Huge Problem! Help! Charging the Volt in SF

[dscali]

Hi everyone,

My husband and I just purchased a brand new cyber gray Chevy Volt this last weekend. We bought it for my 30-40 minute commute to work starting in Sept. Huge problem tho... we own a 1-bdr condo in a large complex with a city garage. However, it is a huge pain in the butt having to go through "committee" approvals if we want to set up an outlet to charge the car. Of course, living in SF already has its parking issues so I'm wondering if anyone knows of a portable charging method to charge our car in our parking space? Nearby charging stations are charging at least 20-30 bucks/ day for 7 hours of parking with some only allowing 4 h max charge time. Very expensive!
We're want only to charge the car when I get home from work for the 8-10 h time to recharge, *sigh*

Any advice please?

[tboult]

Hi everyone,

My husband and I just purchased a brand new cyber gray Chevy Volt this last weekend. We bought it for my 30-40 minute commute to work starting in Sept. Huge problem tho... we own a 1-bdr condo in a large complex with a city garage. However, it is a huge pain in the butt having to go through "committee" approvals if we want to set up an outlet to charge the car. Of course, living in SF already has its parking issues so I'm wondering if anyone knows of a portable charging method to charge our car in our parking space? Nearby charging stations are charging at least 20-30 bucks/ day for 7 hours of parking with some only allowing 4 h max charge time. Very expensive!
We're want only to charge the car when I get home from work for the 8-10 h time to recharge, *sigh*

Any advice please?

Maybe you can convince work to let you charge there.. they may be easier to convince than a condo board. And make it clear you are willing to pay for the power at work..

[Powered7]

Work charging may be a solution, or perhaps a 12 gauge extension cord semi-permanently mounted? Are there any outlets within 25 to 50 feet from your parking space?

Also, others have dealt with associations before and there have been successes, so it may be easier than you think in trying to get something like a metered 120 V or 240 V charging station installed. You could start out with a call to the association/board and if needed, send a letter explaining the benefits.

Returning the car at this point would be the absolute last option to try (if it were me).

[JamesMcQuaid]

This initiative may help you get a charger installed at work:

Calstart Aims To Bring EV Charging To Work

http://www.hybridcars.com/news/calst...ork-49314.html

Keynoted by high-level U.S. Department of Energy representatives, David Sandalow, acting undersecretary of energy and asst. secretary for Policy and International Affairs, and Dr. David Danielson, asst. secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the event served as the starting point for what Calstart aims to make a nationwide campaign to engage employers in the effort to expand the electric vehicle market.

http://www.calstart.org/News_and_Pub...nitiative.aspx

Contact: Mary Kathryn Campbell, CALSTART, 626/744-5602, mkcampbell@calstart.org

EV Charging Initiative for Employers Kicks Off in California

Statewide effort to get employer support for electric vehicles launches with workshop at Google HQ

Is there any reason to think that your condo association won't allow you to have a charger installed?

I would not give up the Volt.

[Steverino]

I have a PDF document you can share with the board. If you want it send me a message.

[VoltageDrop]

Just curious.....maybe you should have weighed the pros and cons before purchasing the Volt......if it is going to cost you more to charge/park the car than it would have been to get an ICE (like the Cruze Eco...I know its no Volt) and use gas.....then probably the Volt is really not the best car for your situation....on a side note.....I guess you could just drive it in CS mode and use gas....it still gets very good gas mileage as such....and plug in whenever you can for those precious EV only miles.....Good Luck!

[larry4pyro]

About a year ago I believe Aerovironment was planning to offer a portable charging cart. Basically a cart with Li ion batteries, you wheel it into your office or home and charge it off the standard wall outlet. When you arrive in your EV you wheel the cart out to your car and it act like an EVSE to charge the car. They hadn't announced a price, but the batteries had to be expensive. The other drawback is the inefficiency of using batteries to charge your car. I just checked their website and didn't see it, perhaps it was another company. Anyone recall seeing it?

[montgom626]

Move to Wisconsin

[Dan & Nan]

http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=9473
Might find some useful info there.

[mikeg3]

http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=9473
Might find some useful info there.

Welcome to the Volt community!

It looks like you have a clear legal path to either electrify your own spot or have a spot designated for EV charging. However, you have to go through the processes.

I strongly suggest that you meet ASAP with the full-time paid employee who is in charge of your complex, give him a ride in the Volt, and get him on your side. Don't wave the law at him - sell him on the idea. He can come up with the least expensive design and win over the people who need to approve it.

I also suggest that you start with a simple 110V outlet on a dedicated branch circuit. If you don't have a designated spot, put the outlet in the least popular part of the lot but get strong signage. You can move up to level 2 charging once the level 1 connection is installed and creates no issues.

Be sure to check out government /utility financial incentives and the local green organizations that can advocate on your behalf.

Take it from me - this stuff takes work but it feels really great every time you plug in to an EVSE that you made happen.

Finally, as others have suggested, check out the possibilities at work.

Please let us know how it works out and any way we can help.