An electric vehicle level 2 (EVSE) charger is a type of charging equipment designed to provide faster charging for electric vehicles than a standard level 1 charger. Level 2 chargers use a 240-volt AC power supply, which is commonly found in most homes and businesses. They can provide charging rates of up to 25 miles of range per hour, depending on the electric vehicle’s battery capacity and the specific charger’s power output.
Important considerations need to be taken into account when choosing a level 2 charger for a multi-unit residential building, one of the most important ones are: Wireless communications, and OCPP compliance.
Power
Level 2 chargers typically range in power output from 3.3 kW to 19.2 kW, with most residential chargers falling in the 7.2 kW to 9.6 kW range. A 7.2 kW charger can provide around 45 kilometers of range per hour, while a 9.6 kW charger can provide up to 64 kilometers of range per hour.
Best chargers for Condominiums
Level 2 chargers are often the best option for residential EV charging because they provide a faster charging time compared to level 1 chargers, which use a standard 120-volt AC power supply and can only provide up to 6 to 8 km of range per hour. Level 2 chargers are also more convenient for daily use since they can fully recharge an electric vehicle overnight, allowing the owner to start the day with a fully charged battery.
The next important specification is OCPP compliance. OCPP is a communications protocol known as Open Charge Point Protocol that allow service providers and operators to manage EV Charging infrastructure. As the whole world is adopting electric vehicles, many services are being developed around EV Charging like V2G, power sharing, power management and others. These services are of significant importance for multi-unit residential buildings because of all the power limitations they have. This is of significant importance when it comes to managing a building’s limited power available. In simple words, if you do not use an OCPP Compliant charger in your building, you may not be able to enjoy the upgrades that will come in the future.
Installation
Additionally, Level 2 chargers are relatively easy to install in most homes since they can use existing wiring and electrical systems. Many electric utilities also offer rebates or incentives for the installation of Level 2 chargers, making them a cost-effective option for residential EV charging. For more information about how to get your own EV Charger in your condo parking space, click here.
Comparison of Level 2 Chargers
 |  | |
| Grizzl-e Smart | EVDuty-40 | |
| Max Power Output | 9.6 kW (40A) | 7.2 kW (30A) or 11.5 kW (48A) |
| Charging Speed [km per hour of charge] | 64 km per hour | 48 km per hour or 80 km per hour |
| Connectivity | Wifi and Mobile App. Not OCPP Compliant. | Wifi, Mobile App, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant OCPP Compliant. |
| Safety Features | Overcurrent protection, ground fault detection, and thermal protection | Overcurrent protection, ground fault detection, and automatic cable release |
| Compatibility | All EVs and J1772 port | All EVs and J1772 port |
| Price | $600 on Amazon. | From $800 on EVDuty Store. |
 |  | |
| Telktonika | ChargePoint Home Flex | |
| Max Power Output | 3.8 kW to 20 kW (30A to 40A) | 3.8 kW to 9.6 kW (16A to 40A) |
| Charging Speed [km per hour of charge] | 60 to 80 km per hour | 60 km per hour (40 Amp model) |
| Connectivity | Wifi, Mobile App, RFID, OCPP Compliant. | Wifi, Mobile App, Amazon Alexa, Voice Control. Not OCPP Compliant |
| Safety Features | Overcurrent protection, ground fault detection, and thermal protection | Overcurrent protection, ground fault detection, and temperature monitoring |
| Compatibility | All EVs and J1772 port | All EVs and J1772 port |
| Price | $1,300 retailers only. | $850 on Amazon. |
Make an appointment with us and we will walk you through the process to get a Level 2 Electric Vehicle Charger installed right at your condominium or apartment parking space.
Click on the links below to follow the process depending if you are a condo resident, property manager or condo board member.
