Why Level 2 charging?
EV chargers come in two speeds. Here's why Level 2 is the right one for your parking lot.
Two kinds of charging
Level 2 adds about 25–65 miles of range per hour. Plug in, go do your thing, come back to a charged car.
Level 3 (DC fast charging) adds 100+ miles in 20–30 minutes. Pull in, wait by the car, leave.
Both exist for a reason. But for a retail parking lot, one makes a lot more sense than the other.
Side by side
| Level 2 | Level 3 (DCFC) | |
|---|---|---|
| Charge speed | 25–65 miles per hour | 100+ miles in 20–30 min |
| Equipment cost per port | $2,000 – $6,000 | $30,000 – $150,000+ |
| Installation cost | $3,000 – $15,000 | $50,000 – $200,000+ |
| Electrical needs | 240V, 40–80A circuit | 480V 3-phase, dedicated transformer |
| Footprint | Pedestal or wall-mount | Large cabinet + cooling system |
| Noise | Silent | Fan noise from cooling |
| Driver behavior | Plug in and leave the car | Wait by the car |
| Best for | Retail, dining, gyms, offices | Highway stops, gas stations |
L2 fits how your customers already behave
Your shoppers, diners, and gym members are already parked for 30 minutes to 2 hours. Level 2 fills their car while they fill their time. No behavior change needed. No sitting in the car watching a progress bar.
Level 3 is for highway rest stops and emergencies, places where the goal is to charge and leave. That's the opposite of what you want. You want customers to stay.
| Your tenants | Typical visit | Range added (L2) |
|---|---|---|
| Coffee shop, bakery | 20–45 min | 8–19 miles |
| Grocery store | 30–60 min | 13–25 miles |
| Sit-down restaurant | 60–90 min | 25–38 miles |
| Gym / fitness | 60–90 min | 25–38 miles |
| Salon / spa | 45–120 min | 19–50 miles |
| Movie theater | 2–3 hours | 50–65+ miles |
Based on 9.6 kW Level 2 charger output (standard commercial unit).
The gap in the market
Most public charging infrastructure in Southern California is either Tesla Supercharger (proprietary, Level 3) or third-party DC fast charging. Level 2 is massively underbuilt relative to demand.
EV drivers who park for 30+ minutes, your customers, are underserved. They don't need a 20-minute fast charge. They need a charger where they're already parked.
That's the gap Parked Energy is filling.
Interested?
We install Level 2 chargers at commercial properties at zero cost to the property owner. Here's how it works, or get in touch directly.