The Freedom of Level 2 Charging

[Automotive Motivation]

Purchased the SPX Level 2 from them on Tuesday and it arrived via UPS Ground on Friday. On Saturday the unit was installed with help from my neighbor, a retired electrical contractor, and the assistance of a young fellow to drag the new electric line through a challenging multi-remodeled attic. Cost for the unit, cable, hardware and components was about $700 and there was no financial assistance.

Economically, this purchase will never pay off. Functionally, it will be great to be able to charge the Volt a lot quicker than with the Level 1 unit.

[solar_dave]

A level 2 charger is liberating. Charge and go makes the weekends a non issue for local range. What is even more liberating is to have solar, so knowing when you plug in at noon the watts are free.

[JamesMcQuaid]

Installing a Level 2 charger is a win-win if you ever sell your real estate.

[Tim Hart]

Level 2 charging is well worth the investment and can be very affordable. The Voltec charger is under 500 and it cost me 50 dollars for the install. Yes we already had 220 in the garage, ( I had an electric truck before the Volt), but a friend handy with electrical installs only charged me 200 to run a line from the box in the house out to the garage. And you can put the charger exactly where you want it--our unit is 5 feet from the plug-in on the car. For us the extra EV miles you get running back and forth to town all day makes the Voltec unit a no-brainer.

[slickbrave]

Incentive is still available. Had my pre-installation inspection 2 days ago, and I anticipate my out-of-pocket to be around $300, based on a similar installation by the same electrician. In addition, the State of TN has a $2500 rebate once you submit proof of installation and agree to share info about how often you charge, etc., over your internet connection. The state rebate ends June 30 (L2 charger must be installed by that date), so it's a no-brainer here.

[BAZINGA]

I'm so envious of you folks that are getting subsidies, the great state of Illinois makes no such offers at least here in southern Illinois.

Maybe if I donate a few bucks to the big democratic party in Springfield or Chicago?????

[slickbrave]

I think the State's feeling is to encourage ev's since NissanUSA is HQ'd here now and the plan is to start producing the Leaf here soon. I know the State is putting some solar-powered chargers downtown that will be free for the first year at least. As backward as our state can be at times, I'm grateful for some forward thinking when I can get it.

[Mathew Hennessy]

That's cool, though I haven't really needed more than the 120V charger at home as I charge at the office garage. Perhaps when I'm not renting anymore I can have a 240V charger permanently fitted to my garage wherever I end up moving. I actually have a free 240V circuit for the dryer that isn't in use as the dryer is gas-heated, but it's got the older 3-prong outlet without ground, and I don't want to nag my landlord about adding a ground and making it a 4-prong that I could plug an SPX charger into.