[ref
http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/EVLN-Spouse-Laments-Hubby-s-New-Noob-Leaf-Love-Life-tp4660864.html
]
I come from a different perspective than Lin Tse Hsu, as I believe I
know where all the EVSE infrastructure is. In this case, the writer is
just north of me, so I have hands on knowledge. But when an area is
outside my regular driving realm, I still believe I still have a pretty
good idea of what is available by using the EV Charging Finder
app/sites. While I focus mainly on recargo.com , I also use
carstations.com , and a few others to know what is out there.
I read that the writer is experiencing a change in her life that was not
there where they were happily paying-through-the-nose to fuel and
ice-pollute their way through life. While that whining/complaining tone
may make for good copy some readers can relate to, it does not address
the actual issue(s), that they were not educated of the facts, thus are
these noobs lacking several key bits of information to not have the
disruptive experiences they had. And that IMO is the source of the
writer's tone/frustration, her hubby is relying on the wrong EV Charging
Finder app/site.
[In some of my newswire posts, you will see the use of % before and
after a sub-title. This is my own points. On this piece I put
% Noobs need to know where the local EVSE are %
That is my point with this family, they were sold an EV but are at a
great disadvantage because they know-not-what-they-do.
]
What EVSE is available?
Automakers have included an EVSE look-up method built into their plugin
vehicle's on-board computer system consoles. These are always woefully
out of date and not to be used. The writer mentioned that her hubby
tried to do his homework by using the Chargepoint app. That too is not a
good method as that is an EVSE manufacturer's app that only shows their
EVSE accurately. Chargepoint has tried to include outside EVSE (shown in
grey push-pins) but they are also out of date. Do not rely just on an
EVSE manufacturer's app/site to know what EVSE is available.
No, 'the' source of knowing what EVSE is available is an app/site that
has feeds from all the EVSE companies, and has members that volunteer
their time (like me) to maintain those listings for accuracy (be useful
to drivers). recargo , carstations has this, and so does plugshare to a
point.
{Plugshare issues:
I have seen some plugshare listings that were created without asking the
host if the EVSE they happened to spy was public or not (plugging and
waling away from a private EVSE is a good way to get towed away). Also,
I would not become a member of plugshare as plugshare likes to send out
spam. I have received no spam what so ever from recargo or carstations
(they do not have those issues).
}
How to begin:
First off, anyone interested in driving a plugin, should hook up with
their local EAA Chapter (eaaev.org ) or EV group. Go to their free
meetings to network with them, get rides in their vehicles, and do some
driver QnA. Also, the prospective buyer should join the free discussion
forums for the types of vehicle(s) they are interested in, peruse their
archive for answers to their questions, and also post some questions of
the points they could get an answer for. This takes some time to educate
yourself before you get serious about a purchase. Never-ever rely on a
dealership's sales staff. While sales always talks a mean game, their
income is still set up old-school so that it is sales commissions that
get them their paycheck (they do not have your best-interests at heart,
only sales).
Being prepared is important because you do not want to go to just any
ol' dealership and get sold a car (that is also an old-school way that
ice-dealers are happy to make a profit from). Today, the drivers you
network with at the free meetings, and the ones you connect with on the
plugin vehicle forums, have answers so as to minimize your mistakes.
Like, which dealer in a particular area is the better one.
The dealerships selling price is one point but not the only point.
Support is usually best when it is along your normal local driving route
(drop it off, and later pick it up). But where you purchase your plugin
can be far away at a lower price. The first Production Leaf EV sold in
the SF bay was bought at a north SF bay area dealership, and driven down
south to their SF peninsula home using a public EVSE point near SF (this
is not rocket science, you just need to know what is available). That
new Leaf EV driver said on the forum that their plan to buy from the
farther away dealership (at a better price), and then use their local
(closer to home) Leaf dealership for support, has worked out quite well.
Happily Amp'ing about:
Once the plugin driver is on the road, crusiing about, it is important
to continue to stay in touch with other drivers in your area. The plugin
vehicle forums are best for that. An example is of new EVSE in an area,
and knowing all the do's and don't found out from the host.
There could have been a happy ending to the writer's piece if they had
known of and used the level-3 (L3) EVSE in their area:
http://www.recargo.com/search?search=94301&commit=Search&filters[]=cha
Her hubby could have stopped off at the Evernote site in Redwood City
http://www.recargo.com/sites/7978
or the VW R&D site in Belmont
http://www.recargo.com/sites/1701
before continuing on to Palo Alto to meet up with his wife. These L3
EVSE are free to use by the public (subject to change at a future date).
Or they could have stopped off at Stanford Shopping Center
http://www.recargo.com/sites/1565
and used their CharJit L3 EVSE for $7 and then enjoyed a nice meal and
some shopping.
{brucedp.150m.com}
-
On Sun, Jan 27, 2013, at 07:01 AM, Lin Tse Hsu wrote:
> Very good story, and very honest. The infrastructure is still in its
> infancy and is going to have some teething pains. Reminds me of a
> similar story which happened to me. He's got a good one; it is rare to
> enjoy such tolerance.
-
--
http://www.fastmail.fm - Does exactly what it says on the tin
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