EV CHARGERS

What Is a Level 2 Charger — And Why Does It Make Sense?

Not all EV chargers are created equal. Here is a plain-language breakdown:

Level 1 chargers — use a standard 120-volt household outlet. They work, but they are slow — adding only 3 to 5 miles of range per hour. Most EV owners outgrow them quickly.

Level 2 chargers — run on 240 volts — the same electrical connection used by your clothes dryer or electric range. They charge most EVs fully overnight, adding 20 to 30 miles of range per hour. For the vast majority of homeowners and businesses, a Level 2 charger is the perfect balance of speed, cost, and simplicity.

Level 3 chargers — also called DC Fast Chargers — are powerful and fast, but they require 3-phase electrical service, cost $50,000 or more, and require an electrical engineer's stamp on the permit. They make sense at highway fuel stations where drivers need a quick charge and move on. For most other applications, they are overkill.

The bottom line: A Level 2 charger costs $1,000 to $2,000, runs on power most buildings already have, requires no 3-phase electrical connection, and needs no engineer's stamp on the permit. It is the smart, affordable choice for homeowners, motels, small businesses, and park-and-ride facilities.

For businesses with parking lots, Solar DC Power recommends the SolarEdge Solar Carport — an integrated solution that combines solar panel harvesting, Level 2 EV charging, and battery storage in a single, elegant structure directly over your parking spaces.

Here is why this makes exceptional sense for motels, small businesses, and commercial properties in Georgia and the Carolinas:

• Your parking lot generates solar power — turning underutilized asphalt into a revenue-producing asset
• Solar powers your EV chargers — guests and customers charge on clean energy your carport produces, driving your electricity cost toward zero over time
• Vehicles stay cool and shaded — a genuine comfort benefit during Georgia's long, hot summers, reducing the energy needed to cool parked vehicles
• Customizable to your layout — SolarEdge carport systems accommodate irregular parking lot shapes without the design compromises required by traditional inverter systems
• Built-in safety — SolarEdge's patented SafeDC technology meets and exceeds NEC electrical safety requirements, reducing voltage to touch-safe levels whenever maintenance is needed
• Up to 10% more power than standard solar installations, thanks to SolarEdge's module-level power optimization.

For a motel owner, the picture is compelling: one investment installs a shaded parking structure, generates solar electricity, powers EV chargers, and attracts a growing segment of travelers who will choose your property over a competitor's specifically because you offer charging. And if installed before June 30, 2026, the 30% federal ITC applies to the full system.

Engineered EV Charging — Not Just Installed

Most electrical contractors can hang a charger. Solar DC Power engineers an EV charging system. The difference matters more than most business owners realize until they're dealing with tripped breakers, undersized service panels, or a parking layout that doesn't actually support how their customers or fleet vehicles move. Our process starts with a complete site assessment: we evaluate your existing electrical infrastructure, determine the right charger level and quantity for your use case, map the physical installation layout, and model the load impact on your building's power system before a single permit is filed.

For clients ready to go further, Solar DC Power integrates EV charging with onsite solar generation and storage battery systems — creating a closed-loop energy infrastructure where your vehicles charge on the solar power your roof or canopy produces. This combination directly addresses the ongoing cost of expensive gas and utility rates: your EVs run on sunlight, your charging costs approach zero over time, and you're insulated from grid price volatility in a way that no gas-powered fleet ever could be. Across metro Atlanta, the Research Triangle, coastal South Carolina, and everywhere in between, Solar DC Power is building the clean energy infrastructure that serious businesses need.

What Does It Cost to Charge an EV at Home?

The math is straightforward. The average U.S. household pays approximately 18 cents per kilowatt-hour for electricity. A 90 kWh EV battery costs about $16 to fully charge at home — roughly one-third to one-half the cost of filling a 12-gallon gas tank at current prices. Most EV owners charge overnight when electricity rates are at their lowest, making home charging even more economical.

Public fast chargers typically cost around 50 cents per kWh — still less expensive than gasoline in most cases, but significantly more than home charging. The math consistently favors the driver who charges at home or at a business they already frequent.