I follow new EVSE installations closely. While evdl members can post their experiences good and bad of the EVSE they have used, it is likely the nitty and gritty of new EVSE installations is not that interesting to many evdl members. So at some point if you wish, you can contact me offline about this.
If we take a look at the EVSE in your area one of the EV Charging Finder app/websites shows: http://www.recargo.com/search?search=Salt+Spring+Island%2C+BC&commit=+++SEARCH+++ There is already one EVSE at your library http://www.recargo.com/sites/7853 http://www.gulfislandsdriftwood.com/lifestyles/177765851.html If you can tell me the brand of that EVSE that would help (please reply on that). I received a newswire this week about two new EVSE soon to go in at nearby Ducan, BC. http://hqcowichanvalley.com/home/local/news/v/Local/137834/Two-Electric-Vehicle-Charging-Stations-Coming-to-Duncan http://www.recargo.com/sites/8662 http://www.recargo.com/sites/8663 Those two sites seem to be going to install SmartTwo EVSE (a Canadian brand). First, I recommend that the EVSE you choose has the ability for logging and access to a network for use-fee billing. Logging is important so bean counters can know if a location has enough use to cover costs (or they can move it to where it will get more use). A network ability lets the bean counters charge a use-fee that covers the costs the city will incur. Of all the EVSE I have seen locally, and throughout recargo listings, the most built proof brand has been Clipper Creek, and as you said SunCountryHighway is rebadging ClipperCreek EVSE as their own. That brand is designed to handle weather and human abuse. I am glad ECOtality/Blink was not on your list as all the ones installed local to me (SF area) has a high percentage of one failure or another. Either their level-2 screens go whack/bad so you can not sign in to use them, or their level-3 becomes hung and a service call has to be made to eventually have the L3 EVSE reset. In my area there are a large amount of Coulomb, a fair amount of ClipperCreek as part of the old Avcon EVSE upgrades to level-2 j1772, and a smattering/onezy-twozy amount of Eaton, GE, AeroVironment, Leviton. It does not snow in the SF area, so our climatic stresses are only a little worse than the warm, fun in the sun climate of S. California where an EVSE's housing does not need to be that tough. The Eaton in Cupertino and the one in Sunnyvale seem well made and look like they are solid enough to handle the snow and temperature and moisture changes in your area. The GE Dura station in Redwood City for Dreamworks is (IMO) not strong at all (cheap, thin sheet metal). While the Leviton EVSE I see at Ford dealerships look tough, they do not look that friendly to use. Coulomb EVSE hardware seems perfect for California temperate use, and I have seen them installed in the cold regions of the U.S (by the uploaded pictures on recargo listings). Most the I have seen Siemens on recargo listings installed in sunny LA and look a bit vulnerable to damage. I have no experience with Schneider outdoor EVSE. IMO Coulomb is the better of all the EVSE, as they have had the least compatibility and hardware failures in the temperate regions. They also seem more sensitive to drivers need for a fair shake when it comes to use-fees (If local Blink EVSE want $2/hr, the Coulomb/Chargepoint EVSE only ask for $1/hr, etc.). Coulomb is now allowing other EVSE to use the Chargepoint network to pass through use-fee charges. So, one can have an Eaton EVSE that stealthy is using the Chargepoint network to apply use-fees. Summary: IMO for your Canadian conditions, I would compare: SunCountryHighway , Coulomb/Chargepoint , or Eaton EVSE to see they do the data-logging and have the use-fee cost transaction networking you either need or surely will need when new City council members want to show their worth. I highly recommend that you have a game-plan to install EVSE in a contiguous pattern that allows plugin drivers get from point A to B and back (do not have all your EVSE all crowded together down town and none outside of town.). EVSE should be installed in parking spots that ice-drivers do not want to park in (not up front but around the side or in the back). Also spots must have proper signage to keep ice from blocking EV charging spaces. Another mistake suggested by EVSE sales teams is to install EVSE at or near City Hall. Unless the City has plugin vehicles in their fleet to use that, that is a waste as your local population will want to go shopping much more often that go to city hall. A search of your local shopping gives: Grace Point Square 250-537-1506 1204-115 Fulford-Ganges Rd, Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 2T9 Mill Bay Shopping Centre 250-743-5500 367-2720 Mill Bay Rd, Mill Bay, BC V0R 2P0 Later when your plugin driving population has grown, cities in WA and OR have found the public wants to have public EVSE at outdoor locations that are points of interest (place where they will spend at least 2 hours at. Lastly, current iMiev, and Leaf EVs, and the Volt pih have only a half-powered on-board 3kW charger. each hour of charging only regains ~8miles. You need to install EVSE at locations that have something for plugin drivers to do, and places to spend their money while they charge (as described on your site http://www.saltspringisland.org/ ). Please reply with what type of EVSE was installed at your library. {brucedp.150m.com} - On Wed, Jan 23, 2013, at 08:50 AM, Jon and Jennifer Healey wrote: > On Salt Spring Island (Canadian Gulf Islands) we are > looking to install some EV charging stations The B.C. government has > provided some incentive $ and a list of eligible > suppliers. From the list we are > considering a number of possibilities and are looking for information > about user experience to help with the decision. > > -Sun Country (the company installing the Trans Canada Hwy charging > stations) is selling Clipper Creek units > -Coulomb Technologies: Chargepoint units > -[Eaton] Power Stations > -General Electric: DuraStation or WattStation >- Leviton: EvrGreen station > -Schneider: EV230 stations > -Siemens: Community, dual or multi level stations > > Any experiences or other information > members can provide would be appreciated. If preferred I can be > contacted off line at [email protected]. - -- http://www.fastmail.fm - One of many happy users: http://www.fastmail.fm/help/overview_quotes.html _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
