Charging at Work

[DonC]

Some employers have varying opinions (policies), but I've noticed that people's opinions quickly change once I explain the actual "costs" of charging.

Good to hear you'll have a chance to charge at work. The extra charging miles work well for the Leaf and the Volt, for different reasons. For the Volt it means more EV miles. For the Leaf it means more range, which sometimes you will need.

I also think you've correctly identified the cost issue. For employers it's going to be the cost of installing a 240 Volt charger. One charger will be at least $1000, and that's a lot to ask if only one or two people are going to use it. They're much more likely to offer 120V charging which, frankly, should be good enough in most cases. In an hour you'll get 5 extra miles. Plus I'd rather charge at 120V and not have to worry about moving in order to let someone else in the spot after charging is complete. (You can't unplug the Volt without setting off an alarm if the car is locked).

[DonC]

Is it possible to purchase a 240v Voltec for a commercial installation? If so, this would definently be the most economical way to do it.

Sure. http://evsolutions.avinc.com/product...il_commercial/ I also believe that all of the "home" chargers are rated for outdoor use. You could use one of those. The electronics are very basic so there won't be a big difference, if any difference at all, between a commercial and a home charger.

[kmac7800]

Although this is a Leaf, this is where I work and if I need to charge, what I will be using!

//Karl

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/228/img1472j.jpg/

[barry252]

At work, I have been offered the use of an external 120Vac outlet for charging, but I'd only use it if necessary. I live fairly close to the office and don't want to be seen as "taking advantage" of the offer. HOWEVER,....Last week I was approached by our company's "Green Team". They are investigating installing car charging stations as a way of encouraging EV's. This, I would take advantage of. I referred them to our web site and other EV charger systems, focusing on Level2 units. With government subsidies, the cost will be very low. I would like the ability to charge then move my Volt as a courtesy to other users.

Volt 63

[volt-me]

I am the only one in my building so far with an electric vehicle. I asked about charging and was told that they are looking into it. In the mean time they are allowing me to charge off of a 110 outlet when I feel it is necessary. I don't expect actual charge stations will be installed until there is more demand. But in the mean time them allowing me to charge off 110 is more than sufficient for my needs.

[Kacey Green]

We had a three-phase outlet that we converted to a standard 240 outlet today. We were going to convert both high voltage plugs at this location but the 2nd had been disconnected somewhere between the electrical panel and the outlet.

So instead of Mr. Jones and I charging at the Nissan Shop's only external Level 2 ESVE that wasn't inside the shop or out front of the Nissan building where they keep the Leaf, we can now charge up at the Chevy Shop!

We were going to put our Voltec at the second location but one station is better than the rush 15min before closing to keep your Volt from getting locked inside the Nissan Gates.

Here's how we setup our SPX Power Express


Loading the Circuit before the electrician left






Volts!


Mr. Jones' Turn




Turned our portable ESVE into a charging station



a place to dock the charge connector


The Power Express takes longer to handshake with the car than the Nissan Branded ESVEs or the portable Level 1 unit that comes with the car, or the Level 1 unit that comes with the leaf.

[Johnathan Vail]

I have to fling a #12 extension cord over the shrubs to get 8 (12 amps the Voltec gets errors, I assume the voltage drops low) amps at work. But it is enough to give me a no-gas commute (50 miles round trip).

[Toasty]

lev1... when and if i can.

[mikeg3]

Chargers at work are incredibly liberating and they let the TMS protect your battery from high or low temperatures regardless of the SOC.

I got my school to install 240V chargers. I found a green energy grant that covered most of the cost. They ran the power under grass. Be sure they install the chargers in "Siberia" so that regular cars don't grab the spaces.

The main point is being polite but persistent with the administration. In the end, the Dean and the Vice Chancellor for facilities congratulated me. As a side benefit, this project raised EV awareness among the other employees and my students.

One funny story. The school is happy to pay for 240V power but was outraged when I plugged into an unused 110V circuit. Go figure.

[cmr]

when i told work i was buying a volt they had a 110 outlet installed where i park. they installed 2 of them just in case anybody else bought one, i couldn't believe it. there was none of the usual road blocks to detour around or anything..... it was amazing.