What size power station for a Level 1 EV charging cord?
It needs a station with at least 1,400 W of continuous output. At the default 85% efficiency it takes about 13,176 Wh of rated capacity for 8 hours of running, and 39,529 Wh for 24 hours of running. 43 of the 54 power stations in the Enough Watts data set can power it. None of them keeps it going for 24 hours of running.
Updated
The short answer
1,400W
Continuous output
None
Surge to start it
13,176Wh
Capacity for 8 hours of running
39,529Wh
Capacity for 24 hours of running
43 of 54
Stations that power it
Watts
Typical figures for this type, from the sources at the foot of this page. Watts vary by model and age. Check the label on your own appliance and enter it for an exact answer.
- Running, typical
- 1,400 W
- Running, low to high
- 1,400 W to 1,900 W
- Starting
- No start surge
- Typical use a day
- 8 hthe calculator starts from this, and you can change it
- Average draw while on
- 1,400 W
- Voltage
- 120 V
Explained in: Watts vs watt hours, explained and How to read an appliance label for watts.
The math
Worked with the typical figure, as the calculator does it.
- Output1,400 W running, so the station's continuous output must be at least 1,400 W.
- SurgeNo start surge: the running figure covers it.
- Average draw1,400 W: the running watts count for every hour it is on.
- A typical day1,400 W × 8 h = 11,200 Wh a day.
- 8 hours of running1,400 W × 8 h = 11,200 Wh usable, ÷ 0.85 = 13,176 Wh of rated capacity.
- 24 hours of running1,400 W × 24 h = 33,600 Wh usable, ÷ 0.85 = 39,529 Wh of rated capacity.
- On the BLUETTI Elite 100 V21,024 Wh × 0.85 = 870 Wh usable, ÷ 1,400 W = 37 min.
Stations that run it
Every power station in the data with this appliance alone plugged in, at 85% efficiency. Type the running watts from your own label and the table works it out again.
What moves the number
Level 1 charging is a steady load for hours: up to about 1,400 W through a standard charging cord on a 120 V outlet, or 1,900 W where the cord and car allow it. How much the car takes depends on its built in charger and the current the cord is set to.
The Department of Energy counts Level 1 at about 5 miles of range per hour of charging, so a station adds a few miles for each hour it can run the cord.
Questions
How many watts does a Level 1 EV charging cord use?
Can a portable power station run a Level 1 EV charging cord?
How long will a power station run a Level 1 EV charging cord?
Does a Level 1 EV charging cord need extra watts to start?
Sources
Researched from these pages, then checked against them a second time.
- Dual Level Charging Cord | Vehicle Support | Chevy maker support page, checked
- Alternative Fuels Data Center: Electric Vehicle Charging Stations government, checked
We read published figures and do the math; we do not measure appliances. The methodology states every formula on this page. Capacities are rated watt hours: 1,000 Wh rated gives 850 Wh usable at the default.