New SPX Discount offer?

[Fulgerite]

I was helping a new potential Volt owner research charging options today. I just noticed that SPX has announced a NEW incentive program. Apparently they are offering up to an additional $200 discount on installations.

See: https://homecharging.spx.com/volt/Home.aspx?l=1

While some customers have complained that SPX did not meet their expectations... I have to say that SPX was an outstanding deal for me. I received a FREE CT-500 charger + TOU meter installation + license fees and all associated installation costs at NO COST. I paid NOTHING in my case. (Your situation may be different.)

I suppose I could have bought a basic Voltec L2 Charger for $500 and hired a local electrician to "hack" in my installation. But I was planning for the future. The Voltec is limited to only 20 amps. That's Fine for a Volt... But what about my next EV? I also wanted a time of use meter installed so I could take advantage of the full discounts offered by my local power utility. If I had hired a local electrician to file all of the permits and install the meter can + pull the new service into my home + install the CT-500 charger it would have likely cost me several thousand dollars out of pocket. Now I have a superior 30 amp charger with full usage tracking and accounting... For FREE.

Even with my complex condominium power situation... and my preference for a separate TOU meter... SPX delivered the entire job at NO COST. I paid NOTHING.

Keeping in mind that each city and local code requirements can vary a lot... I believe SPX still offers an excellent solution for many EV customers. With a NEW additional $200 discount I believe it's an even better choice for new EV customers. Anyone considering an L2 charger installation should contact SPX and see what offers they have available in your local area.

[hull22]

It's actually $100 off the unit and $100 of installation. Is installation still >$1K from SPX? Are you sure you don't work for SPX? Just the way your post reads...I guess.

[mixedpixel]

For those of us who don't live where incentives are available, SPX installation is very expensive compared to the same work done by a licensed electrician, even with a $200 discount.

[Voltmeister]

LA water and power had/has a larger incentive program than PG&E in NorCal. We have $1500 and the Angelenos have $2500, so it's no suprise it was free and with a TOU meter to our friend Fulgerite...

it's an apples to apples comparison, but the SoCal apple is much bigger!

[Einar]

LA water and power had/has a larger incentive program than PG&E in NorCal. We have $1500 and the Angelenos have $2500, so it's no suprise it was free and with a TOU meter to our friend Fulgerite...

it's an apples to apples comparison, but the SoCal apple is much bigger!

- Voltmeister (SF Bay Area)

Hah! so like a damned Yank. . . er, Northerner - characterizing all of the South by that small geographic area served by LA-DWP. I live in Kern County and all we're eligible for (through SoCal Edison) is a measely $1200. Although I shouldn't complain as that got me my CT-500 and covered all but $62 in permitting/installation fees. I didn't go for a TOU meter as I typically generate (wind, not solar) more electricity in a year than I consume so I didn't see any real benefit there - free is free (well, I guess free is relative - still had to pay for the wind system but now at two years into a projected 5 year amortization it's not that much of a consideration). Not sure how some of the other local power utilities like Pasadena handle this - anyone out there in SoCal in something other than LA-DWP or SCE territory with SPX experience care to chime in? BTW - my experience with SPX and my installation would read similar to Herr Fulgerite's if I were eloquent enough to pen it as he did. They made contact, took the info, did the site survey (by photo, no less!) and assigned an electrician who gave me an estimate then acquired the equipment and installed it - all before my Volt actually arrived!! The only negative was my local building inspector who needed to sign off on the work - scheduling him in to buy off the installation was a bitch but eventually that too was accomplished.

[Steverino]

I suppose I could have bought a basic Voltec L2 Charger for $500 and hired a local electrician to "hack" in my installation.

Local electricians a homeowner would hire don't "hack" the install anymore than the local electricians SPX hires. In fact, there isn't any hacking. It's running wires and connecting them at each end with screws. Screws on the circuit breakers, screws in the charge unit. The local electric code controls the type of conduit used (or not), the wire size, etc. Really not much different than wiring an electric range or oven (both are 220v with double breakers also).

Now, just like the lug nuts on your Volt wheels, those breaker and SPX connector screws have a torque spec. That means the electrician should be using a torque screwdriver (expensive) to tighten the screws that connect the wiring. The breakers have a higher torque spec than the screws in the SPX unit, requiring two different torque screw drivers.

Ask the electrician installing the unit to show you the torque screw drivers. Ask him or her to show you what the tightening spec is for the breakers and the SPX unit (in the instructions). If they dont have the screw drivers or cant show you the specs, get someone else.

If the electrician does not have or use torque screwdrivers, or they don't know the torque specs then they are "hacks" in my opinion whether SPX hired them or you did.

You would not want a mechanic working on your car that did not have a torque wrench or torque specs. Just like tightening the lug nuts on your wheels by "feel" instead of using a torque wrench is not professional (and can be unsafe), so to with electricians and torque screwdrivers. My $0.02.

[Fulgerite]

It's actually $100 off the unit and $100 of installation. Is installation still >$1K from SPX? Are you sure you don't work for SPX? Just the way your post reads...I guess.

No I don't work for SPX. In fact... I initially had some issues with my SPX installation. Due to the complexity of my situation it took longer than ideal to get the system installed. But in the end I did have a very positive experience... (Since it cost me nothing.)

I was helping a friend do some research on installation options and I just noticed the new promotion. That's all.

[k9frog]

To us this incentive program for the charger is out of reach for us, spx told us because we live in a rural area,with no cities close to us we cant get anything, this seems to be one sided, i read about people getting 2 or 3 free installed units and we cant get none, last i looked our paid tax money is the same as everyone elses

[Fulgerite]

For those of us who don't live where incentives are available, SPX installation is very expensive compared to the same work done by a licensed electrician, even with a $200 discount.

That may well be true. All I am saying is people should check it out before making a decision. I think SPX is still a good option for many.

[Fulgerite]

To us this incentive program for the charger is out of reach for us, spx told us because we live in a rural area,with no cities close to us we cant get anything, this seems to be one sided, i read about people getting 2 or 3 free installed units and we cant get none, last i looked our paid tax money is the same as everyone elses

Sorry to hear that. The incentives are not available everywhere. All I was saying is people should check it out. In my case I was lucky.