Support the movement charge "off-peak" even if you don't have TOU/hourly plan.

[scottf200]

Charging: The Volt has a pretty slick feature that is simplified for the masses ... delayed charging.

Keep reading even if you are not on an hourly rate plan (or Time Of Use: TOU) ... because there are benefits!

I do not think they could have devised a simpler way to let the Volt owner reduce their impact on the "grid". If you normally leave at 6am tell the car that (or 5:30am) and it will automatically figure out when it needs to start charging based on your current batteries SOC to make sure you are ready to go.

BENEFIT: You can tell any naysayer that you are charging during the middle of the night when you have very little to no impact on the grid. Mythbuster about our EVs. This goes a long way toward *your* supporting the movement and helping with the public perceptions. I tell this to everyone when describing the car and they "get it".

REMEMBER: If you want to override this setting occasionally it is VERY easy.

"Delayed Charging Override"

From the inside of the car:

• Press the charge port door release button on the driver door to view the Charge Mode Status pop-up in the center stack display.
• Press Charge Immediately Upon Plug In.

From the outside of the car:

• To temporarily override a delayed charge event, unplug the charge cord from the charge port and then plug it back in within five seconds. A single horn chirp will sound and charging will begin immediately.
• To cancel a temporary override, unplug the charge cord, wait for 10 seconds, and then plug the charge cord back in. A double horn chirp will sound and charging will be delayed.

Delayed Departure Time: The vehicle estimates the charging start time considering the programmed departure time for the current day of the week. Charging begins at the start time and is complete by the departure time only if sufficient time is allowed after the charge cord is plugged in. The vehicle uses an internal clock for programmable charging, not the clock in the center stack.

[solar_dave]

I do support off peak charging but I don't do it much cause I get most of my charges while the sun shines for free and ultimately not directly involve a load on the grid.

Ain't solar great!!!

BTW I do have TOU 9 AM to 9PM mon to fri is on peak. I am considering changing the plan to noon to 7PM Mon to fri as on peak. While the peak rates are higher with this plan we will have excess on peak anyway as carry over from our cooler months. I do have delay charge set to finish at 6 AM for when I forget and notifications for SMS when we forget to plug the car in.

[tboult]

I agree with the goals, but not totally with your solution. I wish the Volt had a "start charging at XX" (10:30 for me).

My issue is that the volt estimates charge times and will tell me that the car will not be ready until 8:30am or 9:00am, but I've learned that its actually done at 7am or 7:30am. I charge full even if many day's I might not need it, never know what errands I might have the next day. I generally leave at 8:30am or 9am, but I could also get a call and have to leave early. But if I tell the volt to finish by 7:30am it will start charging at 9:30pm.. which is using 1 hour of prime time. I had to fixed it by setting pricing information, say it cannot use prime time, then say to finish by 9am (so it does not beep 4 times) and I can get it to start at 10:30 when I want it. A simple, start at XXX would be easier way to do "delayed charging" and all I really want/need.

I'm not sure how it estimates expected charging time but almost alway finished earlier, often an hour or two.
One possibility is that it is presuming it will keep a particular voltage but maybe after peak my utility floats higher or maybe its assuming it will need to cool the battery, but as the temp drops, it can charge faster or with less juice.
Either way, its charging faster So working backwards, from finish by YYY is hard. Using price data allows one to do it, but is a lot of work for what should be easy. Delayed charging should allow Start at XXX.

[DonC]

I wish the Volt had a "start charging at XX" (10:30 for me).

I'm with you on this one. I think the reasoning was that if everyone started the charger when the off-peak rate started you might get a surge. This way it's almost guaranteed to be a staggered start to charging.

Given how many EVs there aren't at the moment not sure how valid this reasoning is.

[scottf200]

I think the reasoning was that if everyone started the charger when the off-peak rate started you might get a surge.

I think that all the Volt clocks would be off by several (up to 30+) seconds so not likely to start at the "same time".

As well I don't think we will get to that point in our lifetime by comparison to how many A/C units are running/starting when the days are hot. I bet the surge on the Volt's start up to charge is less than when they A/C is running!

My 110v charging on the left and 220v charging on the right. Peaks are the A/C.

110v-vs-220v-charging-google-powermeter.JPG

[scottf200]

I agree with the goals, but not totally with your solution. I wish the Volt had a "start charging at XX" (10:30 for me).

Please keep in mind my opening statement was a simple method for the masses. For that I think it was absolutely brilliant. Based on the current SOC of your usage today, and the 110v 8amp or 110v 12amp or the 220v charger you will have it will figure out when to complete. It certainly errors on the side of caution perhaps for pre-conditioning say on the 110v 8amp.

None the less you should be able to see that for the masses you would NOT want them to pick a start time on a 110v charger (8 or 12amp) and then have the car not be fully charged by the morning.

As you pointed out you can just set the start time for "Off-Peak" and tell the car to charge only on "Off-Peak". Pretty simple for your advanced users.

Weekend charging schedule CIMG3273.jpg Yearly Rate Schedule Graph CIMG3263 (Large).JPG

[ammPilot]

Agree with the philosophy of this thread.

Even though we don't have any time-based rate differential here for residential energy use, to be a good citizen I have the default charging schedule set to "Delayed (Rate & Departure Time)." I specified some phantom rate break times to try to avoid peak use hours (e.g., cheap rates to start at midnight, or 10pm, or whatever it was I decided), and a departure time of 6:30am weekdays, 8am weekends. It's so simple to override and get immediate charging, too.

Good thread, good idea, Scott! (And, yes, Dave: solar is great, and I'm looking forward to adding that to the house. At least my local utility company does support net metering!)

[fishhawk]

My Volt is set to delayed charging, but I override it maybe once a week, usually on the weekends. I've been doing this since I got my 240v Voltec charge station, even though I don't have a TOU plan. I like spreading out my usage, especially since it has been so hot and the air conditioner is working hard. Works great for me.

[tfford]

My Volt is set to delayed charging, but I override it maybe once a week, usually on the weekends. I've been doing this since I got my 240v Voltec charge station, even though I don't have a TOU plan. I like spreading out my usage, especially since it has been so hot and the air conditioner is working hard. Works great for me.

I've pretty much been doing the same to try and be "grid friendly" excepting I do override for about an hour M-F when I get home, just in case there's an errand to run . . .

[bonaire]

I noticed a couple items on "surge" above. THe Volt shouldn't have a start-up surge like you see on an A.C. or fridge. It should not jump to full amps either but if my experience with small Lithium battery chargers works the same in the Volt - it should "ramp up". Take a laptop charging - it starts off with about 30-40 watts and ramps up to about 70 watts when running full-speed. Similar for some LiPO batteries my son and I used when racing RC cars - the chargers didn't surge but ramped-up.

If everyone in a grid zone started charging their volts at one same time, it would be much like the surge electric companies complained about for Christmas lights. It gets dark at the same time in a city and everyone probably turns on their lights about the same time. THey don't do laundry at the same time or use the stoves, which are both high-draw.

So, Finish-By charging times sounds best. It would have people stagger start charging and have less "grid surge" impact at 11pm or so - whenever TOU kicks in.