I Tracked Every Kilowatt From My Level 1 Charger, and Realized That For Our 2017 Chevy Bolt, I’ll Never Need To Install Level 2

Think you need an expensive Level 2 charger to own an EV? One Chevy Bolt owner proves a plain old wall outlet might be all you ever need, and his monthly charging bill will blow your mind.

I Tracked Every Kilowatt from My Level 1 Charger, and Realized I’ll Never Need to Install Level 2 for Our 2017 Chevy Bolt

When people imagine owning an electric car, they picture a wall-mounted charger in a perfectly lit garage and the peace of mind that comes from being able to “top up” in a couple of hours. That’s the dream, right?

But what if I told you that you don’t need any of that?

This evening, I was doing what I usually do, browsing the “Chevy Bolt EV and EUV Owners” Facebook group, and I came across a post that stopped me in my tracks. It was from Lamar Curtis, who shared how he’s been charging his 2017 Chevy Bolt Premier using nothing but a basic 15-amp garage outlet. No upgrades, no electrician, no NEMA plug. Just the car, the wall, and a smart plug to monitor everything. And it worked perfectly for his family’s driving needs.

Here’s what Lamar wrote: “LEVEL 1 CHARGING TEST RESULTS: I bought a 2017 Chevy Bolt Premier in January 2025. I only have Level 1 charging in my garage. It's on a dedicated 15-amp breaker with nothing else plugged in, so I set the Bolt to charge at 12 amps. I plugged in a smart plug with energy monitoring to track the usage. February we were plugging in every day, and the monthly total was 294 kWh at 12 cents/kWh for a total of $35.33. I also tested Level 2 charging at four ChargePoint locations, and one Tesla Supercharger to test the Lectron adapter. Those totaled $15. For March, I wanted to see what the difference would be if we didn't plug it in every day, and actually went a week without charging at all and still had 31% left after traveling 92 miles during that week. My wife definitely used the heater and didn't care about efficiency during that week. March was 171 kWh at 12 cents/kWh for a total of $20.57. My wife charged our Chevy Bolt once at a ChargePoint near her job for a total of $7.15. Since my wife's normal commute is 7 miles/day, there's no reason to install a Level 2 charger. I know there are more efficiency losses on Level 1 vs Level 2, but the quotes I was getting to install a NEMA 14-50 plug with a 40-amp breaker ranged from $450–$850. My napkin calculations showed that it would be a long time to get the return on investment, for minimal gain. There's a ChargePoint location 1.3 miles from our house that's 30 cents/kWh, with no idle fees, so we could drop the car off there and charge if we needed a faster charge in preparation for a longer trip. I hope this helps someone that has a similar daily usage rate and only has the option to do Level 1 charging.”

The Old 120-Volt Plug Is Still a Hero

Let’s just pause and appreciate how refreshingly practical that setup is. No flashy install. No fancy equipment. Just raw functionality.

For Lamar’s family, this kind of low-speed, low-cost charging fits like a glove. In fact, their monthly home charging bill for February was just $35.33. And when they scaled back in March, even skipping an entire week of plugging in, it dropped to $20.57. That’s what makes the Chevy Bolt EV so compelling even years later: it just works.

And this isn’t someone who’s never tried anything faster. Lamar tested out Level 2 at a few ChargePoint stations and even took his chances with a Tesla Supercharger using a Lectron adapter. It worked, but those faster sessions barely added any meaningful cost. So why spend hundreds more to bring Level 2 home?

After reading Lamar’s post, the comments started rolling in with people sharing their own charging experiences. One that really stood out was Todd, who had this to say: “I used just level 1 for months because my daily drives are less than 30 miles, and it was fine. I did get a level 2, which is really nice in that it charges in a couple/few hours, but it really wasn't necessary.”

That’s the key distinction, Level 2 isn’t always about need. It’s about convenience. And for some people, that convenience is worth every penny. But if you’re driving 7 to 30 miles a day and have a predictable schedule? A standard outlet can absolutely keep up.

Then came Gregg, with a completely different experience: “I charge at Level 2 at work for free, and I installed Level 2 at home for under $300. Being an electrician and buying the charger used helps, lol. I put 4,000 miles on the Bolt in March, so it was a necessity. Still saved $500 in gas costs compared to my previous daily, a 2008 HHR.”

That’s the beauty of these kinds of stories, they remind us that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Your ideal setup depends on how much you drive, what kind of access you have to charging, and whether you want the extra speed that comes with 240 volts flowing into your EV every night.

And if you’re wondering what driving a Bolt long-term really feels like, this deep dive into one-pedal driving shows how much owners love the simplicity and ease of use that comes with EV life, even if it means the brakes go a little neglected.

Let’s Talk Numbers

Here’s where Lamar drove his point home: installation quotes for a Level 2 setup ranged from $450 to $850. At a savings of around $15–20 a month using home Level 1 charging, the payoff just wasn’t there. It would take years to break even.

And even if efficiency losses are a bit higher on Level 1, the numbers show they’re marginal in the real world. Charging at 12 amps overnight still restores around 48 to 60 miles, more than enough for short daily commutes or errands.

That’s why Lamar’s family can go days without charging, like they did in March, and still have range to spare. It’s not a compromise, it’s a right-sized solution.

And for Bolt owners driving earlier models, especially those with replacement battery packs under GM’s buyback program, the range restoration has brought fresh life into these vehicles without needing to change how they’re charged.

When Public Charging Becomes Your Backup Plan

Another reason Lamar isn’t sweating the lack of a Level 2 at home. There’s a ChargePoint station just over a mile away. No idle fees, 30 cents per kWh, and usable for prepping the car for longer drives.

He’s not the only one with that setup either. Plenty of Bolt owners use workplace charging, public infrastructure, or even a Level 1 charger as their only source and it works just fine, as long as your lifestyle supports it.

Lamar’s wife, for instance, charges at a ChargePoint station near her job every now and then. That’s flexibility. That’s freedom. That’s EV ownership on your terms.

And let’s not forget how strong of a case the Bolt still makes in 2025. If you’re torn between models, this article makes a solid case for the Bolt EUV over the regular Bolt, especially for families who want a bit more space without giving up the efficiency and affordability that make the Bolt lineup so appealing.

Simplicity Isn’t Settling, It’s Smart

Some people might look at Lamar’s setup and think it’s settling. But after reading the full breakdown, I’d argue it’s the opposite. This is a well-thought-out, measured approach to EV ownership that saves money without sacrificing utility. It’s the kind of decision-making that reminds us not every upgrade is necessary.

Especially when you’re driving a vehicle like a 2017 Bolt that’s had a battery replacement or some fresh life breathed into it, like the owners featured in this article about overcoming propulsion and charging issues, sticking with a Level 1 setup can absolutely make sense.

After all, most drivers don’t need 250+ miles every day. They need reliability, predictability, and something that doesn’t mess with their budget. And that’s what Lamar has.

What’s unexpected is how personal EV charging needs can vary so drastically—even among GM EV owners. While Lamar Curtis found that a humble Level 1 plug meets all his daily needs with a 2017 Chevy Bolt, GM is simultaneously pushing the envelope with electric trucks like the 2025 GMC Sierra EV Denali Max. It’s an unusual juxtaposition: one owner using a standard household outlet to cover essential driving, while another segment of drivers might soon be piloting a 754-horsepower, all-electric luxury truck with 400 miles of range and an onboard Power Station Pro system. If you're curious how GM transformed a classic nameplate into something truly state-of-the-art, this deep dive into the Denali Max is worth your time: GM Took a Classic Machine and Turned It Into the 2025 Sierra EV Denali Max.

And then there are the unusual cases where the EV ownership journey takes a sharp turn into the unexpected. Take, for example, the story of a driver who had previously owned four Teslas but ended up buying a Cybertruck—not because of its futuristic design or specs, but because of the noise around it. The public discourse, the hype, and even the controversy helped him land a used Cybertruck for $20K under its original price. It’s a fascinating look at how EVs are not just about charging speeds or range—they’re cultural lightning rods too. If you’re curious how Tesla’s polarizing design and internet buzz can actually work in a buyer’s favor, don’t miss this story: Cybertruck Was Surrounded by Unusual Noise, But It Helped Me Get One for $20K Off.

The Takeaway: Know Your Needs Before You Install

What I loved most about Lamar’s story is that it wasn’t just about the hardware, it was about the thought process. It’s easy to get caught up in the rush to upgrade or the peer pressure of “doing EV ownership right.”

But the truth is, if you take a step back, look at how much you drive, and consider the options around you, you might realize you don’t need to install anything. You’ve already got what you need.

Now I want to hear from you.

Are you still using a Level 1 charger for your Bolt? If so, has it met all your needs, or are you starting to feel the pressure to upgrade?
If you’ve installed a Level 2, what pushed you to make that decision, and was it worth it?

Drop a comment and share your story. Whether you’re charging from a wall outlet or a wall box, every EV owner’s journey adds something valuable to the conversation.

Narek Hareyan is a young automotive journalist with experience in a golf cart dealership and an interest in the automotive industry. Follow Narek on X for daily news coverage about cars.

Image source: Grok, Torque News Article.

https://www.torquenews.com/17998/i-love-one-pedal-driving-my-chevy-bolt-maines-winter-salt-just-destroyed-my-unused-brakes

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