Cost difference between L1 charging versus L2 charging

I’m not too sure on the cost differences, but think it would be minimal other than if you have a time of use pricing on your electricity (like it’s cheaper between certain non peak hours).

You’re using the same amount of energy to charge it, whether you spread it out 5-6 hours or load it all in 2 hours.


iPad ?

 

Level 2 charging is around 5% more efficient than Level 1. Let's say you empty your battery and charge it full daily. At 10 cents per kWh, you'll save about 90 cents a month. But the best thing about Level 2 is that if you recharge at home multiple times a day, you can probably save on gas since it's faster to charge.

 

The home cost between the Level 1 and 2 will be tiny, as others have said, but the Level 2 could mean less gas use on trips taken after getting home in a day.

 

Either way, you are putting the same amount of energy into the battery. There is a minutely different amount of heat loss due to resistance from the two charge voltages - at 120 the current is twice as high and the resistive losses are slightly higher. I doubt you will see this on your electric bill, maybe a few watts more for a whole charge.

 

Level 1 uses more electricity than level 2, the first reason is 240v is slightly more efficient meaning there is less loses in the wiring, the second reason is the car in order to charge it needs to turn on the electronics that are use to charge the car, so lets say it uses 1.4 kwh from the wall but is actually just putting 1.2 kwh into the battery because the rest is being use to power the electronics, while level 2 is putting 3.4 kwh while using 3.6 kwh but it takes fewer hours, so uses less energy to charge the car, the difference are really small to even worry it about it anyway, another reason is you may use ev mode more often because it charges faster.

 

After taking into the consideration of the L2 EVSE equipment and installation cost, any L2 cost advantage in electricity fee would be gone, I would think. We usually go out only once a day until we return to home. For me over night L1 charging is the most economical and convenient way to charge my PRIME.