Sometimes yes, in the sense that the circuit and the service still have to be suitable — but the stakes are usually lower than for Level 2. Level 1 is typically a 120-volt cordset drawing about 12 amps, or about 1.44 kW, often for many hours. The Alternative Fuels Data Center notes that many drivers can meet daily range this way if a power outlet on a dedicated branch circuit is available near the parking spot. A dedicated circuit is the important phrase: a general-purpose garage receptacle that already shares a freezer or tools is not automatically the right home for an all-night continuous load. Whether your town wants a permit or a written load calculation for that setup is a local question.
1.44 kW will rarely, by itself, push a healthy 200-amp or even a lightly loaded 100-amp service over the edge. It can still matter on a distressed 60-amp or 100-amp service, or if you were already close to the rating. If the “Level 1” device is actually a 16-amp, 120-volt setting (1.92 kW), the usual continuous-load arithmetic points to a 20-amp dedicated circuit, not a 15-amp shared outlet.
If you later add Level 2, do a proper load calculation then — do not assume the Level 1 year proves the panel can take 32 A at 240 V. Use the calculator if you are unsure, and ask the building department before you add a new receptacle.
This is not a permit calculation, a utility approval, or a substitute for a licensed electrician, HVAC contractor, or the authority having jurisdiction. Panel Headroom is an independent educational site. It is not a utility, a certification body, or a contractor. Electrical and generator work that is done incorrectly can cause fire, shock, or carbon monoxide poisoning. Use the adopted electrical code and manufacturer instructions; pull permits where required.