Purchase of Charger for Restaurant?

[gmarcucio]

A local restaurant ask me where he would purchase a couple of chargers or charging stations for customers to use while in the restaurant. I assume he would need something more than the 240 Volt Voltec charger that I purchased, correct? Where can I tell him he can purchase one. I assume he would have it installed himself.

[Fulgerite]

Well before he spends money to buy and instal a charger he might want to see if he can call SPX and get some installed for free.

https://homecharging.spx.com/portal/

Or call 1 877-805-3873

[Ron C]

I agree with the "check with SPX" route, but I would hedge my bets by checking also with AeroVironment, GE, Blink, and Coulomb Technologies (chargepoint.net); a google should get them all, but GE's so big it may be tricky to find the appropriate place.

I threw AeroVironment in there because the Walgreens near my office has a nice 2-headed L2 EVSE made by them. Probably requires 60A service (or 2 30A circuits), but it seems like a nice solution, actually, as long as you don't want to charge for the charge (as it were). I've never used a GE or Blink unit, but I've used the ChargePoint stations a few times now and they work well (though a little confusing on how to start/stop a session).

[flmark]

I am extrapolating from what you wrote, but I might assume that this person is in the beginning stages of planning for chargers. As such, he should ensure he is prepared to pay not only for the charger, but for the demand charges that will be incurred on his electric bill. We love our EV, but would not incorporate EV charging in our business because we worked VERY hard and spent LOTS of money to get OFF demand billing. This is the number of KW (not KW-hrs) you are using at any given time. Demand billing for us is about $10/KW. This would mean that EACH charging station will result in (approximately) $40 added to the electric bill IN ADDITION TO the ACCUMULATED kwh for ALL charging for the month. By all means, if this is acceptable, let him go for it- he just needs to be prepared.

This assumes that this person was already a demand customer. The threshold for being a demand customer depends on who provides service. In some cases, the threshold is achieved by using a certain number of kwh during the month. For us, the demand threshold is 21 KW (we got ourselves down to 11 kw- so we do have SOME room to consider charging stations- it is more likely that we will just make ordinary 110V outlets available- more bang for the buck between employees and customers. If this person was NOT already a demand customer and the charging stations make him cross the threshold, I am guessing he will be very displeased- as that could mean HUNDREDS of dollars a month extra in electrical charges.

Of course, if the chargers are separately metered from the rest of the business, most of this discussion probably does not apply.

[Selling Volts At Sundance]

I've used the ChargePoint stations a few times now and they work well (though a little confusing on how to start/stop a session).

Hi Ron C- The first time I used a ChargePoint L2 was on a roll home from the Dealership. Gaming my Volt on VoltStats.net heavy I found myself 5 miles from home and 2 miles SOC remaining- AARGG!

Luckly in Lansing the local state wide utility- Consumers Energy has a free ChargePoint charger in the parking lot of their local home office- I sped there, pulled up in the empty parking lot, mere minutes before the ICE fired up and called the 800 number boldly posted on the vacant charger-Designated FREE- 30 seconds later...ACTIVATED- PLUG In!!

Surfing the web on my droid as I Power Slammed the High Voltage Battery- 18 minutes later after a humerouse YouTube video unplugged and made it home to my 110V home charge up.

2 days later went to the ChargePoint website and signed on under- the No Cost option- 1 week later, my ChargePoint RFID Card arrived in the mail. I do not know how long this free access will continue. I can tell you now that to this day it still works for FREE at all ChargePoint L2 Chargers in the Lansing area. By the way, there are 9 in the Lansing area-

Very cool- I will now patronize vendors that open up even their 110V outside wall outlets to me- play hard and spend money at the stores, restaraunts, shopping areas and motels that offer at least a level one charge!

http://p.twimg.com/AuoqRXJCEAATHOn.jpg:large

The 110V at Lansing City Market-

http://p.twimg.com/As5A-r3CMAALONZ.jpg:large

The 110V at the Ramada- Finleys Restaraunt - Lansing West Side-

http://p.twimg.com/AtTmIvmCQAABrE9.jpg:large

The 110V at the west side Lansing Days Inn- Yup- I did take the screen out- Plugged into the lamp socket- lol

[DonC]

I think the experience so far has been that ChargePoint is more reliable than Blink.

[WVhybrid]

Yeah, don't go Blink. All I've every gotten from a Blink is a Check Engine Light.

[drbruns]

I've had no problems with my home level 2 Blink nor the free Blink charger at my garage in downtown DC. I have also had no problems with the few Chargepoints either.

[LeelaLB]

Some businesses in southern California also have ClipperCreek units for customers to use. My understanding is that they come in both networked (so you can charge people) and non-networked units, although all the one's I've seen/used have been the non-networked, free variety.

[Chevrolet Customer Svc]

@ gmarcucio,

I agree with Fulgerite and I would check with SPX.