Is There Any Business Model For Public Electric-Car Charging? Plug-In 2013 Report - GreenCarReports
Thursday, December 12, 2013
smart Electric Drive deal for OEVA members
If the range and size meet your needs, this is a great price for an EV. If you're interested, join the OEVA (just $20 per year), then email Bryce Nash:
Monday, December 9, 2013
81% of Electric Vehicle Charging is Done at Home
81% of Electric Vehicle Charging is Done at Home: "The initial findings from a survey of 3,247 individuals conducted by PlugInsights show that 81 percent of electric vehicle charging occurs at home. Of course it does.
Further survey findings include:
7% of charging takes place at work
10% of charging occurs at public charging station
The remaining 2% of charging presumably occurs at some unlisted location like, perhaps, Area 57.
These findings would seem to suggest that public and workplace charging aren’t necessary, but we know that not to be true.
At home, public and workplace charging are all essential for the growth of the EV segment. Even if 99% of charging occurred at home, public and workplace chargers would still be useful and beneficial to the cause of increasing EV adoption."
Further survey findings include:
7% of charging takes place at work
10% of charging occurs at public charging station
The remaining 2% of charging presumably occurs at some unlisted location like, perhaps, Area 57.
These findings would seem to suggest that public and workplace charging aren’t necessary, but we know that not to be true.
At home, public and workplace charging are all essential for the growth of the EV segment. Even if 99% of charging occurred at home, public and workplace chargers would still be useful and beneficial to the cause of increasing EV adoption."
Sunday, December 8, 2013
EV Charging Station Comparison
My Electric Car Forums | Electric Vehicle Chargers:
...
 | Leviton EVB40-P5T | 25 feet | 40 amp | Hard-wire | Indoor/Outdoor | Rear | |
 | Leviton EVB40-PST | 25 feet | 40 amp | Plug | Indoor/Outdoor | Bottom | |
 | Electric Vehicle Institute Wall Mount Charger | 16 feet | 32 amp | Hard-wire | Rear | $650View on Amazon | |
Sunday, December 1, 2013
EV Charging at Home - What to Buy
A friend of a friend recently bought an EV and wanted to know what to buy for home charging. They asked me via email. Since I didn't know the person, nor their specific situation, I wrote some general guidelines to picking out a home charging station that might help you, a friend (or a friend of a friend).
First, a few brief things you need to know:
One, the charger is onboard your car. The charging station that you plug into your car is just a way to safely deliver power with a standard connector. That is why you will occasionally see charging stations referred to by their technical name of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE).
Two, charging stations are rated by how much power they can deliver. Similarly, the onboard charger has a power limit. These limits are rated in kilowatts (kW). How fast your car charges is based on whichever is lower, the car's onboard charger or the charging station, so you'll want a home charger that is well matched to your car or your needs.
If you just bought a Tesla Model S, congratulations, and they have service reps that can help you with this decision, so I'll assume you bought a Leaf, Volt, Spark, or one of the many other plug-in cars that are now on sale.
There are two portable Level 2s that I am aware of:
1) Clipper Creek's "On the Road" series
This option is ~$550 and you'll need a 240V outlet in your garage. If you don't already have a 240V outlet, it is generally less than $400 to have an electrician install one or you can do it yourself if you are handy that way. At 4.8kW, this will give you a max of 18 miles of range per hour that you're plugged in.
2) EVSEUpgrade.com
Option 2 is to have your trickle charger upgraded at evseupgrade.com. Depending on the charger you have, the upgrade prices vary, they are generally $250 - $300. The nice thing about this option is that you can buy adapters so you can use it at various types of 240V outlets (RV, dryers, welders...) and 120V outlets.
You can find many options for these at Amazon.com or Home Depot online. Just search for "EVSE". The prices range from ~$500 to over $2000 plus installation. Once installed, these are the most convenient to use. The two most important features to consider are the cord length and the power rating. There are options at 3.8kW, 7.2kW, 7.7kW, 9.6kW. Each 1kW will give you about 4 miles of range per hour. Remember, a power rating above the level of the car's onboard charger does not do anything for you. Assuming the car has a 6.6kW charger, a 6.6+kW unit will give you about 25 miles of range per hour.
I hope this helps you understand the options and make a choice that works for you!
First, a few brief things you need to know:
One, the charger is onboard your car. The charging station that you plug into your car is just a way to safely deliver power with a standard connector. That is why you will occasionally see charging stations referred to by their technical name of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE).
Two, charging stations are rated by how much power they can deliver. Similarly, the onboard charger has a power limit. These limits are rated in kilowatts (kW). How fast your car charges is based on whichever is lower, the car's onboard charger or the charging station, so you'll want a home charger that is well matched to your car or your needs.
How to pick a home charging station
There are a lot of options for home charging. The right choice for you will depend on:- What vehicle you have
- How much recharge time matters to you
- How much you are willing to spend
- How much of a DIY person you are
If you just bought a Tesla Model S, congratulations, and they have service reps that can help you with this decision, so I'll assume you bought a Leaf, Volt, Spark, or one of the many other plug-in cars that are now on sale.
Option 1 - Trickle Charger
Most new plug-in cars come with a Level 1 supply unit a.k.a. a "trickle charger". For some people, these alone are adequate. They plug in to any standard home outlet. They charge your car slowly, but they are easy to use and don't cost you anything extra. At a mere 1.3kW, they generally only give you 4-5 miles of range per hour, so they work well for overnight charging but don't expect to be able to drive to near empty in the AM and have a full charge after lunch. For a plug-in hybrid such as the Volt, Plug-in Prius, or Ford C-MAX Energi this could be enough. For a 100% battery electric such as the Leaf or Ford Focus Electric, this is not my preference due to the slow charging rate.Option 2 - Portable Level 2
Whereas the trickle charger plugs into a standard home outlet, a portable Level 2 supply plugs into a 240 Volt outlet such as a dryer plug. Portable chargers are nice since you can take them with you on the road. You can charge up at campsites and I have thrown a cord out of my brother-in-law's laundry room window when I needed to charge up.There are two portable Level 2s that I am aware of:
1) Clipper Creek's "On the Road" series
This option is ~$550 and you'll need a 240V outlet in your garage. If you don't already have a 240V outlet, it is generally less than $400 to have an electrician install one or you can do it yourself if you are handy that way. At 4.8kW, this will give you a max of 18 miles of range per hour that you're plugged in.
2) EVSEUpgrade.com
Option 2 is to have your trickle charger upgraded at evseupgrade.com. Depending on the charger you have, the upgrade prices vary, they are generally $250 - $300. The nice thing about this option is that you can buy adapters so you can use it at various types of 240V outlets (RV, dryers, welders...) and 120V outlets.
Option 3 - Wall-Mounted, Hard-Wired Level 2
The third option is a wall mounted unit. If you want advanced features such as timers, Internet connectivity, or energy reports, then this is your category. These are typically installed in your garage, carport, or wherever your car is usually parked for the night. They have the advantage of always being in the same place. It is highly unlikely that you'll pull into your own garage to find out that it has been borrowed by your neighbor for a cross-state EV road trip.You can find many options for these at Amazon.com or Home Depot online. Just search for "EVSE". The prices range from ~$500 to over $2000 plus installation. Once installed, these are the most convenient to use. The two most important features to consider are the cord length and the power rating. There are options at 3.8kW, 7.2kW, 7.7kW, 9.6kW. Each 1kW will give you about 4 miles of range per hour. Remember, a power rating above the level of the car's onboard charger does not do anything for you. Assuming the car has a 6.6kW charger, a 6.6+kW unit will give you about 25 miles of range per hour.
Option 4 - DIY
The final option I'll offer is the home-brew maker option. There are Arduino-based and Kickstarter some-assembly-required charging stations. If you are the hobbyist type, you might consider one of these and I'll leave you on your own to investigate them.Your Choice
For me, I have a combination. At home I have a wall mounted Level 2. This makes it easy to charge up each night. Additionally, I have an EVSEUpgrade.com unit with 6 or 7 adaptors. These adaptors allow me to me to use nearly any outlet I may encounter. With the proliferation of public charging in the greater Portland area, this normally goes unused. It sits in my car's cargo area as a bit of assurance.I hope this helps you understand the options and make a choice that works for you!
Thursday, November 28, 2013
US Plug-in Vehicle Sales Zooms Past 150,000
Plug-in vehicle (PEV) sales in the US have passed the 150,000 mark according to Plug In America’s sales counter.
It was just in May of this year when we passed the 100,000 milestone. The lucky owner of that vehicle was a Mitsubishi i-MiEV driver in Alabama.
Now (just 6 months later) the 150,000th car with a cord has hit the roads. There is no word on who bought the 150,000th car or what or which model was.
2013 is likely to double the number of PEVs on the road. This continued rapid growth in sales and available vehicle models looks to be a tipping point for plug-in vehicles. This rapid growth will soon accelerate them from niche vehicles to significant market share.
In 2014, new plug-in vehicles models are coming from BMW, Volkswagen, Volvo and others. These vehicles will make more people aware of plug-in vehicles and the exponential growth of sales will likely continue after we ring in the new year.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Range Extender Coming for Nissan Leaf?
I love driving my Nissan Leaf. It is my goto vehicle for commuting, errands, and other around town trips. Using the West Coast Electric Highway, I have even made 200 mile roundtrips in it. Yet, it is not the only car that I drive. Occasionally, I need to travel a long distance and it doesn't happen to be on a "wired highway". For these rare holiday trips, it would be nice to be able to take my Leaf.
The ‘EP Tender’ would allow me to do just that. It is a small generator and fuel tank mounted on a trailer. It is made by a French company and available for rent when needed.
The range extender allows an EV such as the Renault Zoe or Nissan Leaf to drive for an additional 300 miles and to fill-up at any gas station. The trailer contains a two cylinder engine that runs an efficient turbine that creates enough power to keep the car humming along.
A remote control allows you to selectively enable the generator, so you can either use it when the car's battery is nearly depleted, or you can start the generator immediately and arrive with a full battery pack to use at your destination. And because you rent the trailer, they handle all of the maintenance associated with internal combustion engines that electric car drivers obviously don't want to be bothered with.
I hope these are available in the US soon. And hey, EP Tender, if you are looking a beta tester, drop me a line.
http://www.eptender.com/
Monday, November 18, 2013
Carl Pope: Breaking Oil's Monopoly: Easier Done than Said
Carl Pope: Breaking Oil's Monopoly: Easier Done than Said: "Global oil demand is 90 mbd. Of that, 80 mbd is cheap -- $30 or less - conventional oil, mostly from OPEC. About 5 mbd is moderately priced unconventional oil - shallow off-shore, light-tight US oil like the Bakken, or secondary recovery from depleted fields. This unconventional oil costs between $30-$60/bbl.
The final 5 mbd of demand breaks the bank. To supply it, the oil industry taps extreme oil fields in the remote Arctic, the ultra-deep ocean, or heavy tar sands in Canada"
The final 5 mbd of demand breaks the bank. To supply it, the oil industry taps extreme oil fields in the remote Arctic, the ultra-deep ocean, or heavy tar sands in Canada"
The Latest News From The Disneyland Resort
The Latest News From The Disneyland Resort: "AUTOPIA
If you have not heard, the Chevron sponsorship of Autopia has officially ended. But instead of renewing, Disney let the agreement go. Why? We will get to that in a minute. But here are shots from the ride, Chevron-less."
If you have not heard, the Chevron sponsorship of Autopia has officially ended. But instead of renewing, Disney let the agreement go. Why? We will get to that in a minute. But here are shots from the ride, Chevron-less."
Friday, November 15, 2013
Charge Ahead California Launches Million Electric Vehicle Campaign
Charge Ahead California Launches Million Electric Vehicle Campaign:
"Shifting to electric vehicles will also keep more transportation dollars in-state, boosting the economy and creating new jobs."
“Driving on electricity significantly reduces emissions and is equivalent to paying only one dollar-per-gallon in a gasoline vehicle. Bolstering our electric vehicle industry also means good-paying jobs in manufacturing and related fields that communities of color so urgently need.”
"A recent MIT study found that traffic pollution causes almost 6,000 premature mortalities annually in California, almost twice the number killed in traffic accidents."
"Over-reliance on fossil fuel is threatening the health of our families and communities,” said Bill Gallegos, executive director of Communities for a Better Environment. “By expanding the market for zero emission technologies and green infrastructure for transportation, charging and manufacturing, we can make significant improvements to our air quality as well as provide sustainable job opportunities..."
"Californians spend $70 billion on gasoline and diesel annually, $40 billion of which leaves the state in payments to oil companies and foreign oil producing countries. The use of electricity as a transportation fuel can help keep those dollars in the state, stimulating the economy, and insulating family budgets from gas price spikes. Filling California’s cars, trucks and buses with electricity instead of oil would help grow the state’s economy, creating up to 100,000 additional jobs by 2030."
"Automakers are beginning to bring a diversity of advanced electric drive vehicles to the market, which don’t rely on gasoline and appeal to families across the income spectrum. Most automakers today are either selling or making zero-polluting cars for sale within the next few years."
"Shifting to electric vehicles will also keep more transportation dollars in-state, boosting the economy and creating new jobs."
“Driving on electricity significantly reduces emissions and is equivalent to paying only one dollar-per-gallon in a gasoline vehicle. Bolstering our electric vehicle industry also means good-paying jobs in manufacturing and related fields that communities of color so urgently need.”
"A recent MIT study found that traffic pollution causes almost 6,000 premature mortalities annually in California, almost twice the number killed in traffic accidents."
"Over-reliance on fossil fuel is threatening the health of our families and communities,” said Bill Gallegos, executive director of Communities for a Better Environment. “By expanding the market for zero emission technologies and green infrastructure for transportation, charging and manufacturing, we can make significant improvements to our air quality as well as provide sustainable job opportunities..."
"Californians spend $70 billion on gasoline and diesel annually, $40 billion of which leaves the state in payments to oil companies and foreign oil producing countries. The use of electricity as a transportation fuel can help keep those dollars in the state, stimulating the economy, and insulating family budgets from gas price spikes. Filling California’s cars, trucks and buses with electricity instead of oil would help grow the state’s economy, creating up to 100,000 additional jobs by 2030."
"Automakers are beginning to bring a diversity of advanced electric drive vehicles to the market, which don’t rely on gasoline and appeal to families across the income spectrum. Most automakers today are either selling or making zero-polluting cars for sale within the next few years."
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