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Equipment & Gear => Power Equipment & RV => Topic started by: CP on February 28, 2022, 10:32:23 AM


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Title: Questions/rant on EV charge stations
Post by: CP on February 28, 2022, 10:32:23 AM
ChargePoint, Blink, Volta, ?  - these things are driving me nuts.  I can’t seem to get any of them to work. Even some of the free ones need some sort of app/account.   How many apps and how many accounts do you need to reliably charge on the road?

I was out of juice on South Whidbey last week and couldn’t get any of the stations to work.  Even the “free” station in Freeland needed an app that I didn’t have.  Luckily a kind soul let me charge in her garage. 

Any advice short of carrying a generator?  Keep it simple, I'm over 60.
Title: Re: Questions/rant on EV charge stations
Post by: follow maggie on February 28, 2022, 10:50:34 AM
All of those companies except Tesla are notorious for their crap not working, but you won’t hear anyone talking about it when they’re pushing electric cars & say you can live & travel normally with them
Title: Re: Questions/rant on EV charge stations
Post by: Iveexcaped3 on February 28, 2022, 10:53:19 AM


Any advice short of carrying a generator? 



Yes, buy a gas car
Title: Re: Questions/rant on EV charge stations
Post by: JimmyHoffa on February 28, 2022, 11:01:44 AM
Eventually only a couple will win out and it will be easy.  Still kind of the wild west days for the EV/charging industry.
Maybe flag the compatible chargers ahead of time.
Title: Re: Questions/rant on EV charge stations
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on February 28, 2022, 11:11:24 AM
🤣
Title: Re: Questions/rant on EV charge stations
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on February 28, 2022, 11:12:18 AM


Any advice short of carrying a generator? 



Yes, buy a gas car

Can’t get any simpler than that.😉
Title: Re: Questions/rant on EV charge stations
Post by: netcoyote on February 28, 2022, 11:40:37 AM
Never hear it discussed but was wondering about charging plug compatibility. Are all EV's using some standard protocol for plug or are they different for different make/model? Since Tesla seemed to be the first out of the gate on this, can any EVs charge at a Tesla charging station?

Inquiring minds...
Title: Re: Questions/rant on EV charge stations
Post by: GWP on February 28, 2022, 11:42:38 AM
They really ARE the magic solution to everything!  :bash:
Title: Re: Questions/rant on EV charge stations
Post by: CP on February 28, 2022, 11:47:40 AM
Never hear it discussed but was wondering about charging plug compatibility. Are all EV's using some standard protocol for plug or are they different for different make/model? Since Tesla seemed to be the first out of the gate on this, can any EVs charge at a Tesla charging station?

Inquiring minds...

No, you have all these plugs.  I can only use the J-1772 or a wall outlet.  Luckily, the J-1772 is the most common.

Title: Re: Questions/rant on EV charge stations
Post by: CP on February 28, 2022, 11:50:16 AM
So far, my best solution has been to, well, steal electricity from unguarded wall outlets in public parking lots.

Title: Re: Questions/rant on EV charge stations
Post by: netcoyote on February 28, 2022, 12:54:38 PM
So far, my best solution has been to, well, steal electricity from unguarded wall outlets in public parking lots.

So are there adapters that you can use then for standard outlets? There must be different charging rates based on different voltages and adapter types, correct?
Title: Re: Questions/rant on EV charge stations
Post by: Jingles on February 28, 2022, 01:02:21 PM
This thread is yet more convincing to stay with gas and diesel
Title: Re: Questions/rant on EV charge stations
Post by: SuperX on February 28, 2022, 01:07:58 PM
All of those companies except Tesla are notorious for their crap not working, but you won’t hear anyone talking about it when they’re pushing electric cars & say you can live & travel normally with them
Yeah just like horses... nobody mentions the hay bill when they push their equine agenda!   
Title: Re: Questions/rant on EV charge stations
Post by: CP on February 28, 2022, 01:29:11 PM
So far, my best solution has been to, well, steal electricity from unguarded wall outlets in public parking lots.

So are there adapters that you can use then for standard outlets? There must be different charging rates based on different voltages and adapter types, correct?

Yeah, I’m not up on all the variants but there are lots of adaptors out there. 

I have a J-1772 to C13 adaptor.  Charge rate is limited by the on-vehicle charger; so even though I’ve hacked into a level 2 connection, my EV motorcycle only charges at the level 1 rate.  I could upgrade to a level 2 on-board charger but that’s about $3K.

For enough money, I guess anything is possible.
Title: Re: Questions/rant on EV charge stations
Post by: CP on February 28, 2022, 01:38:50 PM
Sorry city of Marysville, I owe you about 20 cents worth of electricity.  Let me know where to pay.

 
Title: Re: Questions/rant on EV charge stations
Post by: Norman89 on February 28, 2022, 07:19:02 PM
I got a kick out of this
Thrive energy systems owner Matt using a charcoal gassifier to fuel a 9600w predator generator to charge his tesla
Title: Re: Questions/rant on EV charge stations
Post by: JBG on February 28, 2022, 07:32:54 PM
🤣

The funny (Ironic?)thing about the Prius being plugged in is that it is a hybrid meaning it doesn't ever need to be plugged in.  Unless of course this post was an exercise in sophistry in which case goal attained, haha  :IBCOOL:

TBH charging stations are a PITA but just like any new tech it will catch up quickly.
Title: Re: Questions/rant on EV charge stations
Post by: Norman89 on February 28, 2022, 07:44:37 PM
 :chuckle:
Title: Re: Questions/rant on EV charge stations
Post by: rainshadow1 on February 28, 2022, 07:55:09 PM
The GubMint should line every paved road in America with solar panels and have one of them pluggie thingies every 1/4 mile.

Here endeth my contribution to the greenies for this month. :tup:
Title: Re: Questions/rant on EV charge stations
Post by: bkaech on February 28, 2022, 08:16:15 PM
So far, my best solution has been to, well, steal electricity from unguarded wall outlets in public parking lots.

So are there adapters that you can use then for standard outlets? There must be different charging rates based on different voltages and adapter types, correct?

Yes depending on the Amperage that can be pulled from your power source the charging rate varies dramatically. I don't know many details but someone with a Tesla just told me that on a regular 20amp outlet (standard garage plug) it takes 30+ hours to get a full charge, and a 60amp outlet will charge his Tesla in 2.5 hrs.
Title: Re: Questions/rant on EV charge stations
Post by: wadu1 on February 28, 2022, 08:23:47 PM
Soon we will be looking for wild currant bushes to plug in our hunting rigs. 
Title: Re: Questions/rant on EV charge stations
Post by: kselkhunter on February 28, 2022, 09:29:47 PM
So what's the problem Op?  Are you having problem using the ChargePoint app?  Or did you find a charging station that isn't working? 

Title: Re: Questions/rant on EV charge stations
Post by: CP on March 01, 2022, 06:03:42 AM
So what's the problem Op?  Are you having problem using the ChargePoint app?  Or did you find a charging station that isn't working?

That kind of got lost in this thread didn’t it.  I’ll try again.

I’m in Langley, there is a Blink charger, needs a Blink card or maybe an app.  I don’t have either.  No go unless I figure that out.

So, I go to Freeland.  There is a ChargePoint charger.  Same issue, only I need a ChargePoint card or app.

Edmonds – SemaConnect

Snohomish – Volta

I could go on.  Plugshare shows 26 different networks.  I assume that I need 26 different apps/accounts/cards?  And, God forbid, what if I don't have a cell phone?

Compare that to gas stations.  Exxon, Chevron, Bp …  - they all take the same credit card or good old US dollars.  I can fill up without a phone.

How about they make charge stations universal, just plug in your credit card and charge?  Maybe that exists?  Am I missing something?

Title: Re: Questions/rant on EV charge stations
Post by: Cougartail on March 01, 2022, 06:13:51 AM
Soon we will be looking for wild currant bushes to plug in our hunting rigs.

A liberals dream. No more deer/elk camps because no power in the mountains.
Title: Re: Questions/rant on EV charge stations
Post by: Stein on March 05, 2022, 05:01:35 PM
You probably need to just have a folder on your phone with the various apps.  Good idea to have a burner prepaid debit so when your number gets stolen you don't have much of a headache.

I bit the bullet last year and got an app to pay for parking at the Everett boat launch.  Probably need an app to flush the toilet there pretty soon the way things are going.

Title: Re: Questions/rant on EV charge stations
Post by: HooknoseHunter on March 05, 2022, 05:10:24 PM


Any advice short of carrying a generator? 



Yes, buy a gas car


THIS^^^^^^
Title: Re: Questions/rant on EV charge stations
Post by: CP on March 05, 2022, 05:17:23 PM
I guess I just need a few cards.

Title: Re: Questions/rant on EV charge stations
Post by: CP on March 21, 2022, 11:44:49 AM
Title: Re: Questions/rant on EV charge stations
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on March 21, 2022, 02:40:17 PM

Now that’s funny🤣

Wonder how many of them didn’t have a charging port put in their house?🤣
Title: Re: Questions/rant on EV charge stations
Post by: lamrith on March 21, 2022, 06:38:07 PM
Many local Safeway and Albertsons have Volta chargers that are free to use.  No card or app needed.  plugshare is a good app as it usually will have reviews of each station to help with knowing if a station is working or not.  Does not help all the diff networks, but that and ABRP and you can hopefully make a route using fewer networks if you need to.

It has been mentioned on other threads, right now EV charging infrastructure is just not there yet.  Take the EV's rated range, reduce it by 20%ish.  If that shorter range does not fall inside your daily need, then EV is not for you.  The beauty and sweet spot for EV ownership is charging at home, it is cheaper and it can happen while you enjoy doing other things like eat dinner, watch TV, reload, sleep.  You get in the next morning with a full tank.

EV is early in it's life.  However compared to Gasoline, it is light years ahead in terms of network coverage give relative age.  ICE has had over 100years of network development to be were it is now.   Nobody HAS to go EV, don't like it, don't do it.  Regardless of all the news about emissions this and that and EV this and that, ICE still rules the day and other than EV only like tesla/rivian, etc the big Mfg still ofer more ICE options by far than EV.
Title: Re: Questions/rant on EV charge stations
Post by: NRA4LIFE on March 21, 2022, 06:48:06 PM
When you buy an EV, does in come with the receptacle to install in your garage?  A 60 amp 4 ga would be a beast to install.  I've done 4 ga a number of times in the past, it is not fun.
Title: Re: Questions/rant on EV charge stations
Post by: Stein on March 25, 2022, 12:22:19 PM
Depends on the EV, but usually they are an upgrade or aftermarket purchase.  Most come with a NEMA 5-15 cord from what I have seen (Level 1).
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