US Electric vehicle owners rank Level 2 chargers as the most satisfying

A survey of American electric vehicle owners has found Level 2 charging systems are the most highly-rated of all the home chargers, despite their higher initial and running costs.

In a study compiled by J.D. Power, a total of 8216 battery electric vehicle (BEV) and plug-in electric vehicle (PHEV) owners with cars made between 2016 and 2022 were asked to rank their home charging systems, providing a strong indicator of how satisfying each was in terms of overall ownership.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, permanently-mounted Level 2 chargers were found to be the best of the bunch, ahead of portable Level 1 and Level 2 units, which are cheaper but reportedly don't offer the same value for money as the bulkier chargers.

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On a scale of up to 1000 points, Level 2 wall-chargers were given an average satisfaction score of 752 points – a significant 188-point gap over the Level 1 score, managing 564 points.

However, the non-portable Level 2 units are not without their drawbacks – in addition to being more expensive to buy and run thanks to their more advanced features, some may require owners to make changes to their homes in order for them to work.

According to the study, three-quarters of respondents said they had to upgrade at least one component of their home to install the charger, with the most common alterations coming in the form of wiring (55 per cent), outlet (45 per cent) and electrical panel (28 per cent).

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J.D. Power's senior director of global automotive, Brent Gruber, said manufacturers need to understand what buyers need given how important home charging is to the market.

“Home charging is an important aspect of owning an EV and taking that to the next level by utilising a Level 2 charger is key to optimising the ownership experience,” said Gruber.

“When upgrading to Level 2 charging, some home electrical upgrades may be necessary. Making those changes will mean faster charging and result in a far more satisfactory EV ownership experience.

"With battery ranges increasing, it makes sense for many owners to make the upgrade if they haven’t already. All parties involved in the EV marketplace need to pay special attention to home charging since 84 per cent of owners regularly charge at home.”

Ranking higher than its other American rivals, Tesla's Level 2 system was rated as the best of the bunch, achieving a satisfaction score of 797 points, 45 more than the segment average.