Using an electric vehicle, you might find that a simple wall socket becomes your greatest ally. I discovered this during my journey with the Rivian R1T.
Let's be real for a second: nobody wants to sit around and wait hours and hours for their electric vehicle to charge. The fear of long charging times, along with nowhere to actually do it, is what scares many people away from owning an EV. And certainly, the time it takes to charge from a standard wall outlet—which might take ranging anywhere from 60 to 200 hours Depending on the vehicle—it isn't particularly reassuring.
Many electric vehicle (EV) owners charge their vehicles at home using quicker Level 2 chargers to fully power up within hours rather than days. Some others depend on public DC fast charging for regular needs or during long drives, allowing them to refuel in just minutes. However, every EV is also capable of plugging into a typical 120-volt household electrical socket. The question remains: how practical is this option?
Actually, it's really quite good, despite what you might think. I discovered this during my road trip. to the remote western Texan desert in a 2025 Rivian R1T That experience made me realize that what’s known as Level 1 charging, which is the most gradual method of electric vehicle charging available, can be incredibly handy—provided you employ it properly.
Actually, using wall power charged my devices when I needed it most during this journey. Here’s why it made such a difference.
( Full Disclosure: Rivian lent me an R1T for a journey during the 2024 winter break.)
During the holiday season, I traveled approximately 400 miles from San Antonio to the distant town of Marfa, Texas, which is close to the Mexican border. You can imagine that electric vehicle charging stations are scarce in this area. The nearest option was at a hotel close to where I was lodging; however, their Level 2 charger was reserved exclusively for guests, so I couldn’t use it. While I likely could have persuaded them to let me charge occasionally, I did not wish to impose on their hospitality.
No, I usually don't park like this. But there was nobody nearby.
My safest option was the Tesla Supercharger station located in the town of Alpine. I frequently utilized this during my journey due to the adapter provided with the Rivian vehicle. However, even this station was situated at a distance of 30 miles prior to accounting for any reductions in range once off the highway. opposite The direction towards everything I love outside of Marfa. To put it briefly, this entailed a broad impact almost immediately after I left the parking area.
Fortunately for me, Rivian provided a portable wall charger as well. I opted to connect the R1T to it when it was stationed in my driveway. As expected, it turned out to be exactly what I required.
Stage 1 Charging: Understanding What Awaits You
A typical 120-volt household electrical socket usually delivers between 1 and 2 kilowatts (kW) of power. This equates to approximately three to five miles of driving distance added each hour.
With a 149-kilowatt-hour battery pack (of which 140 kilowatt-hours are usable), similar to the one in my R1T Dual Motor Max Pack test unit, you would expect approximately 30 to 40 hours to recharge from 20% to 80% of its capacity It depends on the speed. In the most ideal situation, around 2 kilowatts of electricity would be needed for every kilowatt-hour of battery capacity. Does that make sense?
That’s significantly lower compared to my personal ChargePoint Level 2 charger, which maintains an output of 7.2 kW. This allows me to fully recharge my Kia EV6, equipped with a 77.4 kWh battery, within approximately 10 hours. However, I usually only require about five or six hours for charging. I have always kept some reserve power and haven’t let the vehicle drop below zero percent, nor do I plan to.
2025 Rivian R1T Review
If you’re new to electric vehicles, you might dismiss Level 1 home charging as overly sluggish. However, keep in mind that what does your car do for the majority of the day? It’s simply stationary, parked.
Since it remains stationary, you can essentially “recharge” it. This is somewhat like a hidden superpower for electric vehicles that not many discuss. In contrast to gasoline cars, which require you to go out and refuel at a station, with an EV, for 95% of the time the vehicle remains stationary , it can continue charging its battery as long as it remains close to a power source.
2025 Rivian R1T Review
It proved incredibly helpful for me. During my journey, I didn’t spend all my time behind the wheel. Instead, I spent hours strolling through town, exploring attractions, enjoying meals and drinks with loved ones, or snapping pictures. Just like any regular car would do, the R1T remained parked quite often during the day. So, I thought why not leave it plugged in while it was idle?
It turned out extremely profitable. By simply plugging into a regular wall outlet, I managed to gain an additional 30 to 40 miles of range each day, with much of this happening during nighttime hours while I slept. Since I never let the battery drop all the way to zero percent, I avoided having to recharge entirely from empty. Additionally, I consistently maintained some charge using access to a Tesla Supercharger station. Thus, relying solely on the standard wall socket provided me ample mileage for handling everyday tasks and chores efficiently.
I've observed that electric vehicle (EV) charging doesn’t usually follow the “fill it up immediately when empty” approach common with gasoline vehicles. Instead, it’s all about ensuring you get just the right amount of charge for your specific needs each time. I didn’t require the R1T to be completely full every single day; rather, I only needed sufficient range to meet my everyday travel demands comfortably. Charging via the wall outlet provided an adequate daily reserve until I could recharge at a Tesla Supercharger station again. Driving an EV encourages one to adopt a more strategic mindset regarding power consumption. This shift isn’t necessarily negative though.
The additional 30 to 40 miles gained from nightly home charging were enough to cover much of my journey. This explains why quite a few electric vehicle owners rely solely on Level 1 charger at home for their everyday needs. My coworker Kevin Williams has covered this topic thoroughly. He lives in an apartment and frequently opts for slow charging.
Consider individuals who possess a compact electric vehicle equipped with a smaller battery, or those who use an electric vehicle as their secondary or tertiary car mainly for local trips and errands. What reasons might they have? not Why use a wall outlet, particularly when you don’t require something as quick or expensive as a Level 2 home charger?
Level 1 portable charger
At minimum for me, since I drive quite frequently at home, having access to a Level 2 charger is essential. Depending entirely on Level 1 charging doesn’t meet my requirements. However, nowadays, I view it more like an additional resource—an incredibly useful one—that I can utilize. This becomes particularly important during long journeys and holidays. When traveling somewhere unfamiliar where high-speed charging stations might be scarce, I highly advise carrying a portable wall charger. While it won't offer the quickest charge, it’s certainly preferable over waiting indefinitely and could prevent serious issues.
I'll include the usual warnings and emphasize that it's crucial to ensure the electrical source you're using for charging is safe and compatible. is secure, up-to-date, sturdy and capable of managing the workload . If you’re leasing an Airbnb, make sure to confirm with the hosts whether they allow EV charging (and It likely won't make a significant impact on their electricity bill. .)
Certain manufacturers warn against utilizing an extension cord for such purposes. Using extension cords in applications involving prolonged periods and high power consumption can lead to issues. Although an industrial-strength, thick gauge extension cord might work better, it’s advisable to follow the instructions provided in your owner's manual. If you still feel unsure, consult an electrician regarding safe practices when dealing with extended cables. Do not simply use whatever extension cord happens to be available without considering safety implications. Level 1 charging undoubtedly helps maintain mobility; however, damaging a charger or causing a fire could escalate matters significantly.
As long as you can manage it safely, consider using Level 1 wall charging, particularly during your upcoming electric vehicle road trip. Keep this in mind: whenever it’s stationary, look for opportunities to plug in your car.
2025 Rivian R1T Review
Contact the author: patrick.george@insideevs.com
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