Why shouldn't we choose a Level 2 fast charger for our property? FOMO vs. Logic: The Power Dilemma in EV Charging Infrastructure

People often make decisions based on fear of missing out (FOMO), rather than logic. While it's natural for an EV owner to want the fastest charger available, every property is inherently limited by two factors:

  • Budget
  • Available Power

For argument's sake, let's imagine a property with an unlimited budget (a dream scenario, admittedly). Even in this case, power remains a fixed commodity. Buildings are designed with a certain power capacity, only a portion of which can be allocated to EV charging. Given this constraint, property owners face two primary options:

    .1Opt for Maximum Power (FOMO trap): Install a few Level 2 fast chargers and have residents share them.
    .2Opt for Maximum Scalability: Install numerous Level 1 chargers, providing private and convenient charging to each unit.

The primary question isn't about whether residents prefer Level 2 charging or Level 1. Instead, it's a matter of convenience and accessibility: Would you rather periodically move your car every 4 hours to make way for other residents using the shared fast chargers? Or, would you prefer a slightly slower, but private and convenient charging outlet that can be used to vacuum clean your car, as well as charge it at your leisure without any restrictions or penalties?

Think of EV charging as a property amenity, similar to a gym. You wouldn't stock a gym with 300lb dumbbells for the unlikely event of an Olympic hopeful using your facility. Instead, you cater to the majority use-case. If someone drives 200 miles in a day, they can utilize a public supercharger before returning home.

Our belief is that in the near future, there will be a mix of public superchargers and private Level 1 chargers. Intermediate options will become obsolete due to being overpriced and over-engineered. Not only are properties limited in power for Level 2 charging, but the power grid also can't support it. Thus, utilities will likely start imposing hefty fees on properties that use Level 2 chargers. This could force these properties to reduce their chargers' power to less than Level 1, leaving those who fell into the FOMO trap to start over from scratch.

The first step Plugzio takes in preparing any property for EV readiness is a complimentary site inspection. This crucial assessment helps us determine the available power supply. After understanding these power limitations, we can then discuss the most suitable level of charging for your property.

If you agree to proceed with this process, our sales team ( sales@plugzio.com ) would be more than happy to share the Property Survey with you, kick-starting our collaboration.