I think “might be overkill” would be a better title and position than “usually overkill.”

There is absolutely a subset of EV drivers that could get by with a level 1 charger (ignoring time of day rates), but most people would fall behind anytime they drive further than the average number of miles. Sure, taking 10 hours to recharge your Chevy Bolt overnight when you’ve driven 40 miles is doable; 64 hours when you’ve returned home from a longer trip isn’t.

I own a PHEV, and installing a level 2 charge has been one of the best quality of life and financial changes.

What kind of range do you have on that? I’ve been debating installing a l2 charger because overnight charging is usually good enough. I tend to get about 15-20 miles range tops on pure electric.

The way I explained it to my brother:

• technically just plug in to an existing outlet will work. Even if you didn’t keep up every day, you would get tot the weekend and make it up then
• but your garage already has a dryer outlet. Adapters are cheap and it will charge 4-5 times as fast
• but 50a level 2 charger is the same size as a stove outlet. Maybe a little longer wire run, and the “outlet” is more expensive, but it’s well worth the cost for the freedom, the flexibility, the convenience … and may even add to your house value

As explained in the video you can’t run 50 amps ona dryer outlet. It’s 42 amps max.