Summary
- Level 1 car chargers use 120-volt current from a standard wall outlet, while Level 2 chargers use 240-volt connections
- Level 1 chargers are cheaper to install and can add 4-5 miles of range per hour of charging
- Revvit is targeting long-term parking lots with its Level 1 chargers to provide additional range to electric vehicles
- The founder of Revvit shifted focus to commercial parking lots due to easier installation compared to city streets
- Revvit’s slow chargers are cost-effective with installations costing around $1,000-$2,000, compared to Level 2 chargers costing $15,000 or more
Article
Ross Bloom, founder of Revvit, has developed a Level 1 charger for electric vehicles (EVs) that can be easily installed in commercial parking lots at a lower cost compared to Level 2 chargers. These chargers rely on standard 120-volt current, making installation simpler and more affordable. While Level 1 chargers can only add about four to five miles of range per hour of charging, they are ideal for long-term parking scenarios like office buildings, airports, or hotels.
Bloom initially intended to create systems for recharging EVs parked on city streets but shifted his focus to commercial parking lots after realizing the practicality of targeting those areas first. Revvit’s first installations are in a parking lot in Concord, New Hampshire, and at a hotel in Loon Mountain ski resort. Steve Duprey, president of Foxfire Property Management, supports the initiative due to his advocacy for fighting climate change and sees the potential for these slow chargers to become commonplace in parking lots of the future.
The cost of installing a Level 1 charger is significantly lower than that of Level 2 or Level 3 systems, making it an attractive option for property owners looking to offer EV charging stations. Bloom estimated that installing a Level 2 charger would cost over $15,000, mainly due to the need for heavy-duty electrical wiring to handle the power load. Other companies like GoPowerEV and Orange Charger have raised millions to install similar slow chargers, indicating a growing interest and investment in this technology.
Sam Evans-Brown, executive director of Clean Energy NH, introduced Bloom to key contacts at various companies and believes in the potential of slow-charging solutions like Revvit’s. He uses a standard power outlet to charge his Nissan Leaf, demonstrating the practicality of slow charging for vehicles with limited range. Bloom is financing Revvit himself and is seeking investors to further develop the business. Despite the competition in the market, the influx of funding into slow-charging startups indicates a growing demand for innovative EV charging solutions.
The convenience and cost-effectiveness of Level 1 chargers make them an appealing option for property owners and EV owners alike. With the average US motorist driving 40 miles a day, the additional 40 miles of battery range provided by a Level 1 charger during an eight-hour workday can be significant. As the EV market continues to grow, innovative solutions like Revvit’s Level 1 chargers have the potential to play a key role in expanding access to convenient and affordable charging infrastructure.
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