[barry252]

Maryland is installing a lot of SemaConnect chargers. I've seen as many as 10 so far. I haven't seen them, but I understand that Coulomb has several stations around Annapolis and DC. I'm happy to see that there's such competition for installations. This will speed installations and service will be more available.

Volt 63

 

[Jim I]

For pure BEV's this makes a lot of sense. But the beauty of the Voltec design is that you charge up at home, and if your SOC goes low, the internal ICE kicks in to keep you going.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I expect to only have the ICE being used one day out of seven, and then for only about 20 miles. So these charging stations will have little or no use to me.

Do many of you expect to use these public charging stations with your Volts?

JMHO

NPNS

 

[Tom M]

No mention of SPX at all. Surprising since they have the volt contract. You would think that they would be in there somewhere

 

[Schmeltz]

I think the GE Watt Station will have especially wide appeal once it becomes available, but I think that is the main issue right now with the bulk of charger ideas, in that they are not actually offered yet in scale. Once these chargers are seen and used all over the place, then this survey should be conducted again. The EV charging industry seems to be in even more of its infancy then the EV's themselves.

 

[nhern202]

Jim I : Do many of you expect to use these public charging stations with your Volts?

This summer, if I can charge up my Volt while enjoying a day at the beach I would. The closest beach to me is 1.5 hour highway drive. If I can top off while parked at a mall, I would too. Of course, with a Volt, if the price of the charge is not competitive with my household rate or price of gas, I’ll wait to charge at home. Volt owners enjoy freedom of choice.

Volt#671
NPNS!

 

[Mark Z]

Schmeltz : I think the GE Watt Station will have especially wide appeal once it becomes available...
This is a timely topic. I received an email from GE on May 5 when suggesting a Tesla sized WattStation, here was the response:

"Thank you for the feedback on the design. As of now, WattStation is only offered in a 30A version. We are looking to begin shipments in late July. Will keep you posted!"

ClipperCreek has a 75A version that could be used for Tesla Model S (uses a 100 Amp breaker.) 80A is the maximum for the current J1772 standard.

Just LOOK at this new game changing 240 volt 25 amp compact charge station from ClipperCreek. Perfectly sized compared with the others: http://www.clippercreek.com/documents/PDF/product_information/residential/ClipperCreek_LCS-25_Product_Brochure.pdf

On May 16, ECOtality had a press release announcing "ECOtality Completes Installation of 1,000 Blink® Level 2 Residential EV Charging Stations for The EV Project."

Since Coulomb and ECOtality have the most installed J1772 charge stations, the Pike report is not surprising. I would use the $2800 to purchase a charge station instead!

 

[DonC]

Lots of chargers will eventually show up and the game is very early. In fact with so few vehicles being released it's more like batting practice than the game.

Assuming that EVs survive and prosper, the entire charging infrastructure is going to take decades to roll out. Home charging in your garage is the very low hanging fruit, but there is public charging and fast charging and of course charging in condos and apartments. These different types of charging and different location situations present a lot of problems which aren't going to be solved in days or weeks.

For those wondering if 240V charging is worth it, the answer is definitely "Yes". I'm looking at something close to 500 MPG, and this would simply not be possible without fast charging. Especially on weekends I might go 100 EV miles in a day, just charging between outings. I think DaveK mentioned this several times before, and it is definitely true. 120V charging is simply too slow.

 

[DonC]

Jim I : Do many of you expect to use these public charging stations with your Volts?
Good question. I think I'd rank the various charging options this way:

1. Home 70%
2. Work 25%
3. Fast chargers at gas stations like Arco - 3%
4. Everything else like shopping malls etc. - 2%

You could definitely use a charger at work. A 240V charger would be good because it would help timeshift demand away from the afternoons. You could get in, charge, and by noon you wouldn't be drawing any power. (I'd put the chargers on timer and stop the juice in the afternoons).

The Volt doesn't support DC charging so that's out. Probably wouldn't use it anyway to protect the battery.

For malls and restaurants I don't think a short charge would be worth the bother of finding a charger and so forth. But if it were right at the front door ....

 

[Jackson]

DonC : Assuming that EVs survive and prosper, the entire charging infrastructure is going to take decades to roll out.

... and this is how long it will take BEVs to become truly practical for most drivers. [+1]

 

[GordB]

GM Canada has just installed 2 Leviton charging stations in their Oshawa Headquarters company parking lot. Looks like they are free to use for now as they have a small scanning card hanging by a chain from the side.

 

[Jackson]

Isn't this a case of one charger being useful only for one vehicle at a time? Perhaps one of the makers on that list makes a multi-port charger for more than one car, but I don't think so. Without some form of high speed DC charging, even present numbers of stations represent much lower penetration than first appears.

The first notorious fight over a charger or outlet is coming, folks: Like the first auto collision, and railway fatality, this may mark an ambivalent milestone for the EV (with both good and bad implications).

 

[Schmeltz]

DonC : 120V charging is simply too slow.

I agree 100%. When talking about public chargers, 120 V charging is almost completely a non-starter IMO. In a number of instances, even 240 V charging may be too slow as well. So now you're looking at either 480 V charging, (pricey and potentially dangerous), or Better Place's switch station idea, (also pricey but not dangerous). I think you hit the nail on the head Don when you said it will take decades to roll out.

Now a game changing battery technology on the other hand, that's a different story.

 

[Noel Park]

Jim I : Do many of you expect to use these public charging stations with your Volts?
#2

Nope. I live in the LA area surrounded by 2+ million people and the closest one to me is at LAX 20 miles away, LOL. I don't expect that there will be enough of these to make any real difference in my lifetime.

My situation is the same as yours. That's one of the many reasons I bought a Volt. +1

 

[Noel Park]

Tom M : No mention of SPX at all. Surprising since they have the volt contract. You would think that they would be in there somewhere
#3

My question exactly. +1 Maybe this is only about public charging stations?

I am totally happy with my Voltec. After studying the options fairly closely, I decided that it was going to be the easiest and the cheapest overall. So far, so good.

 

[Noel Park]

Jackson : … and this is how long it will take BEVs to become truly practical for most drivers. [+1]
#9

True that. +1

 

[MichaelH]

Tom M : No mention of SPX at all. Surprising since they have the volt contract. You would think that they would be in there somewhere
I don't think SPX makes the Voltec Charging Station. They market it and schedule installations. Their web page shows four EVSE for the Volt; the Voltec, the ChargePoint, the Blink, and their own SPX Charge Station (coming soon). So, of the four, SPX makes one that is not available yet (so they can't be in the top ten).

So the real question is, who makes the Voltec Charging Station. SPX markets it for GM.

- Michael in New Mexico, Volt #1761

 

[BLIND GUY]

For most people the home charger will be the most important. As battery capabilities are improved I believe a general sweet-spot will be established; cost vs. practical, range bs. charge time, battery size, cost vs. range, charge time. In other words; current bevs would benefit with plenty of chargers available but as batteries improve, either smaller batteries could work with chargers available for quick charging and or longer range batteries for more cost could work with fewer quick chargers. IMO Eventually the maximum charge in 8 hrs at home with a 240v charger will help define that sweet-spot more then other factors.

 

[WopOnTour3]

MichaelH : I don’t think SPX makes the Voltec Charging Station. They market it and schedule installations. Their web page shows four EVSE for the Volt; the Voltec, the ChargePoint, the Blink, and their own SPX Charge Station (coming soon). So, of the four, SPX makes one that is not available yet (so they can’t be in the top ten).So the real question is, who makes the Voltec Charging Station. SPX markets it for GM.- Michael in New Mexico, Volt #1761
Correct.
LEAR manufacturers the Voltec 120 and 240V charging systems (based on GM design specifications of course)
I believe this study may have been slanted more towards commercial charging solutions for retail consumers and/or public infrastructure.
WOT