I discovered several charging stations a block from a Costco we use. The stations are all of the 4 hour type with the exception of one which will charge in 30 minutes. This particular charger is not operational yet PG&E is waiting for approval. 30 minutes is pretty fast, does anyone know if this type of charger will do damage to the battery?

The Volt won't charge at more than 3.3 kW and it doesn't have a CHAdeMO connector, which is the only fast charger currently UL approved, so it's not an issue. Any charger you can use will work. But don't expect anything faster than 3.3 kW.

I discovered several charging stations a block from a Costco we use. The stations are all of the 4 hour type with the exception of one which will charge in 30 minutes. This particular charger is not operational yet PG&E is waiting for approval. 30 minutes is pretty fast, does anyone know if this type of charger will do damage to the battery?

That's probably a Level 3 charger which is not supported by the Volt (though it is supported by the Leaf). It is a different physical connector. Even if it was one of the super high current Level 2 chargers with the same connector as the Volt, the Volt will only draw a max of 16A at 240V even when the charger supports much more. Simply put, you can't fully charge your Volt in less than 4 hours regardless of the charger used.

Umm... True the Volt has a 3.3 kW charger in the car (the thing you plug into the car isn't a charger, it's an EVSE). That means at 240V the most it should draw is 13.75 amps, not 16. It should draw *almost* 16 amps at 208V, if the EVSE supports it.

The CHAdeMO station is *not* a level 3 station, it's a fast DC charge station. Until just recently SAE J-1772 (which is were the level 1 and level 2 EVSE interfaces are defined) did not have a level 3 fast DC charge definition agreed to. That's changed recently. The J-1772 level 3 connector is a superset of the L1/L2 connector.

CHAdeMO is a Nissan (and one other manufacturer, plus Nippon Electric?) proprietary standard. It does charge the Leaf battery to 80% capacity in 30 minutes. Nissan also says not to do it terribly often, because that will void the (somewhat nebulous) Leaf battery warranty. So yes, it's not good for the battery.

And before you say "If fast DC charge is bad for the battery, is L2 worse for the batter than L1?" No, it's not. The charge currents for L1 and L2 are too low to cause any fast charge damage to the battery.

Lastly, I've heard the Volt can charge at L2 in 3.5 hours. The charge time depends on the weather. Cold or hot weather will increase the time to charge, as some of the current is used to run the TMS to maintain the battery at a good for the battery charging temperature.

The Volt doesn't need a quick charge capability because of its extended range capabilities. When a BEV is out of charge they are not going anywhere. So the quick charge is required by BEV for trips beyond the normal range of the battery.

The second comment I have is many experts believe quick charging reduces battery life expentancy.

That's probably a Level 3 charger which is not supported by the Volt (though it is supported by the Leaf).

Only if you paid Nissan the extra $1K or $2K for the model that has the Level 3 Charger option.

That's probably a Level 3 charger which is not supported by the Volt (though it is supported by the Leaf). . It should be pointed out that very few Leafs (Leaves?) actually support 440V DC charging despite this very common statement.
For 2011 it was apparently an optional feature for fleet use only...
I have never heard the actual numbers OR if it is to be implemented any differently for 2012 - DonC?????
WOT

It should be pointed out that very few Leafs (Leaves?) actually support 440V DC charging despite this very common statement.
For 2011 it was apparently an optional feature for fleet use only...
I have never heard the actual numbers OR if it is to be implemented any differently for 2012 - DonC?????
WOT

I'm not so sure about that. For the 2011 the ChadeMo connection was a $700 option on the SL. I read somewhere the take rate was quite high, maybe 80%. For 2012 models ChadeMo is standard on all SL Leafs.

GSP

I'm not so sure about that. For the 2011 the ChadeMo connection was a $700 option on the SL. I read somewhere the take rate was quite high, maybe 80%. For 2012 models ChadeMo is standard on all SL Leafs.

GSPWhaddya mean? You've just made my point. That being people continue talk like ALL Leafs have the DC charging capability when in fact the actual numbers are only a fraction of the cars produced to this point as it was/is "optional".
(FFS even the Leaf wiki attempts to imply it through obfuscated language (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_Leaf#Recharging)- having a car "equipped" with the socket doesnt mean it's functional lol)
Nissan's own marketing dept made the original statement that the feature was initially targeting fleet use that could more easily justify (and afford) an expensive 440V DC installation.
If they have now made it standard on the SL models for 2012 that will help but...
WOT

For 2011 it was apparently an optional feature for fleet use only...
I have never heard the actual numbers OR if it is to be implemented any differently for 2012 - DonC?????It came with the car if you participated in the Ecotality program and was available to everyone as a $700 option. Our Leaf has one and I'd assume a substantial percentage of MY 2011 Leaf have a QC. I think it's more or less standard on the 2012 MY.

The problem is that there aren't any QCs. The target was 60 in San Diego and they'll be lucky if they get five installed through 2012 assuming they can use the grant money (the grant officially runs out in January but they can probably install them during 2012 if the paperwork is done in 2011). Ecotality has found QCs to be a tough sell, even though the DOE is paying 80% of the costs. There just aren't many Leafs on the road so everyone is worried that they'll be stuck with a fast charger that gets used a couple of times a week.

My guess is I'll never use a QC over the lease term, in part because there won't be many QCs but more because the range works as is. That's not a bad thing. Plus of course we don't exactly have bad weather. Forecast for the next week is sunny and 70F (sorry had to mention that, makes us feel better about the house prices).

Send more Sparks! LOL

Forecast for the next week is sunny and 70F (sorry had to mention that, makes us feel better about the house prices).

As far as I can tell, it's not that bad. Try a major Canadian city; same prices, but crappy winter wether as a bonus!

My Volt is charged on a Voltec garage charger. Professionally installed on a 20AMP breaker. Wiring is continuous (uncut) and measures 250V at the Voltec unit.
My charge time at 60 degrees is about 3 hours 35 minutes. No problems at all in 11 months of charging. Forgot to plug-in twice.
I stop at the gas station about each 2 months for $10 - $15. Yesterday I put $20 in my wife's Accord and moved the needle from just under 1/2 to 3/4.
The Volt will recharge at 16AMP max. Each time I plug-in I get a "YES!" feeling.

No Plug, No Sale!

http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g439/kawasakizx6/Voltecingarage.jpg