monitor all aspects of the charging process, including overheating, current overflow, power surge, low voltage, power overload, and leakage. This system helps to ensure the safety and protection of the charger.
The MEGEAR Skysword EV charging station is able to be utilized by all electric vehicles that follow the SAE J1772 standard, as well as Tesla models (via the SAE J1772 Charging Adapter).
The LED Indicator on the back of the charger lets you know how the charging is progressing and if there any errors.
It also comes with a 2-Year Limited Warranty and lifetime technical support.
The Most Affordable Level 1 EV Charger – Lectron NEMA 5-15
A rugged and robust charging station equipped with overvoltage, overheat and overcurrent protection.
The Lectron NEMA 5-15 Level 1 EV Charger is an excellent choice for those on a budget.
This Level 1 portable electric vehicle charger is perfect for those with electric cars or plug-in hybrids as it uses the standard J1772 charging protocol. The 21ft cable is also incredibly convenient, long enough to reach most driveways or garages.
If you connect the charger to a standard outlet in your house, you will be able to charge your vehicle with level 1 charging. Also, if you connect the charger to a voltage transformer or a special outlet that produces 110V, you will be able to access level 1 charging.
The charging station is tough and strong, with protection against overvoltage, overheating, and too much current. The light on the charging station helps show the different stages of charging, and warns of possible problems.
It has an input power of 110V AC. The frequency if 60 Hz with a maximum current of 16A. The LED indicator lights on the charging cable will show you the charging level of your car across three different levels. If a fault is discovered, you will also be alerted.
What is a Level 1 EV Charger?
A Level 1 EV charger is one that can be plugged into a typical 120V household wall outlet and which can deliver up to 2.4 kW of electrical power output. If it plugs into a 240V outlet, it is classified as a Level 2 charger.
Are All Level 1 EV Chargers The Same?
All Level 1 chargers are restricted to 16 amps and they all utilize a 5-15 outlet. Their maximum output power is 1.92 kW and even though, in theory, a Level 1 charger can output 2.4 kW, we assessed over 60 electric car chargers on Amazon and discovered that no Level 1 charger surpassed this charging rate or fell below it.
Most Level 1 EV chargers are portable, have an IP-rated control box, and some might have an LCD or delay timer. However, these features are the extent of what you can expect from a Level 1 charger–smart features and connectivity are not present.
How Long Does a Level 1 EV Charger Take?
The 5 miles per hour range is a estimation that is commonly put out there. Our calculation shows that a 52 kWh battery pack, like the one the Model 3 had at first, would be charged fully by a 16-Amp Level 1 Charger running at 1.92 kW in approximately 30 hours.
The Wrap-Up
There you have it. We hope this review of the best level 1 EV chargers helps you in your next decision to purchase an electric vehicle.