The Freedom of Level 2 Charging

[daryllafferty]

I just had a Level 2 charger installed at my house (Blink), and I suddenly have a greater feeling of freedom. I no longer have to think, "If I go to the store now, then I won't have enough battery charge to make it to movie later today".

I recently put a 400 mile trip on my ICE, so I've broken that ice and no longer worry about burning a little gas once in a while, but I still much prefer to drive on battery (of course!) and suddenly that will be a lot easier.

As an aside, SPX arranged the install, and I don't really have any complaints about them except that they charged too much. With the $1200 credit my cost is reasonable (about $800), but they are soaking the DOE. The installers did a pretty good job, except that they had to dig a 40 foot trench and in the process cut my water main, my internet cable, and two irrigation lines. They had everything fixed by the end of the day but they seemed a little clumsy.

But all's well that ends well.

[jbfalaska]

Are DOE grants still available? I thought not.

[bonaire]

In my area, they are not allowed to dig one bit without getting lines verified by One-Call (a division of Asplundh) where they mark where lines are already underground.

DoE pays SPX through a contract between them. This is beyond the now-ended 2011 tax break for homeowners who could get an EVSE tax credit. I don't think the way they wrote the contract was condusive to saving money. In fact, it appears it is condusive to charging more because of the paperwork they must go through to fulfill an install.

I honestly can't comment much about SPX other than saying once I get my Volt, I will not use SPX for anything nor will soak the DoE in the process. I've read too many of similar stories here and have even written to the DoE on behalf of some of the posters here but nobody seems to care about the cost overruns. Once a government contract and budget is on paper, you can't stop it or alter it without a congressional sponsor.

[supermachoman]

Yeah no kidding. Just yesterday I put 95 electric miles on the car. That's something I never could have done without the 240 volt.

SPX is way over-charging customers to install the charger. My electrician friend said it's at most a 3 hour job, and it took him 2.5 hours.

[mikeg3]

Luckily, they missed the gas line.

A highway contractor hit one near me and it completely fried a car parked all the way across the road.

[daryllafferty]

Luckily, they missed the gas line.

We don't have gas in my neighborhood. Everything is electric, including my car.

[Voltmeister]

I'm happy you-all like the freedom of the level 2 charger.

When I first got our Volt, I was very hot to get a level 2 installed as well. Then the chats with SPX started, and the two quotes and a lot of back and forth. Installs would appear to be more expensive in California, natch, and in the end, I did not have it done. I thought free meant free, but that was not the case. Even if the last 5 installs came in $500 under budget (of $1200) each, the next at $1700 was NOT going to be free to the end user. I understand that is not "how it works", but that does not change how I feel.

We are charging with a level 1 on a 25' extension cord to the driveway. It works very well overnight on the PG&E E9-a rate.

New owners, don't get into the mindset of "having to have" a level 2 charger. Think it through and then make your decision. You might save yourself some money!

Cheers

[artsci]

I just had my curbside connection upgraded to 50amps/20kws so that it can handle both my Volt and the Tesla Model S I have on order (delivery likely a year or less from now). The Tesla S will have built in twin chargers and with the High Power Wall Connector (which, like my Nissan EVSE upgrade works outdoors in all kinds of weather, including downpours) will charge at 62 miles of range per hour.

Once I've addressed some cosmetic issues in a few days I'll post some new photos of the set-up.

So if the gods are with me, I will never buy gas again, which is a very good feeling. It's the best way I can personally screw the big oil companies, which I abhor. The sooner the rest of the world gets off gasoline the better. Once you go electric there's no turning back. I no longer have an interest in noisy, dirty, polluting ICEs of any kind. They're soon to be dinosaurs, and the sooner the better.

[daryllafferty]

New owners, don't get into the mindset of "having to have" a level 2 charger. Think it through and then make your decision. You might save yourself some money!Cheers

Voltmeister,
Although I am very happy to have Level 2 charging now, I completely agree with you. I think some of us (myself included) put too much emphasis on never burning any gas. The simplest and usually most economical way to use the Volt is to simply drive it when and where you want to go. When you are parked at home, or at a place with a charger, then charge it of course, but don't obsess on never running the ICE. It will take a long, long time (or never) to make up the $800 I invested in the Level 2 charger by using a little less gas. That's the beauty of the Volt -- you don't have to get a full charge between trips.

I can afford the charger as an indulgence and it helps satisfy my obsession with "electric as much as possible", but I can't justify it on economical grounds.

[mikeg3]

To experience true freedom from supporting terrorism and corporate dinosaurs, get a charger at work as well.

Often, all you have to do is ask. If you settle for a 110V outlet, the cost for the wiring and signage is small. Many cities have subsidies for 240V chargers and many companies have green budgets your premises manager can tap into.

I got four level 2 chargers installed in the middle of red state Texas, so with a little persistence and tact you can do the same.