Earth Day becomes Electric Vehicle Day (for me)

[saintyohann]

bfd wrote:
Shoulda got that Tesla… :ohsnap:

You paying for it?

The Tesla is a great car, but I hate that gear selector with a passion and the S and X both are too long to fit in my garage. I am anxiously awaiting more details on the model 3 and may get one to replace the Spark EV down the road...(2 years Tesla time may be 3 or 4 or 5). I even almost went to work for Tesla when I left Apple.

[Speedy]

RAMd®d wrote:
I don't know if the Tesla even offers 110v charging but it would take quite some time to charge.

I either forgot, or you haven't mentioned it, but do you have a 220/240V charging station? If one already has the garage wired for 220V (electric dryer?) what't involved in adding such a charging station?

I bought this EVSE (thanks, saintyohann!):

http://www.amazon.com/ClipperCreek-HCS-4...B00TKJX7NE?

An EVSE (Electric Vehicle Service Equipment) is just a very fancy, safe and extremely expensive ($625 shipped) extension cord (though a fed tax credit helps defray 30% of the cost of the EVSE). The actual battery charger is in the vehicle. Note that I paid, with all taxes and fees, $16,300 for my used 2013 Volt so my new EVSE adds a significant cost but is well worth it over the 110v, eight (or 12) Amp EVSE that Volts come with as standard equipment. And this EVSE, which is actually overkill for my Volt's maximum needs because I was future-proofing, will work well with any plugin electric vehicle (except the Tesla?).

The above EVSE came with a NEMA 6-50 plug that my welder uses (albeit rarely, unlike with a clothes dryer). Because of the 6-50 outlet (mine is on a 60 Amp breaker), this EVSE is rated for indoor-use only although the end that plugs into the car can be snaked under my garage door if necessary (unlikely to happen unless you stop by) and can be used while it is raining.

Because of the location of my outlet and my lack of desire to move any existing stuff, I cobbled together a mount for the EVSE (I couldn't figure out how to make this pic forum-compatible using my iPad):

https://flic.kr/p/GsJKxc

Code specifies that the cable and plug from the EVSE to the NEMA 6-50 outlet be no more than 18 inches in total length, thus my cobbled horizontal mount.

The EVSE can be mounted in any position and the 25 foot cable leading to the Volt is designed by Clipper Creek to be looped around the EVSE for storage. My compact utility tractor with my attached snowblower, which is not visible in the photo, sits between the EVSE and the Volt so my wife drapes the cable around a couple of levers on the tractor. This is also why I have not yet mounted the holster which is the gray thing (it came with the EVSE) that you can see lying on the toolbox. The holster is for the end of the EVSE that plugs into the car. The car end can handle rain, the NEMA 6-50 outlet end definitely cannot.

Clipper Creek probably has an EVSE with a cable compatible to your dryer outlet. But I would suggest getting it hard wired simply because you, without a doubt, use your dryer far, far more than I use my welder. Having 50 or 60 Amps at 220v travel through you, your SO or your teenage drivers would be instantly tragic. In my case, my brother installed the service and all the outlets you see in the pic for parts cost about 15 years ago so I can't even ballpark a figure on a hard wire install. It was very nice to have the EVSE be plug and play but nobody uses my welder but me and I am very careful whenever I plug/unplug it.

[RAMd®d]

sainty, thank you again for the details.

I just got through reading up on the Volt and have a little better understanding of how it works.


why bother, just drive it.

Apparently, you read something into my question that isn't there.

[Speedy]

RAMd®d wrote:
why bother, just drive it.

Apparently, you read something into my question that isn't there.

No doubt! As saintyohann says, you can charge the Volt with the ICE while parked with the hood open. But my comment was because it isn't as efficient to use the ICE in this manner to charge and then drive using the battery as it is just driving the car using the gas engine. However, your teenager trying to quietly sneak the car back after a long drive after curfew...

[freeradical]

Does an EV charge twice as fast in Europe than it does in the United States?

[Speedy]

freeradical wrote:
Does an EV charge twice as fast in Europe than it does in the United States?

If the Amps are high enough.