Level 1, Level 2, DC fast: home charging without the jargon
May 21, 20265 min read
Charging is the part of EV ownership people overthink the most before buying — and think about the least six months after. The pattern is almost universal: you plug in at home at night, the car is full every morning, and gas stations become places you buy snacks.
Here's the no-jargon version of your three options.
Level 1: the humble wall outlet
Every EV can charge from a standard 120V outlet with the cable that comes in the trunk. It adds roughly 3–5 miles of range per hour — slow, but if you drive under 40 miles a day, an overnight plug-in genuinely covers it. Plenty of our customers run this way for months before bothering with anything faster.
Level 2: the one most people install
A 240V circuit — same as your dryer — feeds a wall charger that adds 25–40 miles of range per hour. Empty to full overnight, every night. Installed cost in the Portland metro typically lands between $800 and $1,800 depending on your panel, and Oregon utilities regularly run rebates that cover a real chunk of it.
If you're buying from us, ask the desk for our short list of local electricians our customers have had good experiences with.
DC fast charging: for road trips, not routines
The 150–350 kW stations along I-5 and I-84 will take most EVs from 10% to 80% in 20–35 minutes. They're brilliant for trips and unnecessary for daily life — fast charging every day costs more and ages the battery faster. Think of it as the airport, not the driveway.
Written by the Diplomat Motors team — the specialists on our Troutdale and SE Portland floors. Questions about anything here? Talk to a human.
