I got this in a letter from my dealership and to me its worth investigating for home use. Basically, you get a free Blink 240 volt charger and somewhere between $400-$1200 in installation credits, depending on where you are located (you have to pay for anything over those amounts). You just have to let the government monitor your usage until April of 2013, after which they no longer monitor and the charger, etc belong to you.

Apparently this is a result of a DOE grant to Ecotality. I'm beyond excited about this, and already have started the process to get this installed.

 

DoE already gave PECO (my local electric provider) $200M to roll out smart meters (which they are slowly doing). Now, they give out $50 to report that you have an EV (I wonder if they reached out to some of the local Tesla Roadster owners?) and now offer Blink chargers? Sounds pretty tempting. No TOU rate changes anytime soon but maybe they will shuttle smart meters to homes who sign up for the Blink install?

I've done the web page to sign up for the Philadelphia area. Hoping to hear from them at some point - and I'd allow them to install as long as it was not some kind of milking of the DoE funds extortion like we saw with SPX.

 

Am so wanting something like this for the Atlanta area.....

 

ATL was on the list. Here's that email:

EV Project offers Free Blink® Chargers to EV Drivers and Commercial Host Sites in Atlanta

SAN FRANCISCO and ATLANTA – Wednesday, August 1, 2012 – ECOtality, Inc. (NASDAQ:ECTY), a leader in clean electric transportation and storage technologies, announced today it will offer its Blink® smart charging stations free to residents and commercial host sites of the greater metropolitan Atlanta area as part of its expansion of The EV Project, a public-private partnership with the Department of Energy.

“Now people interested in electric transportation in the Atlanta region can join The EV Project and help us build a nationwide network of electric vehicle charging stations”, said Don Karner, Chief Innovation Officer of ECOtality, Inc. “By signing up for a free charger, EV owners can take part in this massive research project that can help reduce our country’s dependence on foreign oil. We are excited about bringing The EV Project to the greater Atlanta region. With the expansion of this new market, The EV project is now in nine states and 21 major metropolitan areas throughout the country.”

Qualified residents in the Atlanta region who have taken ownership of either the Nissan LEAF or Chevy Volt, will receive a free residential Blink wall mount charger as well as an installation credit of up to $400, subject to certain conditions. Residents and commercial hosts interested in participating can sign up at http://www.theevproject.com/sign-up.php or by emailing atlanta@ecotality.com.

“Electric vehicles are here, and Georgia Power is excited about projects that grow the charging infrastructure in our area,” said Ben Echols, Georgia Power’s electric transportation program manager. “Electric vehicles are quiet, clean and efficient and offer users the opportunity to save money on fuel and maintenance costs, reduce their environmental impact, and contribute to the energy independence of the U.S. by using a domestically produced source of energy.

“Georgia Power offers a Plug-In Electric Vehicle rate that provides customers a significant discount on electricity during the hours when they are most likely to charge their vehicles: 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., every day. It’s easy for customers to take advantage of our special rate by simply programming their Blink charger or setting a timer on their vehicle. In addition, they can shift other home energy use and save even more money on their electric bill,” added Echols.

To learn more about The EV Project opportunities in the Atlanta area and meet with local EV experts, save the date for a Host Partners Forum on August 16th at 10 am EST at The Ventanas. Details on this event will be released through a media advisory and on Blink’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blinknetwork.

“The EV Project is an exciting expansion of Atlanta’s relationship with the U.S. Department of Energy, and our newest partner, ECOtality. Atlanta’s sustainability plan, Power to Change, helps to create the landscape for innovative projects like these to show proof of concept, for permanent adoption. As our office focuses on creating avenues for a decrease in fossil fuel dependence, we commend ECOtality for its efforts, and look forward to expanded resources for plug in electric vehicle owners here in our great city,” said Denise Quarles, City of Atlanta’s Director of Sustainability.

“ECOtality’s selection of Atlanta as one of its launch cities demonstrates how well-positioned our region is for the adoption of electric vehicles,” stated Bob Pertierra, Vice President Supply Chain & Advanced Manufacturing, Metro Atlanta Chamber. “Atlanta is one of the most scalable cities in the country for EV deployment and ECOtality has recognized that advantage. This is an exciting new development for our area and a critical step in our region’s EV readiness efforts.”

“The installation of electric vehicle charging stations in the metro Atlanta area supports the mission of the Clean Cities program and represents another step in the reduction of the nation’s dependency on petroleum for transportation,” said Don Francis, Executive Director of Clean Cities-Atlanta. “Clean Cities-Atlanta provides tools and resources for voluntary, community-centered programs focused on reducing the use of imported oil, developing regional economic opportunities, and improving air quality. The expansion of the EV Project into metro Atlanta will significantly impact the deployment of clean, alternative fueled electric vehicles.”

ECOtality is the project manager of The EV Project, a research initiative to help build America’s future EV infrastructure. To date, The EV Project has gathered more than 33 million miles of EV driver data that will serve to support the deployment of EVs in key markets. The project is a public-private partnership, funded in part by the U.S. Department of Energy through a federal stimulus grant and made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). For more information about The EV Project, please visit www.theevproject.com​

(I did the conversion between text and URL links, and I may have missed/botched any number of them. Sorry for any inconvenience if I did.)

 

Thanks Ron, I just went onto their web site putting myself on the list..... fingers crossed.

 

I'm in Chicago area and live in an apartment complex that includes a single car garage. The electrical panel for the garages is on my garage wall. I hope they'd be willing to look at installation in a rental and my rental company would allow it (they already allow me to charge my car on 120V).

I signed up, and have my fingers crossed I'll hear something.

 

I believe SPX can also give you a choice of free chargers in many areas. (Including free Blink, ChargePoint, GE and SPX chargers.)

 

I signed up also. The options weren't clear, so I chose the one that said "I'm interested in the Chevrolet Volt" because it's true.

 

nipsco in indiana doing the same with the choice of 4 different chargers.

 

Got it today as well....actually got triplicate emails.......thought it was funny.....anyway...I definitely signed up...hope I get one (Chicago Area)

 

Just had the electrician come do the onsite inspection, can't wait to see the inflated estimate. I already have the line installed with a voltec charger. Should be pretty much install the plug and it's all set.

 

I just got invited to an "open house" where I will find out more info...

 

My Blink charger was finally installed yesterday . It took 90 days from start to finish . They charged $2,050 for an installation that should have been $450 . Uncle Sam paid $1200 and I had to pay $850 out of pocket.

 

I had SPX install a charger in my garage. I live in Tempe,AZ and they were offering the free charger and 1200 towards install. My panel was not in the garage but just inside the house. The company does not seem very organized. I keep bugging them and calling over and over again. When the electrician came to the house, he said he would submit the estimate as $650 for the install. SPX came back that the install would be $1650. I had to pay $450 out of my pocket, which was worth it for the charger. Because I kept bugging the company, I was able to get my charger installed in about 2.5 weeks. Moral of the story, they do inflate their costs, but in most cases it will still be cheaper than buying your own charger. Also if you do use them, keep on top of them and do not wait for them to call you, as it will take an obscene amount of time to get your charger.

 

Im "In Line",but apparently no certified installers in the Nashville area...may just buy it and bribe my electrician/neighbor...probably be about a wash anyway since its looking like over $1000. for the install...

 

I've submitted my information on their website twice over the past month, I haven't gotten one bit of information from them about whether or not my location qualifies for anything. I don't even know if they got my information at all, not even with a generic form reply to my email address or anything. :-\

 

Over inflated estimates...

I just got their quote for running just 10 ft of cable to my garage. Knowing that i already have a 60 amp 240v breaker and circuitry ready for the charger. They quoted me $960 for the installation. Knowing that the goverment will give me a free charger and $400 towards the installation. My out of pocket will be $460. Not bad comparing purchasing the charger and doing the installation myself.

But $960 for just running 10 ft of cable seems to be a bit crazy... talking about corrupt politians and monopoly...who gave exclusivity to this contractors

 

But $960 for just running 10 ft of cable seems to be a bit crazy... talking about corrupt politians and monopoly...who gave exclusivity to this contractors

Yeah, they are really too much - quoted me $400 incentive, plus $250 out of pocket just to hang it up on the wall. My comments are here: http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread...thread.php?16666-SPX-another-attempt-to-fleece-(PA-NJ-area)&p=187663#post187663

 

Its been over a week since I submitting my survey. Called them to make sure they got it.
Answered a few more questions. Now I am just waiting. I already have 220 in the garage from a unused dryer circuit.
So I don't expect my quote to be high at all.

 

I don't currently have a Volt, but I'm seriously considering it. I live in the Seattle area, where we have an incentive through Ecotality for a subsidized 240V charger and installation. My question is: can I use my own electrician and still get some/all of the funding from the incentive program? I have a great electrician that I use - they even told me about a year ago that they're getting into installing electric vehicle chargers. I'd love to have my cake and eat it, too: to get the subsidy and have my own electrician do the installation. Any ideas how that might work?

 

details of the estimate $968

I called SPX in the afternoon to inquire about the details of their estimate.
The details are:

-30 to 50 ft of cables
-13 ft of galvanize tube
-new breacker of 40 amps (I already have a 60amp breaker) but they said is the 40 amp is the requirement for the blink charger.
-3 hours of labor. (1 for installation and 2 hours for processing documentation and set up the system)
-65 permit fee...( Need to check with my city to see if i really need a permit)
Total $968 - $400 DOE incentive = $468 out of pocket.

COuld I get another electritian to do the job? NO, they said SPX are the only approved contractor for ECOTALITY for my area. Actually they are not the one who does the job. They subcontract to a local electritian who charge their jon. SPX charge their overhead on top of what the electritian charges.

I also inquired about who will provide the warranty and the technical support. SPX said they are not providing any support because the charger belong to BLINK and I will have to contact Blink if I have problems.

Anyway I have no other option considering the cheapest charger will cost me around that much if I buy it myself plus need to pay someone to do the installation.

they said the blink charger cost alone $1700

 

I'm in Los Angeles county. Saugus in Santa Clarita is the city. 91350. I have SCE and not DWP and was told there are no incentives for me regarding getting a 240v charger installed at my home. Are they right or am I asking the wrong person?

 

Howdy, neighbor - I live in Stevenson Ranch, 91381... I got the Coloumb FT500 from Chargepoint for free....and the install was covered by the $600 state rebate, so no out of pocket expense at all. No love from SCE, as you said. I called them several times to complain about the lack of assistance, considering DWP gives up to $2000 to install a second meter...but to no avail. Very short-sighted of the folks at SCE, IMO.

Either way, it sure is nice to fill 'er up in 4 hours, especially when doing a lot of running around on weekends...

 

Just got my inspection. 10' of cable plus breakers needed. How could this possibly be more than $1200? I had an independent licensed electrician quote me $450 to run the lines and create an outlet suitable for the charger. Haven't heard back from SPX yet with an estimate. Has anyone had success getting one installed for free? What did you say?

Thank you.

 

Due to the graciousness of a So Florida Twitter person, I ended up on a list for a Florida Power and Light EV Pilot program (20 Volts and 20 Leafs) and was number 18 of 20 Volts allowed into the program.

My BLiNK charger was installed in May, and has performed flawlessly since.

Brett, if you're on here, and read this, I still owe you a dinner, dude!
Least a guy can do - and no, it won't be a MickeyD's

As I recall, free BLiNK charger and up to $13xx of installation covered - my install was $1245 I think, so zero out of pocket.

Same deal, they get to monitor it for a year, and it's mine after that free-and-clear.

Of course, I told them they could monitor it for as long as they like.

I mean, how ungrateful could I be for a free L2 charger and installation ?!?

I do hope all of you get to experience L2 charging, at minimal cost to you.
It really is an eye-opening experience.

5 mos, 727kWh consumed, about 4K miles or so, and power cost was about $80.

This car is simply amazing. A-Ma-Zing.

 

My quote for a 'hang only' installation where my electrician friend runs the cable to the location of the charger and SPX's electrician hangs the unit is $1036 in labor and materials, $460 out of pocket. I find that to be absurd, and I've been fighting SPX on it but getting nowhere. That $1036 is more than any of the quotes I've received to have a new circuit and 50' of wire run for a hot tub. All this guy is doing is HANGING THE CHARGER. I'm so fed up I think I'll pass on the whole thing.