How do Level 1 chargers work?

Most passenger EVs come with a built-in SAE J1772 charge port, more commonly known as the J port, which allows them to plug into standard electrical outlets for Level 1 charging and use Level 2 charging stations. (Tesla have a different charging port, but Tesla drivers can purchase a J port adapter if they want to plug into a standard outlet or use a non-Tesla Level 2 charger.)

When a driver buys an EV, they also get a nozzle cable, sometimes called the emergency charger cable or the portable charger cable, included with their purchase. To set up their own Level 1 charging station, an EV driver can connect their nozzle cord to the J port and then plug it into a 120-volt electrical outlet, the same type used to plug in a laptop or a lamp.

And that’s it: They’ve got themselves a Level 1 charging station. No additional hardware or software components are needed. The EV dashboard will indicate to the driver when the battery is full.